Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

Societal attitudes towards women, shaped by cultural norms and gender stereotypes, often portray them as passive, nurturing, or subordinate, fueling widespread gender inequality in workplaces, families, and public spaces. India ranks 127^th out of 146 in the Global Gender Gap Report 2023, highlighting major gender disparities in economic, educational, health, and political spheres.

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Societal Attitudes Towards Women

• Cultural Norms and Gender Stereotypes:
  • From a young age, boys and girls are socialized into distinct roles, with women often expected to perform domestic duties and care for children. These gendered expectations limit women’s access to opportunities and decision-making power.
  • In the media, women are often portrayed as either passive objects of male desire or supportive figures in domestic roles. Such portrayals reinforce stereotypes and further limit women’s social mobility and career aspirations.
• Impact in Family and Workplace:
  • In the family, women are largely expected to be primary caregivers, resulting in an unequal division of domestic labor. This often limits women’s ability to pursue professional careers, leaving them financially dependent.
  • In the workplace, glass ceilings, pay gaps, and biases against women in leadership roles are a result of entrenched stereotypes that underestimate women’s professional capabilities. These stereotypes prevent equal access to opportunities and hinder women’s career progression.

Steps Have Been Taken To Address The Issue

• Government and Judicial Measures:
  • The government has introduced various initiatives to address these societal imbalances.
    • For instance, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme aims to improve the status of women, focusing on education and reducing female foeticide.
    • Programs like Maternity Benefits Act and Equal Remuneration Act also work towards ensuring better workplace equality.
  • The judiciary has made significant efforts to challenge gender stereotypes. The Supreme Court’s decision to implement the ‘Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013’ marked a critical step in creating safer spaces for women.
    • Additionally, gender-sensitive rulings, such as those addressing derogatory language used in legal proceedings, play a crucial role in redefining societal attitudes towards women.
• Addressing the Root Causes:
  • Despite these measures, the persistence of patriarchal values in both urban and rural areas indicates that the problem is deeply embedded in cultural practices.
    • The lack of enforcement, widespread discrimination, and patriarchal social structures often undermine efforts for gender equality.

Conclusion

Challenging cultural norms and gender stereotypes is essential for creating a more equitable society. While steps by the government and judiciary have led to significant progress, there is still a need for continuous social awareness and stronger implementation of policies to effectively dismantle patriarchy and ensure true gender equality.