Sociology · Sociology of Indian Society
Chapter 6 : WOMEN IN INDIA
Table of contents58 sections
- 1.WOMEN IN INDIA
- 2.I. STATUS OF WOMEN IN ANCIENT INDIA
- 3.1. Women in the Vedic and the Post-Vedic Periods (3000 B.C. to 600 B.C.)
- 4.2. Women during the Epic Period
- 5.3. Women During the Period of Dharmashastras and Puranas
- 6.4. Women in the Buddhist Period
- 7.Key Terms
- 8.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 9.II. STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE MEDIEVAL INDIA
- 10.Problems of Women in Medieval India
- 11.Equally Poor Position of Muslim Women
- 12.Impact of Bhakti Movement On the Status of Women
- 13.The Position of Women Steadily Deteriorated For Nearly 2000 Years
- 14.Key Terms
- 15.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 16.III. STATUS OF WOMEN IN MODERN INDIA
- 17.A. STATUS OF INDIAN WOMEN DURING THE BRITISH RULE
- 18.B. STATUS OF WOMEN IN INDEPENDENT INDIA
- 19.Key Terms
- 20.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 21.VIEWS OF MANU AND GANDHIJI ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
- 22.Manu and His Smriti on the Status of Women
- 23.Gandhiji's Views about the Status of Women
- 24.Key Terms
- 25.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 26.IV. PROBLEMS OF WOMEN IN MODERN INDIA
- 27.1. Problem of Violence against Women
- 28.2. Decline in the Female Population
- 29.3. Female Children Becoming Victims of Discrimination
- 30.4. Health Problem of Women
- 31.5. Problems of Female Education
- 32.6. Problems of Employment and Unemployment for Women
- 33.7. Decline in the Political Participation of Women
- 34.Key Terms
- 35.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 36.V. DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE OF WOMEN
- 37.1. Welfare of Women Through Legislations
- 38.2. Legal Assistance to Assure Justice to Women
- 39.3. Educational Development Plan for Women
- 40.4. Programmes for Improving Women's Health
- 41.5. Economic Development Programme for Women
- 42.6. The Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB)
- 43.7. National Commission for Women
- 44.Key Terms
- 45.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 46.EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
- 47.Empowerment of Women - A Solution to Gender Discrimination
- 48.Empowerment of Women and the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act - 1993
- 49.Reasons for or the Rationale Behind the Empowerment of Women
- 50.A Brief Assessment of 73rd Constitution Amendment Act
- 51.Key Terms
- 52.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 53.VI. THE STATUS AND THE PROBLEMS OF INDIAN WOMEN: FUTURE PROSPECTS
- 54.Future Prospects
- 55.Conclusion
- 56.Key Terms
- 57.📌 Exam Tidbits
- 58.Quick-Recall Box
Chapter preview
WOMEN IN INDIA
The biological fact of sex creates differences in aims, objectives, desires, aspirations, duties, responsibilities, dress styles, behavioural patterns, roles, and statuses between men and women. Historically, women have never been treated exactly on par with men, despite their urge for equality. However, men and women represent one culture and heritage. The status assigned to women reflects a society's cultural richness and civilisational standards.
Swami Vivekananda stated: "that country and that nation which did not respect women have never become great nor will ever in future". The history of Indian women's status is studied in three stages: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern.
I. STATUS OF WOMEN IN ANCIENT INDIA
Scholarly opinions on the status of women in ancient India are divided into two contextual views, though the real status is judged by analysing their social, economic, political, and religious rights over time.
| Viewpoint | Supporting Classical Statements |
|---|---|
| Equals of Men (Higher Status) | Apastamba: "All must make a way for a woman when she is treading a path." |
| Equals of Men (Higher Status) | Manu: "When women are honoured, the gods are pleased, but where they are not honoured, no sacred rite yields any reward." |
| Equals of Men (Higher Status) | Yajnavalkya: "Women are the embodiment of all divine virtues on earth..." |
| Disrespect/Hatred (Degraded Status) | Manu: Stated in another context that women are not fit for enjoying freedom. |
| Disrespect/Hatred (Degraded Status) | Bhishma (Mahabharata): "Husband should regard his wife as an acquisition." |
| Disrespect/Hatred (Degraded Status) | Lord Rama (Ramayana): "I can give away all my royal inheritance and even my wife and all that I value to Bharat of my own free accord." |
1. Women in the Vedic and the Post-Vedic Periods (3000 B.C. to 600 B.C.)
Women held an honourable position of equality with men, enjoying freedom across multiple spheres.
- Freedom Enjoyed: No purdah system. Freedom in education, marriage, economic production, spending money, and religious activities. Widows could remarry. Divorce was not permissible for women or men (though later, Kautilya gave detailed rules for divorce). Women were treated as Ardhanginis (better halves).
- Educational Opportunities : Daughters were not ill-treated despite male preference. They…
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