Causes Of Gender Inequality

Gender is a socio-cultural term which is used to define role and behavior given to males and females in the society. From social, historical and cultural aspects gender denotes power relationship between male and female, where male are always considered superior than women. In simple words gender inequality may be defined as discriminated behavior against women as compare to men. Women in the society are accorded with subordinate position to men. She is always exploited, degraded, violated and discriminated whether in home or at office. This discrimination against women is prevalent everywhere in the world and so in the Indian society.

Right from the ancient days, India has been a male dominated society. Indian women were burdened under many

In these communities oldest woman is the head of family. Although there are Kalpana Chawla, Kiran Bedi, Indira Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu who have already proved themselves at par with men, but major part is still struggling for equal rights. Gender equality can only be achieved when there is transformation in the basic system of patriarchy.

Causes and Types of Gender Inequality

The root cause of gender inequality in Indian society lies in its patriarchy system. According to the famous sociologists Sylvia Walby, patriarchy is “a system of social structure and practices in which men dominate, oppress and exploit women”. Women’s exploitation is an age old cultural phenomenon of Indian society. The system of patriarchy finds its validity and sanction in our religious beliefs, whether it is Hindu, Muslim or any other religion.

For instance, as per ancient Hindu law giver Manu: “Women are supposed to be in the custody of their father when they are children, they must be under the custody of their husband when married and under the custody of her son in old age or as widows. In no circumstances she should be allowed to assert herself

And this becomes a major health issue in her later years. One of the main reasons for the high incidences of difficult births and anemia in women is the poor quality of food which a girl always gets either in her paternal home or in her in-laws as also is the excessive workload that they are made to bear from their early childhood.

So the inequality or discrimination against women is at various levels in the society, either in home or outside home.

Gender Inequality in India: Important Data

Global Indices:

Gender Inequality is also reflected in India’s poor ranking in various global gender indices.

• UNDP’s Gender Inequality Index- 2014: India’s ranking is 127 out of 152 countries in the List. This ranking is only above Afghanistan as far as SAARC countries are concerned.

• World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index- 2014: India’s ranks at 114 in the list of 142 countries of the world. This Index examines gender gap in four major areas:

• Economic participation and opportunity.

• Educational achievements.

• Health and life expectancy.

• Political empowerment.

India’s position on these indicators was as