Interpersonal behavior and relationship for women Empowerment

Dr Gayatri Tiwari
Asstt Prof, HDFS, College of Home Science, Udaipur
A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. Thats why they dont get
what they want.
Madonna
The strength of chain is the strength of its weakest link. In a
society, women are the weakest links, so that they may be strengthened for
strengthening the society as a whole and that is possible only by empowering
them. In simple words, empowerment is giving power. Power is the keyword
of the term empowerment. The verb empower means to give the means,
ability and authority. Empowerment is a multi-dimensional social process that
helps people to gain control over their own lives and in their society, by
acting on issues that they consider as important. Empowerment means to
make one powerful or to equip one with the power to face challenges of life,
to overcome the difficulties, handicaps and inequalities. It is the process in
which women individually and collectively become active, knowledgeable and
goal oriented Empowerment occurs within sociological, psychological and
economic spheres and at various levels such as individual, group and
community. The National Agricultural Policy of India (2000) and the Indian
National Policy for the Empowerment of Women (2001) have highlighted the
need for incorporating gender issues in the agricultural development agenda
to provide recognition of women's role as farmers and producers of crops and
livestock, users of technology, active agents in marketing.
Gandhiji said that women are the companion of men, gifted with
equal mental capacities. She has the right to participate in the minute detail
of the activities of life and she has a right of freedom and liberty with man.
But today in India with special reference to the villages, we see that by sheer
force of a viscous systems even the most ignorant and worthless man have
been enjoying a superiority over women which do not deserve and ought not
to have. We can however, see that the trends have changed to a great extent
with more and more women coming out and competing with men in many
spheres. We can see today women and all spheres of life with no exception. .
Women tend to be involved in the care of children and management of the
household as well as income generation. Rural women and girl children are
the most vulnerable among all the groups of populations that require
intervention for quality life. They work for long hours, in tasks that are
beyond their capacities, often with no training and awareness of recent
trends in farming as well as household activities. They face discrimination in
the family and as a result in adolescence the girls become vulnerable to
several social & health risks. Apart from deprivation, adolescent girls bear the
burden of looking after young siblings, working and doing household
chores.This erodes their capacity for normal growth and development and
prevents them from developing educational and other qualifications essential
for self development, capacity building and empowerment which certainly
affects on their interpersonal relationships and behavior.

Interpersonal Relationships-In the contexts of sociology and of popular

culture, the concept of interpersonal relationships involves social
associations, connections, or affiliations between two or more people. Such
persons may interact overtly, covertly, face-to-face; or may remain
effectively unknown to each other. Contact, Involvement and Intimacy are the
three stages in the course of interpersonal relationships
Types of interpersonal relationships
Interpersonal relationships includes kinship relationships (including family
relationships) genetically born (consanguinity, as for example in fatherhood,
motherhood),through marriage (affinity, as for example as a father-in-law,
mother-in-law, uncle by marriage, aunt by marriage) ,Soul mates(individuals
intimately drawn to one another through a favorable "meeting of minds" and
who find mutual acceptance and/or understanding with one another),casual
relationships, Platonic love,( an affectionate relationship) ,Friendship, which
consists of mutual love, trust, respect, and (often unconditional) acceptance;
and usually implies the discovery or establishment of common ground
between the individuals involved, brotherhood and sisterhood: individuals
united in a common cause or having a common interest, which may involve
formal membership in a club, organization, association, society, lodge,
fraternity or sorority. Partners or co-workers in a profession, business, or a
common workplace, relations within a community, for example, a community
of interest or practice and Association ie. simply knowing someone by
introduction or knowing someone by interaction.
Four factors were identified as major contributors for
interpersonal behavior of rural women First, marriage isolated girls from their
own families and villages, and brought the expectation of early motherhood.
Young brides were often unable to relax and eat adequately. Second,
marriage increased the workload of young women. They were expected to do
the heaviest household chores as well as farm work in this predominantly
agricultural community. Third, women had no financial autonomy or freedom
of movement, and were therefore denied access to supplementary food
sources available to men. Fourth, young women felt responsible for their
household's health and success. They were encouraged to fast regularly to
ensure this. Despite feeling responsible, young women had no control over
factors that might affect the household's well being. This made them anxious
and worried a great deal of the time.
Drudgery ,as major component of Interpersonal behavior:
Types of Drudgery:
Physical
Mental
Social
Emotional
Ways to overcome the problems of Interpersonal Behavior:
R- Rejuvenation
E- Empathy
L- Learning
A- Awareness
T- Temperament
IInteraction
O-Optimism

N- Negotiation
Wish you all an empowered Interpersonal relation..
Thanks for believing in me.
Gaytri Tiwari