GENDER BIASED INDIAN
SOCIETY
India suffers from
Gender bias on a large scale; I am an Indian and a proud one too but my pride
cannot conceal or overlook the weaknesses of my own society. It is true that 50
years ago in India the bias was greater than even today and we have been
successful or lucky in perhaps reducing the levels to some extent but the
‘flaws’ still exist. We can close our eyes but that won’t make the truth fade
away!
There are two
dimensions of this ugly phenomenon; one involves the domestic life and the
other revolves around the professional life. Interestingly when it comes to
India the society is gender biased in favor of men within both dimensions. Let
me take you on a ‘joy ride’ in the first arena initially; the domestic life.
Indian men are allowed the ‘freedom’ to make decisions on all minor or major
issues of daily life.
From children’s choice of education, career or even
clothes; the consent of the male is essential. If the women of the house want
to go for shopping or visit their own parent’s home or even drop in at a ‘friend’s
house; it is a must that prior permission is sought from the male head or
dominant male figure in the household.
The trivial matters or significant
issues both require due male consent and approval before decisions are made.
The way society thinks and addresses these acts are more peculiar than one
could imagine. If a male stays out till later he is allowed since he is a man
but if a woman let her be his sister or wife than she is ‘immoral’ and
‘indecent’. The Indian society is ready to provide justifications for all ‘male
actions’ and quick to malign the ‘female’s conduct’. What a blessed way to
conduct ‘affairs’ in my society.
This ugly phenomenon
does not merely end up with the domestic issues. If luckily a woman is able to
enter professional life and earn her livelihood than again the balance is
tilted in the favor of men. Sexual harassment is often meted out to her if she
happens to be good looking or well dressed or even simply friendly to her male
colleagues.
A quick judgment is bestowed upon her as ‘easy’ or ‘she must have
done something to elicit such a conduct by the male co-worker or boss. Even if
such cases manage to be reported the management of companies run majorly by men
tends to favor their own gender and ignore the pleas of their female
counterpart. Even if she does not face any harassment, there are other issues
in plentiful to make her professional life miserable as well. If times come for
promotions; the male counterparts are always favored for men believe that
taking orders or working under a woman is beyond their so called ‘honor’.
When
she returns to her home after a late shift or working extra hours the ‘glances’
from neighbors and even family members suggest that her conduct is dubious. Her
morality is questioned and she stands no longer as ‘pious’. On the contrary if
a man is coming late we all would hear the same people whom I would call
‘observers’ chanting ‘oh what a hard working devoted man’.
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Gender biased society |
Our society is plagued
by this gender bias and the only way to get rid of this pestilence is by
denouncing these ‘double standards’ and striving to change the mindset of our
society with respect to women both in domestic as well as professional chapters
of our lives.
Nice article !
ReplyDeleteMust read article... one like from my side :D
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that somehow in the philippines gender equality is a bit moving forward, but there was once a philippines that the male dominates everything thus the same thinking.
ReplyDeleteI guess the younger generation are slowly breaking the barrier of change, it will soon change I have some indian GF and they are already speaking their minds and doing what they think is right.
let us hope for the better :)
I'm sorry but I don't think I could live there. Seriously asking for permission to go some where from a man? I mean America has its problems but I think I would rather deal with them.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that things are still so gender bias and even going to see your friends and parents can sometimes still need permission.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right it is time for change.
ReplyDeleteVery well written and thought out article. I hope that one of these days-soon-the women in your society will stand up and denounce these practices-it will not be easy but well worth it!
ReplyDeleteVery well written! I agree gender bias is an issue in today's society...even if a lot of people choose to ignore it as one.
ReplyDeleteI have read and heard stories about how difficult it is for women in India. I pray that things get better quickly.
ReplyDeleteI find this to be hard to read. I guess as an American I am used to so many things that other people are not used to. I dated an man from an Arabic country for a while and had to end the relationship because of stories like you just told.
ReplyDeleteI hope that things will change soon.
I always learn so much from reading your blog posts. Thanks!
ReplyDelete