Case study: Gender inequality in India

What is the background of India?

• BRICs country

• GDP per capita - increased from US$1609 to US$2044

• Sectoral change to a service based economy

What does India rank in Gender Inequality Index?

129th/189 countries

What is the evidence of gender inequality in India?

• Economic: employment and discrimination at work, lack of property ownership

• Social: violence against women, access to healthcare and education

• Political: political participation

What role do social norms play in why women’s rights in India aren’t respected.?

• The mindset of both women right’s in India aren’t respected.

• The mindset of both women and primarily men have to be changed for the inequalities to change.

• Even is legislation changes, it takes a long time for social attitudes must also change.

What are the consequences of gender inequality?

• Usually results in violence against women - in 2018 there were 7166 dowry related deaths

• Women’s health is usually poor - high incidences of maternal morality - places children in poor positions

What has the India government done to try to tackle gender inquality?

• The govt has ratified a number of international treaties - the govt incorporated principles into laws bounding them nationally and internationally

• The International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Economic Social and Cultural Rights - this helps them push for women’s rights

What legislation was made to help stop child brides?

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006

What is the key barrier to gender inequality?

The social norms - The mindset of both women and men need to be changed - legislation can do this and NGOS and can help local people

How has countries such as India become so unequal?

The patriarchal society that find it validity and sanctions in religions such as Hinduism, Islam etc

Why are many women in India educated and what is the impact?

• There are more female political representation - legislation can be passed with women in mind)

• Many high profile women MPs (usually people are educated overseas)

• More role models for young girls to get into education

What percentage of child brides in India were under the age of of 18 years old?

27%

Where is child brides more prominent? Why?

Northern provinces which are more rural - rural areas don’t have as fast communications so they’re less aware of progressive change

What are dowry and honour related deaths?

• Some areas still have dowries even though it was outlawed in 1961 95% of marriages have an aspect of dowry as of 2021 - still hasn’t changed which cultivated this ownership mentality with wives

• Many young girls are being killed for ‘dishonourable actions’ (e.g. refusing to marry, having other relationships)

What is the female workforce percentage in India?

20% - poor treatment at work, debt, no independence

Why is education for girls significant to help tackle gender inequality?

It keeps girls away from child marriages and helps them access better job opportunities

What is evidence of the Protection of Violence of Women Act 2005 hasn’t worked?

50% of women in India believe that its acceptable for men to hit their wives (social norms)

Why isn’t the protection of women not secure?

Women’s violations aren’t death with so they don’t report it - only 32% of crimes against women are punished

What percentage of women own property in India?

31.7%

What is a core reason why there are low employment opportunities for women?

Early pregnancy and child marriages - women are unlikely to be educated if they have children early and get married

How else has India been able to reduce gender inequality?

• Introducing safe cities and female police officers (role models)

• Flexible working hours for mothers so they’re not excluded from work