Women Issues: Empowerment and Gender Discrimination

This book spotlights the issues related to women in India. Most Indian women suffer unequal relationship throughout their life be it family or society. But, the level of their consciousness about their disparities differs depending upon their socio-economic background. Since independence successive governments have rules social legislation to curb social ills, yet old social customs and behaviour responsible for these evils have not effectively changed. Educated urban employed women are somewhat more conscious about socio-economic inequalities and the laws protecting them. It is for this reason that they are the major gainer of the development process. Social legislations have equipped the government to fight against various ills such as child marriage, dowry harassment, female infanticide and widow burning, etc., but there legislations have not produced desired results to improve their lot. The existing old customs, superstitions and social labour together with other malpractices continue to harass women in general in India. There is a great need for a well-planned and organized mass movement to change the traditional Indian mindset against their social ills. Universal suffrage and political participation by women have brought about only a limited improvement. It is hoped that this volume will motivate both students and researchers to better understand issues and problems confronted by Indian women in different walks of life.