Condition of the Exploited Women in Contemporary Society

In the contemporary society, several women are exploited physically, socially, economically, and mentally in their life. Exploitation against women is often highlighted by the media in the modern society. The violence and injustice against women are not new. The traces of cruelty against women are also found in the history of ancient India.

STAGES OF WOMEN EXPLOITATION AND PRESENT INDIAN PERSPECTIVES

The women in India are discriminated in the every sphere of life, whether education, employment, property rights or access to health care. In our society, the discrimination of women started at the stage of birth.

Pre-birth stage of women

The exploitation of women on the stage of pre-birth is still prevalent in many parts of India. The desire of male child still exists even in the modern era. The practice of female foeticide is illegal in the country, but many people are misusing the technology of the medical science for the sex determination. About 50 million girls are missing from the Indian population because of the termination of the female fetus.

Infancy stage of women

At the infancy stage, girls are ignored particularly in case of the education, nutrition, and healthcare. In the rural sector of India, people emphasize more on their sons than the daughters. The girls are discriminated within the family members.

Childhood stage of women

At the stage of childhood, many women are victimized in the form of child trafficking and abuse. Many girls are kidnapped for the illegal work of child labor and sex. At the stage of childhood, the life of girls is ruined because of the exploitation.

The adolescence stage of women

The women and girls mostly became the victim of sexual harassment, molestation, eve-teasing, rape, etc. at the stage of the adolescence. Everyday media flash the report of sexual harassment like rape, eve-teasing, etc. At the stage of adolescence, many women are forced by their parents to get married at the early stage. The early marriage of a girl hampers her education and self-development.

Reproductive stage of women

At the reproductive stage, women do not get the proper nutrition and health care. Therefore, the maternal death rate is 437 per 100,000 live births, which is mainly caused due to the anemia, abortion, infection, hemorrhage and obstructed labor.

DIFFERENT FORMS OF WOMEN EXPLOITATION IN PRESENT SOCIETY

Dowry deaths

The cases of dowry death are common in the states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, etc. part of the India. When the family of the bride does not able to full fill the demand of dowry made by the bridegroom, the bride's are severely beaten and killed. The dowry death is increased by 2.6% over the last year in the India. About 8,172 cases of dowry death are reported from the Uttar Pradesh.

Kidnapping

About 12.2% of women are kidnapped and exploited. The Uttar Pradesh has reported 19.7% of cases related to the kidnapping.

Torture

Women are abused inside the home by their husband or family. The cases of ‘torture’ are increased to 10.1% over the previous year. The highest rate of torture reported from the Tripura i.e. 22.8%.

Molestation

The case of molestation is occurring very frequently in the states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The working women are the worst sufferer of molestation.

Sexual harassment

Many women are facing the sexual harassment, and the crime is increasing day by day. The Uttar Pradesh has reported 22.9% cases of the sexual harassment.

Many women are suffering from several heinous crimes and silently ignoring them. Therefore, the Uttar Pradesh police started the 1090 Women Power Line service to answer all the criminal problems occurring in the modern Indian society. The Women Power Line empowers women so that they boldly fight for their rights without tolerating the offenses. Any women or teen girls suffering from the unsocial behavior can immediately inform to the WPL members by dialing the 1090 toll-free number. The members of the WPL do not call the victim to the police station in any case. The victim does not need to write any formal letter or F.I.R. to file a complaint. With an anonymous identity, women and teen girls lodge their complaint. The WPL ensures an immediate safety of women and also maintain the dignity of the women. The calls of the victim are attended by the female constables so that women and girls frankly speak their problem. The 24*7 service of Women Power Line is providing strength to the women and girls. The Women Power Line 1090 is becoming popular among women and girls and also appreciated by many people.

Women Empowerment in India

 Women empowerment refers to the empowerment of women community because women are the necessary resource to the growth of every nation. India is in second position in terms of the population, but the sex ratio is 927 females per 1000 of males according to the Population Census of 2011. Population of women are decreasing because of female feticide , many girls are killed even before they are be born even in the 21st century. Gender disabilities and discrimination are found in India even in this modern age. People of India, worship Goddess and at the other side women are treated as the slave and girl child are killed soon after the birth.

Scholars believe that in ancient India women were getting equal status and considered as a symbol of respect. They played a vital role in the Indian society to build the golden culture of India. During 1500-1000BC, girl child was not considered as the liability and women had the freedom to choose partners for the marriage. However, later (approx nearly 500 BC), the status of the women were started declining day by day. After the 17th century, many of the females came forward as the women leaders. In Indus Valley civilization, many women had taken the active participation in trade and other social activities. Many Indian women leaders came forward and led the society like Rani Laxmi Bai, Sultana Raziya, Sarojini Naidu, Indira Gandhi, etc.

The best way for the women empowerment in India is to educate the females. Approximately 90million females in India are illiterate, and 20% of children between the ages of 6-14 do not attend the school. Education is the only weapon to eradicate this evil challenge of the Indian society. Recently, the Government of India has started a scheme “Beti Bachho, Beti Padhao” to create awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services meant for the women in the society.

Women should be economically empowered; as it is observed that the likelihood of a child’s survival increased by 20% when the mother controlled household income. Women invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. They should also encourage taking part in the suggestions, recommendation and decisions in an organization. It is seen that women give great ideas. But despite a range of significant advances, many women still don't have the fundamental freedoms and opportunities and face enormous inequalities in the world of employment. Most of the women in India unable to join an organization because their family don’t support them. Family should never deter anyone in pursuing a career either women or men.

Women cannot be empowered by the women alone. In our society, men are sick with the mentality and their evil behavior outside the house creating an adverse environment in the community. In India, parents ask thousands of question from a girl when she came home late night but when a boy does the same thing no questions are raised. Even in the house, girls are not getting the equal rights. The parents often says to their son "Stop crying like a girl" because they thought boys are dominant from the birth, so they don't cry. And this thinking making the male sick, as well as dominant and they treat their wife as a slave. It’s should be the duty of each parent to teach their son to respect women, behave well with girls and treat them equal. If the society wants women to be empowered, then there should start with changing the sick mentality of men.

For the women empowerment, Super cops of Uttar Pradesh provided Women Power Line number 1090 for the safety of women when they are troubled or harassed by a man. The service is started to help those women who require any assist in the emergency. The victims can call to the Power Line number for the help. There is no need for reporting FIR, and the most important thing the identity of the women are not disclosed. The victims can seek help from the counselor with an anonymous identity. WPL don't call the victim to the police station, they help the victim through telephone and update their progress to the victim with regards to complaints. WPL attended 3lakh calls and satisfied more than 2.5lakh victims through the call. The member of WPL aims at resolving the problems of victims till their satisfaction.