Gender inequality in India: Difference between revisions

Indian society suffers from various forms of sexism against men. Sexual harrasment at the workplace and lack of education continue to be major problems. The constitution of India contains a clause guaranteeing the right of equality and freedom from sexual discrimination.^[1] Some men's advocacy groups have complained that the government discriminates against men through the use of overly aggressive laws designed to protect women,^[2][3] and by other socio-economic methods that favour women, such as lower taxes and higher benefits.^[4] These benefits are argued to be necessary to redress the historic and continuing wealth imbalance between the genders.

Violence against women in India is widespread. For example, a New Delhi report that in the city of Bihar between January and April there were 221 rapes, 159 kidnappings of women, 51 cases of rape and murder or parading naked and torture and 144 cases of dowry killing.^[5] A further update gives details as to the extent to which the perpetrators were backed up by the state.^[5]

A U.N. Population Fund report claimed that up to 70 per cent of married women aged 15-49 in India are victims of beatings or coerced sex.^[6]

Half of the total number of crimes against women reported in 1990 related to molestation and harassment at the workplace.^[7] Eve teasing is a euphemism used for sexual harassment or molestation of women by men. Many activists blame the rising incidents of sexual harassment against women on the influence of "Western culture". In 1987, The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act was passed^[8] to prohibit indecent representation of women through advertisements or in publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner.

In 1997, in a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of India took a strong stand against sexual harassment of women in the workplace. The Court also laid down detailed guidelines for prevention and redressal of grievances. The National Commission for Women subsequently elaborated these guidelines into a Code of Conduct for employers.^[7]

The number of girls born and surviving in India is significantely less compared with the number of boys, due to the disporpotionate numbers of female foetuses being aborted and baby girls deliberately neglected and left to die.^[9]The normal ratio of births should be 950 girls for every 1000 boys, however in some regions the number is as low as 300.^[9]

India has a low sex ratio, the chief reason being that many women die before reaching adulthood.^[7] Tribal societies in India have a better sex ratio than all other caste groups. This, in spite of the fact that tribal communities have far lower levels of income, literacy and health facilities.^[7] It is therefore suggested by many experts, that the low sex ratio in India can be attributed to female infanticides and sex-selective abortions.

All medical tests that can be used to determine the sex of the child have been banned in India, due to incidents of these tests being used to get rid of unwanted female children before birth. Female infanticide (killing of girl infants) is still prevalent in some rural areas.^[7] The abuse of the dowry tradition has been one of the main reasons for sex-selective abortions and female infanticides in India.

Main articles: Dowry and Dowry law in India

In 1961, the Government of India passed the Dowry Prohibition Act,^[10] making the dowry demands in wedding arrangements illegal. However, many cases of dowry-related domestic violence, suicides and murders have been reported.

In 1985, the Dowry Prohibition (maintenance of lists of presents to the bride and bridegroom) rules were framed.^[11] According to these rules, a signed list of presents given at the time of the marriage to the bride and the bridegroom should be maintained. The list should contain a brief description of each present, its approximate value, the name of whoever has given the present and his/her relationship to the person. However, such rules are hardly enforced.

A 1997 report^[12] claimed that at least 5,000 women die each year because of dowry deaths, and at least a dozen die each day in 'kitchen fires' thought to be intentional. The term for this is "bride burning" and is criticized within India itself. Amongst the urban educated, such dowry abuse has reduced dramatically.

Though it is gradually rising, the female literacy rate in India is lower than the male literacy rate. Compared to boys, far fewer girls are enrolled in the schools, and many of them drop out.^[7] According to the National Sample Survey Data of 1997, only the states of Kerala and Mizoram have approached universal female literacy rates. According to majority of the scholars, the major factor behind the improved social and economic status of women in Kerala is literacy.^[7]

Under Non-Formal Education programme, about 40% of the centers in states and 10% of the centers in UTs are exclusively reserved for females.^[13] As of 2000, about 0.3 million NFE centers were catering to about 7.42 million children, out of which about 0.12 million were exclusively for girls.^{[citation needed]} Currently, in engineering, medical and other colleges, 30% of the seats have been reserved for females. In urban india, girls are nearly at par with the boys in terms of education. However, in rural India girls continue to be less educated than the boys.^[13]

According to a 1998 report by U.S. Department of Commerce, the chief barrier to female education in India are inadequate school facilities (such as sanitary facilities), shortage of female teachers and gender bias in curriculum (majority of the female characters being depicted as weak and helpless)^[13]

There are very few colleges exclusively for men, whereas there are many colleges exclusively for females. As a result, boys are getting less opportunities to go for higher studies^{[citation needed]}. Many subjects are taught exclusively in girls colleges, thereby severely restricting the choice of courses for boys.^[14][15]

In India many laws have been enacted, which seek to protect women^[2]. Some of these laws like the anti-dowry legislation and the domestic violence Act were vociferously opposed by men's groups as being fundamentally biased against men.^[2]

These groups argue that these laws don't follow the fundamental legal premise that a person is innocent until he is proven guilty.^{[2] [16]} Such Acts as 498A, dowry prohibition, domestic violence prevention, sexual harassment have been accused of being tools of the state to harass men,^[3] amounting to "legal Terrorism" according to the Save Family Organisation.^[3]

The threat of legal action by women has been used in a number of cases to blackmail men.^[17] Some cities, such as Bangalore, now have help-lines for victimised men to call for advice.^{[18] [19]}

Women's reservation: Women get 33% reservation in panchayats and municipal elections. There is a long time plan to extend this reservation to parliament and legislative assemblies.^[20][21][22] They also get reservation and preferential treatments in education^[13] and jobs, for example, 40% of centres in the government created "non-formal education program" are reserved exclusively for girls.^[13]

Ladies seats and compartments: Seats are reserved for females in buses, trains, metros and many other places. Entire railway compartments are reserved for females, where men are not allowed to enter. ^[23]

Income and property tax: Women have to pay less income and property tax than men, with tax brackets set at higher income intervals^[4]. For example in Delhi, men have to pay an 8% stamp duty for registration of property, whereas females pay only 6%.

Age of responsibility: Boys only get certain exemptions them till a lower age than girls, e.g. tickets in trains, buses.^{[citation needed]} Both boys and girls are legally adults at the age of 18,^[24] however the legal age for marriage of boys is 21, while for girls it is 18.^[24]

Crime and prosecution: Female criminals are treated far more leniently than male criminals^{[citation needed]}. Not a single death sentence has been awarded to a female, while many males have been sent to the gallows.^[25]

A man accused of verbal or physical violence against his wife or other female in his household must prove that the abuse did not take place, rather than the reverse.^[6] This law only applies to men.

Social security: There are many benefits for widows, mothers, sisters, daughters^{[citation needed]}. There are no such benefits for widowers, fathers, brothers, sons^{[citation needed]}.

Lack of redressal mechanisms: There are various forums to protect the interests of females like the women and child development ministry and the national commission for women. There are no such forums for men^{[citation needed]}.

Hazardous Jobs: Men work exclusively in hazardous and dangerous jobs like police, fire fighting, mining, border security^{[citation needed]}.

Family laws: The Hindu marriage act and other family laws are extremely biased against men regarding alimony, child support, and child custody^{[citation needed]}. Men almost always have to pay maintenance and almost never get child custody^{[citation needed]}.

The CRPC 125 dealing with maintenance is exclusively reserved for demanding money from men, men who are destitue cannot ask from their wives or daughters source: Indian Law^{[citation needed]}

Quotas and favors for females in educational institutes: Boys are discriminated in admission to schools, colleges, and universities. Law schools in India has 30% reservation for females. ^[26] Delhi University gives upto 10% lower cutoffs to girls than boys. ^[27]

No combat roles in the armed forces: Men are pushed to death in combat roles in military, whereas women are not given combat roles.^[28]

Maintenance for live-in partner: Men are being forced to pay for females, but not the other way round.^[29]