THE NEW EMERGING WOMEN POWER, THE GROUND REALITIES

INTRODUCTION:

Gone are the days when Frailty, Thy Name is Woman!, and now Its Masculine
Women. Women, the noblest creation of God, has been gifted with compassion, tender-
heartedness, caring nature, concern for others. One woman can change anything! Many
women can change everything! In recent times women have absolutely been firm,
determined, excelling in all sphere of life and they are unstoppable from administering the
country to setting their footprints in International space station. However prevalence of
certain social factors still continues to threaten their progress. Let us examine the new
emerging women power and its ground realities in various dimensions of the society.

EMERGING WOMEN POWER:

In early western society, women are mainly looked as an object of sexuality and treated as
second rate citizens. In India, women (such as Maitreyi, and Garg) are actually held in high
positions until later vedic period and thereon suppression of women emerged and its worst
form continue to exist till our independence from British. Reformist like Rajarammohan
Roy, Eishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and others contributed significantly for women
empowerment during this period. At its inception, our constitution have assured the equality
for women(Art. 14) and prohibits the discrimination based on gender (Art. 15) and give
them freedom to participate in the social, political, economic and cultural life of the nation.

Women are playing an all-enveloping character of a mother, daughter, wife, sister, friend,
nurturer, guide and partner. History have always teaches us about the potential of women and
her contributions for the welfare of society. The present day women are outstanding in
many fields such as education, administration, corporate governance, R&D, scientific
inventions, defense, classical dances etc., such as Mrs.Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher,
Srimavo Bandaranaike, Benazir Bhutto etc., in politics; Florence Nightingale, Mother Teresa
in social services; Chanda Kocchar, Indra Noyi in the field of business; Kalpana Chawla,
Sunita Williams for their peculiar work; Kasturba Gandhi for her moral support to Mahatma
Gandhi for his struggle for Indian independence. Women have also given a very good account
of themselves in sports. Modern day women are characterized with self-independence.

Present day women participate actively in administration. They have shown effectiveness and
balanced approach and discharge their duties in the best possible way. Women are holding
high position in various countries including India. In India, 33% reservation has been
mandated in Panchayat raj and municipalities for women have paved the way for their active
participations. At present, many of the political administrators like lokshaba speaker, CMs of
Delhi, Tamilnadu, Westbengal, leader of opposition party in loksabha, and many number of
civil servants etc., are women.

Globalization have widened the employment opportunity for women and provided the
financial stability. This financial support has empowered women to lead an independent life,
and thus reduced their age-old tradition of financial dependence on men. Women contribution
in service sector is commendable and the same in reflected in respective countries GDP.

In developing countries like India and Bangladesh, women involvement in self-help groups
especially in rural areas have contributed for their financial inclusion and sustainable
development. In India, various government social sector schemes such as ASHA, SABLA
etc., have contributed to better health prospects for women. Benefits like maternity
allowances and leave, less taxation, flexible work timings and women associations etc., has
increased number of working women. As per census 2011, increase in the literacy level is
attributed more by women than men.

Ground Reality:

In reality only a meager proportion of women enjoy the empowerment. The so called
empowered women on an analysis shows belong to the section having better economic
conditions over other oppressed class which in turn enabled them to get educated, qualified
and empowered to come up in life. This kind of women empowerment, we can see getting
satiated or saturated very soon rather than getting propagated throughout the women society.
The need of another earning member in city based nuclear families for better living
opportunities has become a pivotal force to get women professionally qualified. This motive
should not restrict them from realizing their potential and to come up as the beacon lights of
social empowerment.

Atrocities against women are increasing at an alarming rate. Women has come a long way
and still facing issue of gender bias, human rights, rape, participation in development
processes, portrayal in the media and trafficking, harassment at workplace. An UN statistical
report shows that more than 250,000 cases of rape or attempted rape were recorded by police
annually in 65 countries. Extreme social stigma cast on women who have been raped, or the
fear of being disowned by their families, or subjected to violence, including honour killings.
Economic independence has exposed women to sexual exploitation in offices and other
working places. In fact, domestic violence against women has increased.

When it comes to vulnerable to violence, women in power are also not an exception.
Australia's first woman Prime Minister, Julia Gillard is a victim on misogyny. Reflection of
masculine attitude can be seen in Southafrican Oscar Pistorius murder of Reeva Steenkamp.
Pakistani child activist Yousufiz Malala has been shot by Taliban, recent horrific incidents
such as gange rape in delhi are few other shameful act to mention. In every corner of the
globe, there goes many incidents unnoticed of the similar kind over the feminine folk.

Poor health care facility for pregnant women leads to maternal mortality rate. Globally, there
were an estimated 287 000 maternal deaths in 2010, yielding a MMR of 210 maternal deaths
per 100 000 live births among the 180 countries. Even though Census 2011 has indicated an
increase in women literacy rate, but overall women literacy is still comparatively low. Media
uses women as attractive factor for their advertisements.
The representations of women are considerably less in Indian politics.
Women reservation bill is not yet passed in India parliament due to lack of
political will. Due to rampant corruption and poor administration in social
sector schemes, benefits are not reaching the needy women. When it
comes to sacrifice, women are considered to lead. The leaders emerged at
the national level from women folk, at times do not succeed to empower
the women population to be aware of their political rights, free will and
upliftment to the national political arena.

Empowering measures:

Women must be given a fair chance to come up in their life. To promote women participation
in the society, UNO declared March-8 of every year as International Womens day. The
theme for 2013 is A promise is a promise. Let us end the violence against women.

Women have to be assured of safety in the society. In India, implementation of Verma

committee recommendations will be the step in right direction. Stringent laws have to be
adopted for crime against women in workplace. Reporting of crime should be made simple
for women and should be handled in fast track court. Emergency services like 103 to check
crime against women and children has to be improved. Use of technology for the safety of
women has to be explored. Providing martial arts training to women for self-protection would
provide her physical and mental strength. Ethical and moral education has to be imparted to
change the mindset of male dominant society. Sex education can be also being imparted in
the curriculum.

Education has to be provided to women for their empowerment. Improving Basic amenities
for women in schools, colleges, work place, etc., could help them better. Social acceptance of
Victim has to be improved. Womens reservation bill would usher in empowerment for
women in India. Constitutional enforcement of strict laws against proxy practices will help
women in administration. Women reservation policy has to be extended to other
constitutional bodies. Facilities like health services for pregnant women, adolescence women
have to be improved. Facilities like crche in workplace would help to increase work life
balance which in turn reduces the women dropouts. Women role in house hold activities has
to be properly recognized.

Women should be assured of more financial independence and provided with equal share in
ancestor property. Provisions exclusive for women such as all-women recruitment drive by
MNCs like Microsoft, women reservations in railways travels, all women administrator in
Trissur district of Kerala, all women aircraft in AirIndia, and all women bank (Budget 2013)
should be encouraged.

CONCLUSION:
The ground reality shows that new empowering women power is like a drop in ocean and
there is a lot of scope for improvement. Women have been subjected by the society to
inequality, injustice and oppression through the age; nevertheless, they succeed against all
odds. Society has to be educated morally to accept women as equal to men and her dignity
and freedom has to be respected as envisaged in our constitution. Lets strive hard for a
greater women emancipation and empowerment! Its not just India and China, its women
who are the emerging power of 21st century.

NAME: V. Bharathiraja

Reference: We formed a group of four. Took two days of time. Compiled the ideas of all
four members(Devanadan,Ajay.Jeyaprakash ). We just referred Quotes from internet.
Rest all ideas are from brainstorming process.