Feminism, Womanism and Indian Women

The freedom and rights so many women take for granted today were hard-fought by women not so long ago.

Feminism is the belief in the social, political and economical equality of the sexes. Feminism is not a bunch of stereotyped hysterical man-hating fanatics who seek power and control but believe in true equality. In fact it seeks to liberate men from the macho stereotypic roles and portrays man to express his feelings, play an equal partner in the family and an active role in upbringing his children.

Feminism in the right sense emphasizes the importance of values such as co-operation, tolerance, nurturance and the freedom for each person to achieve the fullest potential. It should not act in opposition to men but should be against oppressive and outdated social structures. To be feminine is to pay attention to detail and people, have people skills, and to know how to connect to and work well with others. For this reason, we often find more women getting into the HR streams.

Why are Indian women despite visible advances still not developing as they should? Why do we find only a handful of women like Meg Whitman, President and CEO of eBay, Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo have made a visible mark? The mainstream Indian women's movement is led by privileged urban feminists. The participation of women factory workers, Dalit women and urban poor are co-opted just to make up the numbers. The destinies of Indian women are extremely diverse. Some have freedom and power, enjoy the respect of their men-folk and high status in society while others only survive. Education is the main factor by which nation-wide social transformation of women is possible.

Feminism in India still struggles against patriarchy which keeps females down and they face oppressive gender restrictions. Unwed mothers, separated, single women are considered outcasts even today. An unmarried daughter seen as a spinster in her late twenties brings shame upon her parents and once she is married, considered the property of her in-laws. Even urban married women do not have the right to take decisions on child bearing governed by her biological factors. In religious rituals and customs, females are barred from taking part in all worship. In financial matters, although women are permitted to work outside of the home, their rights on any household matters are restricted to a large extent. Legally, although the court recognizes that sons and daughters have equal rights regarding patriarchal property, those rights are never exercised; ownership changes hands from father to husband to son and the rights of a daughter or a daughter-in-law are not fully acknowledged.

The condition of women in a society is an index of that societys place in civilization. Indian women are yet to play a full fledged role in a society.