"Women in India - 2024" An Essay by Jahnavi Malisetty of B.Sc FNBC First Year 

Picture Credit: Jahnavi Malisetty 

In India, approximately 691 million people are women, many of whom face unfair treatment, discrimination, honor killings, child abuse, dowry deaths, acid attacks, female feticide, trafficking, child marriage, and more. Due to age-old superstitions and outdated thinking, women endure numerous challenges. They are discriminated against  men, often denied education, married at a young age, and subjected to domestic violence and workplace harassment. The horrific tradition of sati, although abolished, is a stark reminder of how deeply ingrained some practices were. In sati, a widow was forced to burn herself alive on her husband's funeral pyre, while a widowed man could continue to live and remarry without similar expectations.

Thankfully, many have opposed such unjust practices. For example, Raja Ram Mohan Roy played a pivotal role in the abolition of sati. Even today, women are often forced to obey others’ wishes and face bias in every aspect of life. They are discouraged from pursuing education and are often confined to household chores, child-rearing, and caring for their families. Their individuality is often erased, and they are made to live solely for others.

Even when a woman is educated and capable of supporting herself, she may still face discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Women are often pressured to bring dowries upon marriage, treated as commodities with a price tag, and subjected to domestic violence if their in-laws or spouses are dissatisfied.

A major threat to women in today's society is the pervasive fear of assault, even for a 4-month-old girl. In 2023 alone, "28,811 complaints of crimes against women" were reported, with countless other stories remaining untold, their voices stifled by fear of societal judgment.

In regions with matrilineal societies, where women are seen as capable of handling any task or challenge, the situation is still troubling. In such states, 690 crimes against women were recorded, with only 26% being resolved.

Every day, we are inundated with tragic news: a 4-month-old girl assaulted, the 2012 Nirbhaya case, two minor girls gang-raped in Shillong, the Kolkata doctor case, and the horrifying death of a veterinary doctor who was burned alive, among many others.

Human trafficking is another heinous crime affecting women, with many girls being kidnapped and trafficked to other countries where their lives become unbearable. Even cultured, independent women are not spared; if they reject a man’s advances, they might face violent retaliation, such as an acid attack.

We live in a country where women are traditionally respected and worshipped. The Mahabharata epic is a testament to this, as the great battle was fought to avenge the disrobing and insult of Draupadi. Similarly, Ravana was killed for harboring ill intentions toward Sita Devi. Our ancestors fought for the honor of women, yet today, as their descendants, we continue to struggle for justice for women who have been assaulted.

Women can only feel safe in society when there is collective action to change it. A simple social media post or a “we want justice” slogan won’t suffice. Women must also learn to protect themselves, including through self-defense training. In reality, no superhero will come to our rescue—women must be empowered to stand up for themselves.

A better society for women can only be achieved with stronger laws. Criminals who commit crimes against women must face severe punishment, and justice must be delivered within a year. For a victim, waiting for justice for a decade or more is often more painful than the crime itself. Laws must help women live without fear of discrimination, harassment, or violence.

When children are taught to respect women from an early age, many crimes against women could be prevented. Home is the first school, and parents are the first teachers. Every parent should ensure that daughters are protected, and sons are taught to respect others.

Society must support women in standing up against unfair treatment and not judge them unjustly, as in the common but harmful notion that “a girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy.” Instead, society should be a pillar of support for victims whose voices are unheard, for those trapped in toxic marriages, and for those facing domestic violence. The society has to be the one to break the shackles instead of binding them in it.

Women will only be truly safe in this society if these changes are made. It is up to people to work hard toward this goal, ensuring that every woman feels safe and proud to be born as a woman.