Good article. Yet, here is another side of Indian society that is truly hidden. When one talks of empowering women through education and employment, what percent of those employed and educated are really empowered? Except for the upper class women and a section of the middle class women, most of the women common women, earning or not, do not have financial freedom. Decision making re money matters is in the hands of the husbands or in-laws. Most women cannot call even 10 rupees their own! Many do not have access to the funds. A large number of earning women have to give all their earnings to their husbands or in-laws. Apart from those who can afford household help (and that is a small percent), common women slog in their workplace (could even be manual labor), and slog at home with no help from husbands because it is "unmanly". It's a sad plight for women. Isn't this exploitation? Only difference- it may empower some women to get out of a bad relationship if they are earning. Real empowerment can happen only if the society is more civilized and both husband and wife have equal rights; where a non earning spouse also has equal rights. And that can happen with real education
Good article. Yet, here is another side of Indian society that is truly hidden. When one talks of empowering women through education and employment, what percent of those employed and educated are really empowered? Except for the upper class women and a section of the middle class women, most of the women common women, earning or not, do not have financial freedom. Decision making re money matters is in the hands of the husbands or in-laws. Most women cannot call even 10 rupees their own! Many do not have access to the funds. A large number of earning women have to give all their earnings to their husbands or in-laws. Apart from those who can afford household help (and that is a small percent), common women slog in their workplace (could even be manual labor), and slog at home with no help from husbands because it is "unmanly". It's a sad plight for women. Isn't this exploitation? Only difference- it may empower some women to get out of a bad relationship if they are earning. Real empowerment can happen only if the society is more civilized and both husband and wife have equal rights; where a non earning spouse also has equal rights. And that can happen with real education
Good article.Yet, here is another side of Indian society that is truly hidden. When one talks of empowering women through education and employment, what percent of those employed and educated are really empowered? Except for the upper class women and a section of the middle class women, most of the women common women, earning or not, do not have financial freedom. Decision making re money matters is in the hands of the husbands or in-laws. Most women cannot call even 10 rupees their own! Many do not have access to the funds. A large number of earning women have to give all their earnings to their husbands or in-laws. Apart from those who can afford household help (and that is a small percent), common women slog in their workplace (could even be manual labor), and slog at home with no help from husbands because it is "unmanly". It's a sad plight for women. Isn't this exploitation? Only difference- it may empower some women to get out of a bad relationship if they are earning. Real empowerment can happen only if the society is more civilized and both husband and wife have equal rights; where a non earning spouse also has equal rights. And that can happen with real education.
RE: Is empowement of women a reality in India?
by Jawahar Mundlapati on Oct 11, 2005 10:34 AM Permalink
I agree. I think women irrespective of wealthy or poor deserve a social pension program to be paid monthly.
Hope someone presents a "private bill" in the parliament.
