India case study

Gender inequality issues

• Violence against women - 52% of women in india think it is justifiable for a man to beat his wife, other research also indicates that domestic violence is tolerated by communities, also there are increased rape an violence outside the home

• Access to education - 70% of girls nationally attend primary school and figure is much lower in secondary schools, restrictive factors are opposition from families and communities, poverty, and cultural beliefs

• Modern slavery - Estimated that 11 million people were subject to modern slavery in 2023

• Employment opportunity - women have limited access to employment opportunities and are often expected to remain at home and carry out domestic chores especially in rural areas, and some find it hard not to conform to social norms

• Discrimination in the work place - maternity benefits are denied by many employers and most women do not return to work after child birth. In Delhi, only 25% of married women return to work after childbirth

The consequence of gender inequality on society

• women have been subject to murder and disfigurement when their family cannot meet the demands for a dowry by the husband - there were 8233 dowry-related deaths in 2012 most in the north and west regions

• Women can be subject to honor killings when disagreeing to arranged marriage or not conforming with other gender norms

• Many are beaten in the domestic home and are subject to sexual violence

• Women’s health is at risk during and after pregnancy and MMR is high

• They have also been pressured into sex-selective abortions due to desire for male offspring

Evidence of changing norms or strategies to address gender inequality issues

• change is occurring slowly through intervention by strengthening the rule of law, increasing number of laws and treaties, and NGO’s working in local communities to improve education

• The government has ratified a number of international human rights treaties such as UDHR and CEDAW

Long term shifting of norms and effective application of law methods

• 2014 the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs launched an anti-trafficking portal involving more accurate reporting of crime, a victim support program and specific training of police units

• Interventions by NGOs in implementing development projects are taking a gendered approach e.g. the ICRW to help women gain more confidence in reporting more crimes and speaking up for their rights

• 2014 the Delhi police increased the number of women police officers in response to them finding SA crimes almost absent in central Delhi but most prevalent in south and west Delhi