Sexism in India

In India, sexism is largely manifest in violence and discrimination against women and to a much smaller extent against men.Fact|date=July 2008 Sexual harassment at the workplace and lack of education continue to be major problems. The constitution of India contains a clause guaranteeing the right of equality and freedom from sexual discrimination. [http://www.capwip.org/readingroom/india.pdf] Some men's advocacy groups have complained that the government discriminates against men through the use of overly aggressive laws designed to protect women, and by other socio-economic methods that favour women, such as lower taxes and higher benefits. These benefits are argued to be necessary to redress the historic and continuing wealth imbalance between the genders Fact|date=July 2008

Discrimination against women

Violence against women

Violence against women in India is widespread. For example, a New Delhi report that in the city of Bihar between January and April there were 221 rapes, 159 kidnappings of women, 51 cases of rape and murder or parading naked and torture and 144 cases of dowry killing. [http://www.greenleft.org.au/2000/428/22341 Green Left - INDIA: Resistance grows against Hindu chauvinism, sexism, privatisation ] ] A further update gives details as to the extent to which the perpetrators were backed up by the state.

A U.N. Population Fund report claimed that up to 70 per cent of married women aged 15-49 in India are victims of beatings or coerced sex. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article614140.ece India's landmark domestic abuse law comes into effect] ]

exual Harassment

Eve teasing is a euphemism used for sexual harassment or molestation of women by men. This phenomenon has resulted in various assaults against women. Half of the total number of crimes against women reported in 1990 related to molestation and harassment at the workplace. Many activists blame the rising incidents of sexual harassment against women on the influence of "Western culture". In 1987, The 'Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act' was passed [cite web
title=The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1987
url=http://www.wcd.nic.in/dowryprohibitionrules.htm
accessdate=2006-12-24] to prohibit indecent representation of women through advertisements or in publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner.

In 1997, in a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of India took a strong stand against sexual harassment of women inthe workplace. The Court also laid down detailed guidelines for prevention and redressal of grievances. The National Commission for Women subsequently elaborated these guidelines into a Code of Conduct for employers.cite web
title=Women in India: How Free? How Equal?
url=http://www.un.org.in/wii.htm
author=Kalyani Menon-Sen, A. K. Shiva Kumar
publisher=United Nations
date=2001
accessdate=2006-12-24]

elective abortion and female infanticide

The number of girls born and surviving in India is significantly less compared with the number of boys, due to the disproportionate numbers of female foetuses being aborted and baby girls deliberately neglected and left to die. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7466916.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7466916.stm] ] The normal ratio of births should be 950 girls for every 1000 boys, however in some regions the number is as low as 300.

India has a low sex ratio, the chief reason being that many women die before reaching adulthood. Tribal societies in India have a better sex ratio than all other caste groups. This is in spite of the fact that tribal communities have far lower levels of income, literacy and health facilities. It is therefore suggested by many experts, that the low sex ratio in India can be attributed to female infanticides and sex-selective abortions.

Gender selection and selective abortion were banned in India in 1994, but despite this the use of ultrasound scanning for gender selection continues. Female infanticide (killing of girl infants) is still prevalent in some rural areas.

Dowry

:"Main articles: Dowry and Dowry law in India"

In 1961, the Government of India passed the Dowry Prohibition Act, making the dowry demands in wedding arrangements illegal. [cite web
title=The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
url=http://www.wcd.nic.in/dowryprohibitionact.htm
accessdate=2006-12-24] However, many cases of dowry-related domestic violence, suicides and murders have still been reported.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/3071963.stm]

In 1985, the Dowry Prohibition (maintenance of lists of presents to the bride and bridegroom) rules were framed. According to these rules, a signed list of presents given at the time of the marriage to the bride and the bridegroom should be maintained. The list should contain a brief description of each present, its approximate value, the name of whoever has given the present and his/her relationship to the person. However, such rules are hardly enforced. [cite web
title=The Dowry Prohibition (maintenance of lists of presents to the bride and bridegroom) rules, 1985
url=http://www.wcd.nic.in/dowryprohibitionrules.htm
accessdate=2006-12-24]

A 1997 report claimed that at least 5,000 women die each year because of dowry deaths, and at least a dozen die each day in 'kitchen fires' thought to be intentional. ["Kitchen fires Kill Indian Brides with Inadequate Dowry", July 23, 1997, New Delhi, UPI] The term for this is "bride burning" and is criticised within India itself.Amongst the urban educated, such dowry abuse has reduced dramatically.

Education

Though it is gradually rising, the female literacy rate in India is lower than the male literacy rate.Compared to boys, far fewer girls are enrolled in the schools, and many of them drop out. According to the National Sample Survey Data of 1997, only the states of Kerala and Mizoram have approached universal female literacy rates. According to majority of the scholars, the major factor behind the improved social and economic status of women in Kerala is literacy.

Under Non-Formal Education programme, about 40% of the centres in states and 10% of the centres in UTs are exclusively reserved for females. As of 2000, about 0.3 million NFE centres were catering to about 7.42 million children, out of which about 0.12 million were exclusively for girls. Currently, in engineering, medical and other colleges, 30% of the seats have been reserved for females.Fact|date=July 2008 In rural India girls continue to be less educated than the boys.

According to a 1998 report by U.S. Department of Commerce, the chief barrier to female education in India are inadequate school facilities (such as sanitary facilities), shortage of female teachers and gender bias in curriculum (majority of the female characters being depicted as weak and helpless vs. strong, adventurous, and intelligent men with high prestige jobs)cite web
url=http://www.census.gov/ipc/prod/wid-9801.pdf
title=Women of the World: Women's Education in India
author=Victoria A. Velkoff
publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce
date=October 1998
accessdate=2006-12-25]

There are very few colleges exclusively for men, whereas there are many colleges exclusively for females. Many subjects are taught exclusively in girls colleges, thereby severely restricting the choice of courses for boys. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3154767.cms DU's special for girls] ] [ [http://infotech.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3163698.cms India's first women-IIT in Maharashtra] ]

The Prime Minister of India and the Planning Commission also vetoed a proposal to set up an Indian Institute of Technology exclusively for females. [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080819/jsp/nation/story_9711496.jsp PM vetoes women's IIT] ]

Opposition to pro-women legislation

Dowry and Domestic violence legislation

In India many laws have been enacted, which seek to protect women. Some of these laws like the anti-dowry legislation and the domestic violence acts were vociferously opposed by a few men's groups as being fundamentally biased against men. [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3165918.cms Pro-women laws being misused] ]

These groups argue that these laws don't follow the fundamental legal premise that a person is innocent until he is proven guilty. For example, a man accused of verbal or physical violence against his wife or other female in his household must prove that the abuse did not take place, rather than the reverse. [ [http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp;jsessionid=CA52CA592AFCD908594BE589666444E3?articleID=134169 Laws with flaws] ] Acts such as 498A, dowry prohibition, domestic violence prevention, and sexual harassment legislation have been accused of being tools of the state to harass men, amounting to "legal terrorism," according to the Save Family Organisation. [http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20071119/826588.html Call to end discrimination against men] ]

The threat of legal action by women has been used in a number of cases to blackmail men. [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/931940.cms Men at the receiving end] ] Some cities, such as Bangalore, now have help-lines for victimised men to call for advice. [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/06/11/stories/2003061108840300.htm Anti-dowry law: Helpline for harassed husbands] ] [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/07/17/stories/2003071700100100.htm The bitter half] ]

Men complain of being forced to pay maintenance for females, but not the other way round, after the National Commission for Women sought a change in the definition of "wife". Section 125 provides for maintenance of wife, children and parents, who cannot maintain themselves; there is no provision for abandoned men. Adultery by a wife (or long-term female partner) is no longer grounds for denying maintenance. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3178050.cms Maintenance for live-in partner?] ]

Women's reservations

Women get 33% reservation in panchayats and municipal elections. There is a long time plan to extend this reservation to parliament and legislative assemblies. [ [http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=134425 Women seek 33% reservation in jobs, promotions] ] [ [http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/aug/24spec2.htm Women's Bill: What's the fuss about?] ] [ [http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980811/22350054.html The reservations business] ] They also get reservation or preferential treatments in education and jobs.Males are also discriminated against in admission to schools, colleges, and universities. In this regard, law schools in India have a 30% reservation for females. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2749920.cms Law schools set aside 30% quota for girls] ] Delhi University also gives up to a 10% advantage to girls over boys. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3190607.cms DU sets lower cutoffs for girls] ]

Other forms of discrimination

In many areas of life in India, women may be treated differently than men. As such the following instances bear relevance:

*Ladies seats and compartments: Seats are reserved for females in buses, trains, metros and many other places. Entire railway compartments are reserved for females, where men are not allowed to enter. [ [http://deccanherald.com/DeccanHerald.com/Content/Apr92008/district2008040961652.asp Only women shall seat on ladies seats in buses] ] Kolkata Metro Railways started the practice of reserving two entire compartments for females. [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080907/jsp/calcutta/story_9796361.jsp Metro reserves compartments for females] ]

*Taxation: Women have to pay less income and property tax than men, with tax brackets set at higher income intervals. [http://www.v-krishnan-and-company.com/tax_rates_in_India.html#Wome Women paying less income tax than men] ] Likewise, in Delhi, property taxes are higher for men who have to pay a 6% stamp duty for registration of property, whereas females pay only 4%. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2554597,prtpage-1.cms Females paying less property tax than men in Delhi] ]

*Age of responsibility: Both boys and girls are legally adults at the age of 18, [http://infochangeindia.org/200706186472/Agenda/Child-Rights-In-India/Who-is-a-child.html Who is a child?] ] however the legal age for marriage of boys is 21, while for girls it is 18.

*No combat roles in the armed forces: Men can take combat roles in military, whereas women are not given combat roles. According to a study carried out on this issue, a recommendation was made that women officers be excluded from induction in close combat arms, where chances of physical contact with the enemy are high. The study also held that a permanent commission could not be granted to women officers since they have neither been trained for command nor have they been given the responsibility so far. [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2841548.cms No permanent commission for women in forces] ]

*Female government workers get 3 years of maternity leave, but fathers do not get paternity leave. [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3487022.cms Females in govt service to get 3 yrs' child care leave] ]

Forced vasectomy and castration of men

In the 1970s during the Indira Gandhi government the family planning program forcibly imposed vasectomy to thousands of fathers with more than 2 children. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/nov/01/india.randeepramesh] There are reports of officials taking men out of buses and trains and sterilizing them forcibly [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/mar/29/india-uses-gun-license-as-sterilization-incentive/] and of vasectomy camps in many parts of the country.

ee also

Women in India

Feminism in India

Income tax in India
Sexism

Reverse discrimination

References