Page 138 - Journeys Through Society-7

expected to dress. sati-an inhuman practice in which a widow was burnt
alive on the pyre of her dead husband. Ishwar Chandra
Gender Inequality Vidyasagar was responsible for the legislation of the

Gender inequality has existed since ancient times. The Widow Remarriage Act in 1856. Dayanand Saraswati
most widespread gender stereotype is that of a opened a number of schools and colleges to promote
woman as a housewife, cook or mother. Her work is education for girls. All these reformers emphasised
not valued because it does not generate income for that a nation can progress only when the condition of
the family, although, economists consider it unpaid women improves. The Constitution of India grants
labour. In general, in almost all societies, women face equal rights to men and women in all spheres.
discrimination and are given a low status in society. However, even after more than 75 years of
independence, gender equality is still a distant dream.
Wow Fact
Wow Fact
The use of digital technologies, such as AI is
transforming labour markets around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened gender
Their use is creating both challenges and inequality.
opportunities for the working lives of women.
Societies and economies need to prepare for the
future of work by considering the influence of Government’s Efforts Towards Equality
technology on gender equality.
We see inequality in the form of a lack of appreciation
for women's unpaid labour, household work and paid
jobs. According to a survey conducted, women work
one hour more as compared to men but their work is
undervalued and unpaid. In a society like India,
household duties and family responsibilities primarily
fall on the shoulders of women. The government has
taken remedial measures in this direction. State
governments have initiated many schemes to
encourage parents to send their daughters to schools
A woman tending to household work by way of giving cash incentives, mid-day meals and
other benefits.
Earlier, in most societies, men were the breadwinners
and women were the caretakers. Women in such To encourage women to step out of their homes and
work, anganwadis have been set up across the
societies were treated as people with no opinions.
They were denied access to education and even basic country. Similarly, to reduce harassment of women at
work, the government has introduced the formation
facilities. Unmarried girls were placed under the
protection of their father or brother and after of Sexual Harassment Committee in all organisations,
marriage, under their husband's protection. public as well as private.
The government, through the mass media, is working
However, in the twentieth century, these ideas
underwent a change. Women across the world to bring about a change in the mindset of people to
demanded to be treated equally. In India, this progress break gender stereotypes.
has not been very fast. However, until the people themselves work towards
Social reformers of the nineteenth century, like Raja reducing gender inequality in their homes and at their
workplaces, government initiatives are futile. There is
Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and
a marked change in gender equality in urban India but
Dayanand Saraswati introduced reforms for the uplift
meat of women. in rural India, efforts to bring about change are yet to
yield considerable results.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was instrumental in abolishing

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