Kannadasan
Ph.D., Full time Research Scholar, Department of History Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608 002.
ABSTRACT
Woman plays various aspects of life at home, in society as mothers, wives, sisters, learners, workers, citizens and leaders. Women constitute nearly half of country’s human population in India, has been suppressed in all spheres of life, even through they work and contribute to the economy of the family and country in one form or another. But in a contrary, if we look around in our society, it is obvious that women are enclosed and brought up in the culture of silence, their life starting, continuing and ending up in this darkness of silence. Therefore, empowering of women pre-supposes a drastic, dynamic and democratic change in the perception and expectation from men in our society. To help women to attain economic independence is the first priority for such a change. When women attain economic independence, she naturally becomes the another of her own decisions and no one can misuse or misguide her for their own benefits. The position of women is still worsened due to the domination of customs and conventions in the society. Many of the recent changes in the status of the women in India may not be a sign of real process; it may just be some amelioration. The constitution of India has granted women equal rights of participation in the political progress of the country. The physical strength and alleged dominance of men has been an important instrument of controlling women’s freedom of action. Moreover, the root of women’s subjection has been their economic dependence on men.
Introduction
Humanity has advanced very far from where it had started. Many things have changed; the social position and rights of many groups have been subjected to the ebb and flows of history. Many section of the population, which had ruled, have been brought down while others, which were deprived, have risen to position of equality and even to political power. But women who from nearly 50 per cent of the population are facing problem since ancient time, receiving only a small share of development opportunities1 Their oppression is persistent and universal, and solutions are incomplete. Therefore the question of the status of women has recently moved into the socio-economic discussion all over the world.
The status of the women must be understood before attempting to develop an overall strategy for the empowerment of women. But, the current status of women cannot be properly understood without reference to the predecessor form of womanhood from which it evolved and the process by which it grew. That is to say, a glimpse of the past status is essential for understanding the contemporary status of women of several reasons. Firstly, women’s present status is to a large extent the product of the past socio-culture configuration. Secondly, every society however is progressive it may be beholden to the past. The social system and the culture of given society bear the mark of the social system and the culture preceding it2. Finally, the comprehension of the range of contemporary variations in the attitude towards women and their place in society brings an understanding of the past feminine ideals, reference and prescriptions for female behaviour.
Moreover, the ideologies justify the prevailing status of women in society. This is due to several reasons : First, the assumption about women is derived generally from the dominant ideology of the power group. Secondly, the theoretical-wider sociological-analysis will tell us about the general assumption and values regarding the status of the sex in the society as a whole. Thirdly, the theoretical discussion has practical objectives in the sense that, in order to change. Women’s situation first its roots causes have to be understood, for the practical proposal help for the amelioration of women’s status. Fourthly, the theoretical consideration will help in reconstruction of knowledge. Finally, in many instances, the redefinition of theoretical concepts from women’s perspective will help to generate more accurate information3. Therefore, this paper attempts to present an historical overview of women’s place in society with reference to world, but particularly to India to be specific in Tamil Nadu. The gender ideologies justify the prevailing status of women in society.
POSITION OF WOMEN : A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
The task of tracing the status of women in a historical perspective is, at once, difficult, complex and cumbersome due to the diversity of civilization. Therefore, it is not the intention to analyze the ups and downs in the position of the women during different periods, but to trace the attitude towards women and their place in the society in general and Indian society in particular.4 For expository convenience, the status of women has been traced by dividing it into following boar historical phase: Ancient Society, Medieval Society and Modern Society.
Women in Ancient Society
It is difficult to ascertain in ancient society women’s position, because historians have not been able to discharge the traces, happenings and operations during that period. This is much evident that women played a large part in economic life. But, the bondage of reproduction was a terrible handicap in the dealing with the society. Menstruation, pregnancy and child birth reduced their capacity to work for money and at time made them fully dependent upon men for protection and food. The perpetuation of spices was her responsibility5. In contrast to woman, the position of men was quite different. From the beginning man had been an inventor. Through numerous inventions, it is found self-realization as an existence. Thus, women’s subordination began with the society’s development. There had been clear-cut demarcation between women and men’s world of work. Men’s activities were always appreciated while women are undermined; women’s physical weakness did constitute to a glaring inferiority situation. Philosophers, religious preachers, political leaders; social reformers and scientists all justified the inferior status of women in society, floating albeit differing in justification. The writers of the literary classics were enormously prejudiced against women. Despite their genius, they treated women badly in their work by depicting women as pretty, ornamental, idle, mindless and vicious creature. Indian society is probably one of the few where the women’s position in 2000 B.C was an enviable one. She was given education, if wanted selected her own life partner and in the domestic life she was an equal partner to the male. The women in ancient India enjoyed considerable freedom, status and prestige in society being the man’s companion not is attendant. Women finally settle down to an indoor life, made imperative due to the institution of joint family that had developed.6
WOMEN IN MEDIVAL SOCIETY
The subordination of women long preceded the formation of class society and class oppression. Women are the first historic category of non-owning workers. Since, a woman owns nothing, she does not enjoy the dignity of being a person, and forms a part of the patriarchy of a man: first of her father, then her husband and lastly of her son. The gender inequalities have hampered their development and women’s sufferings often go unnoticed and unrecognized because of sexist prejudices. Even the instruction of home and family are the source of women’s oppressions within all spheres of society, reserving the private sphere to women and the public sphere to man. Until the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in 1868, the status of women was almost the same throughout the world. In the Greek status, woman was subjected to admiration her grace and motherly qualities; she was completely subordinated to men.6 The position of women was not better in the Roman Empire also. Early medieval society in Germany too enforced complete control of the husband on his wife as his right, known as the right of “mundium” Inferiority of women’s position in Japan dates back from the 12th century of military society and found greater support from Confucian orthodoxy of the Tokugawa period. Conventional and traditional value that were upheld by many Asian countries discriminate women at various levels.
The position of the woman in India during the medieval times worsened further due to more isolation and closed life by the custom of ‘purdah’. Women lost all their liberal activities and became a ‘commodity’ and therefore considered to be a liability instead of an asset to the family. In the 18th century, perhaps, was the darkest period as far as the women were concerned. Women lost their separate entity and their very existence was merely a bare necessity and indispensable appendage to the male population. Thus, till the beginning of the 19th century, women were totally and forcefully dominated by male superiority: physically and intellectually.
WOMEN IN MODERN SOCIETY
Women’s participation in the workforce as well as in other activities increased during the 19th century and from the early period of 20th century due to up-liftment of women from the tradition bounds ethos brought about by the influence of the various social reforms of successive period. The technological changes of the industrial revolution transformed the process of the production and as a result, more women were engaged to work. During the IInd World War, women entered lobar force due to dire economic necessity and feeling of patriotism and for the first time they experienced the financial psychological independence that an income activity the home could afford.8
Development of science and technology, changes in attitudes and aspirations, in social structures and family living patterns have all concurred to relieve the burden of motherhood. Education has worked as a prime motivating factor among women and they felt that whatever they have acquired through education have to be utilized and not to be wasted. They wanted to be self-sufficient and understand very well that economic self-sufficiency has improved their social status. The women thus, have sought and accomplished more freedom and personal security. This was the beginning of outstanding achievement of the modem age.9
The basic of the problem is that the sexes have never shared the world equally. Even at present, the women are heavily handicapped, though her situation is Extensive industrialization and high level of technology have marginalized them further. Originally, quite a good number of industries were under the exclusive domain of women. These were snatched away by men due to the advent of mechanization and automation, since women take the training and skill associate from them. The under evaluation of women is mainly due to the deliberate, conspiratorial undervaluation of their work, ability, talent and skill. Women put in longer hour of work than men did. In spite of the fact, that their physical and economic hardship get worse, neither the society nor the women themselves perceive their role in society. This misperception is because, that man is always regarded as the breadwinner and the woman goes out to earn only when the men’s / family is not able to earn enough. Since women are regarded as supplementary earners, their work is assessed as half-efficient or half-productive even if it is actually not so.10
Women are have-nots even among the have-nots, because historically and traditionally they were denied the vital rights of taking decision and a share in their family income. Women, in all economic class, are dependent on men, resulting in their lack of bargaining power even in matter of marriage, divorce and remarriage not to speak of the absence of any rights whatsoever in matter related to land, other properties and their personal or family income, besides major decisions in the family rests with men. Almost at any particular place women’s legal status in not the same as men’s and frequently it is much to her disadvantage. Even when her rights are legally recognized, long-standing customs prevent their full expression. Thus women’s position is lower than that of a man in all walks of life.11
As far as India is concerned, the social structure, culture, norms and value system are important determinants of women’s role and their position in society. India has one of the most impressive sets of laws for women and children. The constitution of India not only grants equality to women and forbids any discrimination based on religion, race, sex, or place of birth, but also empowers the state to practice protective – discrimination in favour of women, children and of socially and educationally backward classes, the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes. In spite of this the deeply entrenched custom and traditions, beliefs and practice of a largely patriarchal and feudal; past and present contribute to the continued subordination of women.12
EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION
The status of women is intimately connected with their economic position which, in turn, depends upon rights, role and opportunities for their participation in economic activities. The economic status of women is now accepted as an indicator of a society’s stage of development. However, all developments do not result in improving women’s economic activities. Women’s participation in the labour force in the industrialized countries expressed as a percentage of male participation is 61 per cent in Japan, 58 perc ent in Switzerland, 45 per cent in Netherlands and 41 per cent in Ireland. They are generally employed then a restricted range of jobs – in low paid, in low productivity work, where they are subject to discrimination and sometimes to sexual harassment. Added to the long hour of household work, that goes frequently unrecognized. In developing countries women have fewer job opportunities than men; the employment participation rates of women are on average, only 50 per cent those of men and in South Asia 29 per cent and in the Arab states only 16 per cent. Many developing countries exclude women from productive work whether by tradition, discriminatory laws are with held education.13
POLITICS
As the country celebrates the International Women’s Day on 8th of March, statistics reveal that India lags behind many countries, including its neighbours’ Pakistan and Nepal, when it comes to women’s participation in politics. The political status of women implies the degree of equality and freedom enjoyed by women in the shaping and sharing of power and the value given by the society to the role of women.14 But men have always monopolized the political space. Democracy cannot be realized in marginalized section, which include women, remain outside the political system of power. Political participation does not mean only the right to vote, but include the ability to influence polices and decision making. Women were always treated underrepresented in all wings of the government legislative, executive and judiciary. Although women constitute half the electorate they hold only 10 per cent of Parliament seat in the developing countries and 12 per cent in the industrial countries. In later 19th century, they made up just over 10 per cent of the world’s parliamentarian and less than 4 per cent of national Cabinets. In 1993 only 6 countries had women as heads of government. Even in countries where their representation is relatively high such as Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and USSR-women account for only a third of the legislators.15 The constitution of India has granted women equal rights of participation in the political progress of the country. But, the reality these rights are not sufficient because their voice is hardly given any weight age. Women’s representation in Parliament and in the Atate Assemblies has never gone beyond 8 percent and 10 per cent respectively.
Hence, there is an urgent necessity to improve the status of women by well conceived, planned development programs which would have active community 60 participation and to be based on the women’s needs in order to emancipate and empower them. We have not only positive goals but also back them up with adequate resources and set institutions at every level-local, State and National-to-ensure that the objectives are implemented and the implementation monitored.
CONCLUSION
To sum up, women from a subset that is often disadvantaged discriminated against and marginalized in most spheres of life as compared to men within the same category. Such marginalization and subordination is reflected in wide male female disparities in virtually all aspects of social well being, at every scale from the local to the national and international. Moreover, ideologically the women were considered a completely inferior species and inferior to the males. Morally, she was considered lacking the ethical fiber; economically, she was treated not worthy to have right to property; politically, she was excluded from the power positions.
REFERENCES
- K. Bhasin (Ed), Towards Empowerment, Food and Agriculture organziation, Rome, 1985, p.17.
- Kata Young (Ed), Women and Economic Development ; Local Regional and National Planning Stragegies, Macmillan, London, 1988, p.167.
- Leemma Devasia and V.V. Devasia (Ed), Empowerment of Women for Sustainable Development, Ahish Publishing House, New Delhi, 1994, p.77.
- Joyat Mitra (Ed), Women and Society, Equlity and Empowerment, Kanishka Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi, 1977, p.63.
- K.C. Vidhya (Ed), Political Empowerment of Women at the Grassroots, Kanishka Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi, 1977, p.235
- Sangeatha Puru Shoraman (Ed), The Empowerment of Women in India Gross roots Women’s Network and the State, Sage Publication, New Delhi, 1988, p.198.
- Suhatha Viswanathan, “Grouping Women for Economic Empowerment in Yojana, Vol, 41, No. 3, March 1997, pp. 37-38.
- Venkatesh B. Athraja and SheelaRani Chunkanar, Literacy and Empowerment, Sage Publications, New Delhi, 1998, pp.367-369.
- K. Shanthi (Ed), Empowerment of Women, Annol publication Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, 2005, p.23.
- Ibid, p. 33.
- Urvashi Gultai, “Women Development on India with the Special Reference to Rural Women in Kurshetra, Vol.XI No:II, August 1995, p. 17.
- Government of India, “National Policy for the Empowerment of Women 1996,” Department of Women and Child Development, MHRD, New Delhi, p.3,
- Ibid, p. 9-12.
- Government of Tamil Nadu, “Vision 200. Policy for the Advancement of Women in Tamil Nadu”, Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women Limited, Madras, March, 1994, p.1.
- Ibid, p.28.