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History
In ancient and medieval India women could hold jobs outside the home. Some were trustees, priestesses, nurses, philanthropists, musicians, actresses, and scholars. Some women even oversaw villages and religious institutions. Girls were also dedicated to various temples and were called Devadasis, or servant of God. This practice was in use in various parts of India until resent time. Menial tasks, such as cleaning households and temples, were done by bondmaids. In addition to her household chores a woman might also assist with her husband’s occupation.
Around the sixth century upper class girls were married between the ages of 8 and 10. This continued onward into modern times. Polygamy was also in practice for all who could afford it. As opposed to suffering through the misery of widowhood some chose to throw themselves onto their deceased husbands funeral pyre. This practice was looked on as praise worthy and honorable. This was however not widespread. A common seen practice today is the wear of a bindi, a red dot on a woman’s forehead. This is from ancient India and symbolized marriage. It represented a woman’s energy and was believed to protect the woman and her husband.
Present
Government
Women compose less than 5 percent of India’s government bodies. Off 116 countries, India is ranked 101 on women’s participation by the UNDP. However one of India’s greatest prime ministers was a woman, Indira Gandhi. India was one of the first countries to have a woman as a high official.
Education, Economic
Around 1000 BC women in India held a prominent role in higher education. But around 400 BC their situation had changed. Women were treated the same way as the lowest caste, the untouchables, and were denied the right of education. But when the British missionaries came the education of women slowly increased. The missionaries wanted to educate the Indian women to make them presentable in European company. By the end of the 19th century, the education of upper and upper middle class women was well established. The constitution of India declared in 1951 affirms the equality of all citizens. It also states that the untouchable caste and women were wrongfully treated. The Indian government then emphasized education as a way to advance these people. Education for all women then became more readily available. Slowly society began to see the need for women to be autonomous and self-reliant.
Currently 26% of enrollment at the diploma level consists of women. Oddly this percentage goes up at the undergraduate level to 34% and 39% at the postgraduate level. 54% of women enrolled in higher education are in the faculty of Arts and Humanities, 20% in Science, 14% in Commerce, 4% in Medicine, Agriculture and Management, 2% in Law, and 1% in Engineering.
Society
The expectations of women in India depend on their caste. Women of the highest caste, Brahman, are expected to be virgins until marriage, faithful to one husband, and celibate in widowhood. Women of the lowest caste, Sweeper, however, may or may not be virginal at marriage, extramarital affairs are tolerated, and if widowed they are encouraged to remarry. Sexual purity in the higher castes ensured purity of a lineage and high status.
India has an elaborate system of laws to protect the rights of women. But the government is unable to enforce these laws in rural areas where traditions are deeply rooted. When a woman marries her family must supply the groom with a dowry. This dowry can be a large burden on the bride’s family. Sometimes the groom’s family will make further demands after the marriage. If the bride’s family does not meet these demands the groom’s family will kill the bride. This enables the groom to remarry and collect yet another dowry. This crime is seldom punished. The total number of dowry deaths in Orissa, India between 1990 and 1994 is 745.
According to the UNICEF up to 50 million girls and women are missing from India’s population as a result of gender discrimination. In most countries there are 105 females births for every 100 male births. In India there are less than 93 women for every 100 men. The accepted reason for this is female infanticide. Because of the dowry system, the birth of a girl can impoverish a family.
Rape is also a large problem in India. Women belonging to low caste are especially at risk. In a case from Rajasthan, alleged gang-rapers were acquitted on account of their “high-caste and middle-agedness.” Rape is also used by the Indian Border Security Force and by militant groups. It is meant to humiliate entire communities. A family’s honor is dependent on the sexual purity of its women. Women who have been allegedly raped receive degrading treatment by the law courts and their own communities.
Domestic
In much of northern and central India women practice purdah, the veiling and seclusion of women. There are complex rules of veiling the body and avoiding public appearance. Women are not encouraged to roam about unless for explicit family related purposes. When a woman first marries into a family she is initially faceless and voiceless. As she matures the rules of purdah may be relaxed.
For both men and women association with the opposite sex is limited. In areas, however, illicit liaisons do occur. If this becomes publicly known the male can escape social repudiation. The female, however, brings dishonor to herself and her family. If a woman is sexually linked with a man of lower caste, she is regarded as eternally polluted. If the situation is reversed and a man is linked to woman of lower caste he can take a ritual bath and be forever cleansed.
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