Catalyst for Change: Progress Within India Regarding Female Empowerment and Equality

Although sexual violence and inequality towards women in India is not an emerging issue, more alarming cases have currently surfaced and have inspired an awakening of recent social transformations. Particular cases, like that of the fatal gang rape around New Delhi, have brought not only worldwide attention but also a domestic movement for the status of Indian women. Citizens, mainly of the younger generations, are coming together to challenge the social norms and attitudes placed upon them regarding actions such as child marriage or legal injustices such as discriminatory family codes. Through growing awareness and collective efforts towards united change, the Sexual Assault Law of March 2013 capitalized on this momentum and was designed to prevent sexual violence against women. The law declares trafficking, stalking, acid attacks, and voyeurism as criminal offenses and even also accepts the death penalty as a legal course of action if a certain sexual assault case results in death of a victim (more on Sexual Assault Law of March 2013). However, it is not uncommon for cases to go unreported which is a major setback for government support. The Human Rights Watch claims that India’s “lack of accountability” ultimately helps cultivate human rights violations. Even with greater recognition for the equality of women, there are further actions that are needed to guarantee implemented prevention of sexual violence against women in India.

One of these further actions, for example, is a broader recognition of the underlying nature of rape within India as a product of a widely patriarchal society. The country has experienced previous issues with gender inequality and due to recent awareness of brutal rapes, India is also familiarizing itself with many forms of protests and backlash. The difficulty of eradicating such long standing ideas is being countered by immense involvement of the Indian media covering this issue. With this force, especially due to media and it’s huge place within the Indian community, the ultimate idea is to use anti-rape movements to adapt certain aspects of Indian culture. In a society where women tend to be perceived as second class citizens, there is a sentiment of pervasive fear. Then, in order to eradicate that, changing the mindset of the masses becomes a lofty task even for such an influential force such as media relevance. For example, one of these strong vocal movements is how women can be seen holding “My Skirt Is Not Your Business” signs. Additionally, PSA media campaigns such as “Dekh Le” regarding men and excess staring help to bring about broad attention to treatment of women as a whole. A prominent issue though is how many of these protests take place in the larger cities of India. India is an extremely large country where most of the population resides in rural areas where mindsets are often very different. Some solution that village leaders are suggesting is lowering the marriage age to stop rape. That idea in itself is an issue and doesn’t truly address the problem at hand. While anti-rape protests within big cities have planted the seed for change, in order to see progress Indian society needs ultimate persistence in empowerment and education.

Another aspect that describes why this mentality has been embodied relates to India’s history and it’s differing cultural relativism than that of other Westernized states due to imperial forces. Indian law has been greatly shaped by many years of colonialism and skewed aspects of the common practiced religion of Hinduism. India’s diverse cultural and religious backgrounds reflect a varied inclination to sexism and men are often viewed as leaders and essential “bread-winners” of the household while women are expected to stay home. A large part of this is reflected in a “dowry tradition” where a bride’s father gives her groom money, land, or other items that represent her social standing. Though this was made illegal in 1961 it is extremely hard to enforce and is still commonly practiced today. The “dowry tradition” puts women in India at a great disadvantage to be seen as a man’s property. Women are taught from birth that they are inferior to men, sons are cherished and favored, fathers pick whom their daughters marry, and exchange them as property and women are expected to live with their new husbands. While this mentality is pretty far gone in urban areas of the country, within village life such ideals still remain relevant. This intense gender gap in India has made legal rights for women a tough road. Rape historically has been viewed as a woman's own fault for “being too provocative” or “a bad wife” rather than a victim. And, legislation such as Section 375 states that rape is “penetration without consent” referring to a woman’s vagina penetrated by a man. Nonetheless momentum is growing and with small victories arising in 1972 the rape of a 16 year old girl started the first public movement for legal reform. Last year the government passed the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Bill which sets up a separate court for juvenile rape victims. While many laws still favor men and ignore the needs of the rest of the population, this is slowly changing and the pressing issue of rape is becoming a nation wide movement.

Regarding other forms of legislation regarding this issue and following the events of the New Delhi Rape Case of 2012, many actions were taken to change laws in order to protect women. Although these laws were put into effect to “stem sexual violence against women” (Messinger, Huffington Post, 2013), women are still vulnerable to the “gendered-based” (Messinger, Huffington Post, 2013) abuses caused by spouses and India’s National Security Forces. The law put into place by the Indian Government can only be seen on a legislative level. On the ground these laws are not being put into effect the way they should be and because of this issue many grassroots organizations, “local political organizations which seek to influence conditions not related to the working situation of the participants and which have the activity of the participants as their primary source” (Gundelach, Acta Sociologica, 1979), have developed in India to ensure that everyone, including women and young girls of all backgrounds in India, “have access to education, jobs, healthcare, physical protection, and emotional safety” (Messinger, Huffington Post, 2013). Two grassroots organizations that have sprouted in India are Awaaz-e-Niswaan (AEN) and the Shaheen Resource Center for Women. After the New Delhi rape case, AEN organized protests and vigils and provided a safe haven for Muslim girls and teenagers and teaches them about their rights, along with helping them “develop a network of peer support and how to access government and nongovernment services” (Messinger, Huffington Post, 2013) to defend and safeguard their rights. AEN understands the connection between poverty, discrimination, and rape, and because of that they are able to give these women and girls much more than just support. AEN has given Muslim women and girls a voice in defending their rights. AEN has also given a voice to the once ignored sex workers and LGBT groups who have experienced abuse and violence that was considered illegitimate by the Indian government. The Shaheen Resource Center for Women also came about following the New Delhi rape and they not only provide leadership and development to Muslim communities, but also legal counseling. They teach women and girls to be independent and self sufficient through “livelihood skills”, as well as teaching them about their bodies so they “can value themselves” and not “normalize violence that may seem commonplace in their communities” (Messinger, Huffington Post, 2013). Through grassroots organizations like these women have found the strength to advocate for themselves and begin the process of stopping the cycle of violence they have had to endure.

Through these groups, attempted reforms at legislation, media influence, and broadened education regarding the place of women in Indian society and its direct correlation to rape prevention, it is evident that there is progress being made. Simultaneously, however, it is also prevalent that many actions and paths towards equality have led to dead ends or complexified situations. It is through continued effort and increasing awareness within India, by Indians, and for Indians themselves that we are seeing continued effort and emphasis placed on such a vital cause for the future of the country as a whole.

By: Taylor, Monica, Adriana, Jacklyn and Tiffany




Works Cited

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Khalsa, Guruamrit. Khambatta, Persis. (2013, March 6). New Sexual Assault Laws in India: Only the Beginning. The Asia Foundation. Retrieved March 25, 2014, from http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2013/03/06/new-sexual-assault-laws-in-india-only-the-beginning/ .

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