"This book attempts to highlight the struggle of Indian women. Many of them face unequal relationships throughout their life, from family to polity, still the level of consciousness about these disparities varies according to their socio-economic background. Educated urban employed women are found to be more conscious about socio-economic inequalities. They have been the major beneficiaries of the development process. While illiterate poor rural women and slum dwellers have their own struggle against socio-economic deprivations, it seems that women from sub-urban groups have by and large been marginalised by the development process. After independence, successive governments have passed social legislation to control social evils, yet social customs and behaviour responsible for these evils have not changed significantly. Social legislation equipped the government to fight against female infanticide, child marriage, dowry harassment and widow burning; but they too have failed to change prevalent customs, superstitions and social taboos, and these practices by and large remain an integral part of Indian social behaviour. Along with social legislation, a well organised mass movement is also required to change the Indian mindset. Universal suffrage and political participation have so far played a limited role in improving the socio-economic status of marginalised women. This volume will motivate students and researchers to make serious efforts to understand issues and problems being confronted by women at different levels of Indian society."
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