Page 144 - Journeys Through Society-7

Raising Awareness Contemporary Women’s Movement

The women’s movements play an important role in The Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA)
raising public awareness on women's rights. These movement in Ahmedabad led by Ela Bhatt, that began
include issues like health, education and protection in 1972, was a pioneering women's trade union
under law. Awareness- raising campaigns are movement. It was a landmark in the history of the
undertaken in the forms of street plays, public contemporary women's movement. Women involved
meetings, cultural programme, etc. in various trades in the informal sector were brought
together by their shared experiences such as low
Women’s movements also focus on the violation of
earnings, harassment at home, harassment by
women’s rights. If an act or law violates their interest,
contractors and the police, poor work conditions, non-
they protest against it. Public attention is sought
recognition of their labour, etc. Apart from collective
through demonstrations and rallies.
bargaining, the movement strove to improve the
Protesting working conditions through training.

The protests, rallies and candle marches launched by
women activists have led to the reopening of cases of
crimes against women which had not been tried fairly.
Investigations, protests and demonstrations of
solidarity help to create public awareness and also
make the police and judiciary take notice of these
issues.

Ela Bhatt
Many organisations have moved from demands of
radical change to a dilution or compromise of their
earlier political position. However, one noteworthy
feature of the contemporary women's movement is
that it draws its resources from the experiences of
diverse groups of women.
School girls protesting against crime

Revision Notes

• Men and women in society were expected to play specific gender roles in the past.
• In the nineteenth century, changes began to take place as women began to fight for their rights.

• Some women learnt to read and write despite the discrimination.
• Today, education is the right of both boys and girls. In spite of this, only about 60 per cent of girls
receive education.
• Poverty, early marriage and family responsibilities are some of the factors that come in the way of
education of girls.

• Campaigning, protesting and showing solidarity are some of the ways in which women activists fight
against inequality.

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