The topic of Gender Equality has gained much prominence in this century. Every progressive nation is working towards achieving equality for women in all aspects of the social structure. However the reality is that women are still far behind in many areas in most nations and there are still some big roadblocks to clear.
The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), in a report stated:
“Though women have progressed relatively slowly in the areas of education, literacy and employment, there have been encouraging signs of improvement in women’s legislative representation. The increase in women’s share of seats in parliament was attributed mainly to political measures in several countries, where quotas were legislated or adopted on a voluntary basis.”
As shown in the table below only 17 countries have reached the 30 per cent benchmark in electing women to national parliaments; many of these countries are known to have used quotas. In US and Japan women’s share of parliamentary seats were only 16.80 per cent and 9.40 per cent respectively. India is at 99th rank with 10.90 % representation of women in Parliament.
In the recently constituted 15th Lok Sabha, 59 women MPs are elected, while it amounts to only 10.90 % representation , a legislation should have brought 183 MPs , i.e 33% women to Lok Sabha.
|
Rank |
Country |
Lower or single House |
Upper House or Senate |
||||||
|
Elections |
Seats* |
Women |
% W |
Elections |
Seats* |
Women |
% W |
||
|
1 |
Rwanda |
9 2008 |
80 |
45 |
56.3% |
10 2003 |
26 |
9 |
34.6% |
|
2 |
Sweden |
9 2006 |
349 |
164 |
47.0% |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
3 |
South Africa |
4 2009 |
400 |
174 |
43.5% |
4 2009 |
54 |
16 |
29.6% |
|
4 |
Cuba |
1 2008 |
614 |
265 |
43.2% |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
5 |
Iceland |
4 2009 |
63 |
27 |
42.9% |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
6 |
Finland |
3 2007 |
200 |
83 |
41.5% |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
7 |
Netherlands |
11 2006 |
150 |
62 |
41.3% |
5 2007 |
75 |
26 |
34.7% |
|
8 |
Argentina |
10 2007 |
255 |
102 |
40.0% |
10 2007 |
72 |
28 |
38.9% |
|
9 |
Denmark |
11 2007 |
179 |
68 |
38.0% |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
10 |
Angola |
9 2008 |
220 |
82 |
37.3% |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
11 |
Costa Rica |
2 2006 |
57 |
21 |
36.8% |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
12 |
Spain |
3 2008 |
350 |
127 |
36.3% |
3 2008 |
263 |
79 |
30.0% |
|
13 |
Norway |
9 2005 |
169 |
61 |
36.1% |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
14 |
Belgium |
6 2007 |
150 |
53 |
35.3% |
6 2007 |
71 |
27 |
38.0% |
|
15 |
Mozambique |
12 2004 |
250 |
87 |
34.8% |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
16 |
New Zealand |
11 2008 |
122 |
41 |
33.6% |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
17 |
Nepal |
4 2008 |
594 |
197 |
33.2% |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
33 |
Australia |
11 2007 |
150 |
40 |
26.7% |
11 2007 |
76 |
27 |
35.5% |
|
47 |
Pakistan |
2 2008 |
338 |
76 |
22.5% |
3 2009 |
100 |
17 |
17.0% |
|
64 |
Bangladesh |
12 2008 |
345 |
64 |
18.6% |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
72 |
United States of America |
11 2008 |
435 |
73 |
16.8% |
11 2008 |
98 |
15 |
15.3% |
|
99 |
India |
4 2009 |
543 |
59 |
10.9% |
7 2008 |
243 |
23 |
9.5% |
|
Japan |
9 2005 |
480 |
45 |
9.4% |
7 2007 |
242 |
44 |
18.2% |
|
In India, we are surprised to see that the Women’s Reservation Bill which propose 33% reservation to women in Parliament is not yet passed by the parliament. The bill was tabled in the Parliament thirteen years back. Most political parties have expressed support for this bill but so far only discussions, debates and deliberations are taking place in the name of achieving consensus projecting a picture of a deliberate delay .
It is always very difficult to bring drastic changes in politics and society overnight since the “status quoist’s” plan and bring obstacles for a change. They never admit that they oppose a change and blame others for not effecting a change.
Changes are initiated and discussions about a change is set in motion only when the forces representing alternate voices gain power. We can recall and compare what happened and is happening in the case of reservation to other backward classes.
When Viswanath Pratap Singh was the Prime Minister leading a Non Congress – Non BJP Government, he implemented the recommendations of Mandal Commission report to provide reservation for other backward classes who were under- represented in education and employment at that time. This is one major change in Indian policy effected when the “status quoist’s” were temporarily kept out of power. This happened after 45 years of achieving independence and after finding backward classes lagging behind the elites in those four decades, purely due to their historical and hereditary liability of social and educational backwardness. But both Congress party and Bharathiya Janatha party opposed that move and VP Singh was made to step down from power.
Again only a Non Congress and Non BJP Government of United Front led by Deve Gowda, tabled 81’st constitution amendment bill for providing reservation to women in legislative bodies for the first time in 1996. This was to be the next major change since achieving independence. That too was initiated when the “status quoist’s” were out of power again for a brief period. Since then thirteen years have passed. Subsequent governments were run by either BJP or Congress party. And they too tabled the amendment bill but failed to pass it. It is ironical that these parties are blaming the parties run by backward class leaders for blocking the women’s reservation bill.
It is interesting tp note that those who opposed empowering backward class people through providing reservation, pretend to support women’s reservation bill while those who are in favour of reservation for other backward classes are seen opposing the reservation for women in parliament. I think, this kind of a philosophical clash has been created deliberately to stall or delay the empowerment of Women.
Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mr. Lallu Prasad Yadav and Mr.Sharath Yadav are known to have expressed their opinion against enacting women’s reservation bill in its present form and are demanding separate reservation for other backward class (OBC) women. These three leaders are collectively called as “Cowbelt politicians” or described as “Mandal brigade” by partisan elite media.
Samajwadi Party (SP) of Mulayam Singh Yadav opposed the proposed women’s reservation bill, terming it as a “conspiracy” against the leaders who have reached the Lok Sabha through “hard struggles”. The SP chief also backed the contention of JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav that if the bill was passed without a consensus, it would amount to giving “poison by force” by the ruling class to those opposed to the legislation as had been done to Greek philosopher Socrates. But the media twisted the story and was reporting that Sharath Yadav would consume poison if the bill was passed!
Those who accuse these Yadavs for their opinion conveniently hide a fact that the major political parties Congress and BJP had always had opportunities in the past thirteen years while running the governments, to join together in this issue to corner a two third majority to bring an amendment to the constitution but are dodging in the name of consensus form very minor parties. Why is a 100% consensus needed on this? Is it possible?
The truth is that both BJP and Congress party under the control of “manuwadi” established forces were not sincere and wanted to delay the amendment to constitution as far as possible. Further all the parties including these major parties are predominantly filled by men. Now a situation has developed that it can no more be delayed especially when a women from a foreign country is committed to fulfill the long spoken promise.
Let us see the ideas of those who pretend to support the women reservation bill.
In Sloga 9-32 of Bagavath Gita Lord Krishna has magnanimously said
“O son of Pritha, those who take shelter in Me, though born out of womb of sin —women, vaishyas [merchants] and shudras [workers]—can attain the supreme destination.”
According to Gita, women ( including those born in Forward castes) are born out of womb of sin and are comparable with lowly vaisyas and sudras. Such is the position of women granted by Lord and the followers of orthodox Hindu Religion.
Like any other fanatic organization of any other religion, the R.S.S by its Hindu ideology cannot entertain women in politics and many BJP Leaders too have opposed empowerment of women which is not discussed in Media.
This is not to find fault with R.S.S or specifically the Hindu society but to say that the orthodox religious practices are universal and the Indian society is not an exception.
The former U.S. President, Jimmy Carter – a member of a group of global leaders called the “Elders” said:
“I have been a practising Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world.So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was both painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention’s leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be “subservient” to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service. This was in conflict with my belief — confirmed in the holy scriptures —that we are all equal in the eyes of God.”
Thiruvalluvar, a first century compiler of moral values “Thirukkural” based on the society in that period, depicts woman as a person supporting men in the family life. Although in his Kural 54, he exclaims what could be greater than womanhood in this world, he attaches a condition of chaste to it. Moreover while giving rules for men in politics in chapter 91, Thiruvalluvar asks the men not to take advice from wives!
Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women - Millennium development goal no# 3 set by United Nations
If we have to attribute lesser reasons to Religion for suppressing women in public life, we have to only blame the very evolution of the society in favour of men bound by many factors including religion. Woman of this day carry the past of their ancestors just like the sections of the society belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. Our Indian society too is hippocratic in its ideas on women. We can see a poor man worshipping women deities and singing in praise of goddess in the evening and on returning home by night drunk to his neck beating his wife and scolding in a lowly language. Same thing happens in a rich mans house but in a different style.
Can we forget the inhuman practices of the orthodox Hindus such as shaving the head of young widows and throwing them to a corner of the house or pushing them in the funeral fire of their husbands? Such things lasted up to the last century and there were few who argued in favour of such practices . These were the people who even argued for the continuation of Devadasi system in the Madras state assembly by assigning divine purpose for prostitution. Such ideas are still hiding in the hearts of the so called progressive establishments and they always try to stop women from actively participating in the social, economic and political activities. Further, It is convenient for men to retain women in family life since she nowadays earns more and also works in the home as an unpaid maid.
One need not belong to any political party, religion or a caste to go against women’s reservation bill. It is just very simple – Men oppose Women’s Reservation Bill because they are Men and particularly more so since they are Indian men.
Tags: Bagavath Gita, BJP, Congress party, Deve Gowda, Hindu, India, Lallu prasad Yadav, Lord Krishna, Mandal Commission, Men, Mulayam Singh Yadav, R.S.S, Sharath Yadav, Sudra, V.P Singh, Vysya, Women, Women's Reservation Bill
21 Comments
Its amazing how such misinformed people and ill-read get to write such articles and post it… !!
Even while ostracization of widows and estranged women were norm in the brahminical system, Historians and folklore indicate widow remarriage and divorce was common in the lower caste Hindu systems in India..
It was derided as despicable by the well read and upper caste with derogatory terms.. Only time has proven that the unread were right and the well-read were wrong!
I dont know where the womens reservation bill will take India to, but I think when it happens it will be a not easily reversible process..I think, Mulayam and Lalu are conncerned with womens reservation as they dont have as many well read women leaders..
Well written!
The sign of a society’s progress or backwardness can be easily gauged by how it treats its women when compared to men. The world’s major religions tend to fail miserably on this issue since they are stuck in the uncivilised, barbaric past and don’t have any idea of changing for the better or evolving with time.
Uncivilised, orthodox sections of Hindu society still view a woman as the “property” of a man whose function is to be a “child-bearer”, “child-rearer”, “unpaid cook and servant”, “subservient to the men in the family” etc. A woman is not seen as a human being by such savages, so the question of rights for women or the concept of equality is something that is difficult for their pea-brains to digest. That’s why we still have barbarians who support despicable, heinous and outrageous practices like sati, devadasi system and oppose widow remarriage, the education of women and women at the workplace. Some of the so-called “religious texts” contain things about women that are outright disgusting to any civilised human being.
If one religion treats women so shabbily, can the others be far behind? Mediaeval Christianity was notorious for the way in which women were treated in accordance with the false idea that all women are sinners since the first mythical woman on Earth, Eve, was created by an imaginary entity out of the rib of the first mythical man, Adam (who was created out of thin air by the same imaginary entity), and Eve’s disobedience was the reason for the imaginary entity to banish the couple from the gardens. While Europe has made tremendous progress by chucking out these blind beliefs and giving women their due place in society, it is difficult to change hardened mindsets. Even recently, the Anglican Church looked like it would split because half of its members were in favour of allowing women to be ordained as priests while the other half vehemently opposed it. Shockingly, the Catholic Church opposed (and still opposes) ordaining women as priests.
There is no need to mention the place of women in Islam since it is well known and the treatment of women in some of its so-called “religious texts” is disgusting as well. There was this controversy about a woman called Imrana in UP who was raped by her father-in-law and some uncivilised mullahs gave a shocking ruling. The vile, crooked politician that he is, Mulayam Singh came out in support of those backward mullahs.
Mulayam Singh, Amar Singh, Lalu Yadav, Paswan and Sharad Yadav are the only ones who oppose this bill though it has the support of all other parties. These so-called “cowbelt politicians” run political parties that have an extremely high percentage of criminals, goons, thugs, murderers, underworld dons and other shady characters in them. They have a hidden agenda to oppose and derail this bill by any means possible, since it would mean that these notorious politicians whose parties are built on the money and muscle power of dons and criminal elements would not be able to field too many women candidates, apart from one or two like Rabri.
Malar, well written article. I always wonder who came up with this figure 33%? and what made them to choose 33 rather than 50.
In 1996 when this discussion came in parliament, RSS leader’s comment to media was that “Women can occupy 100% of the parliament, we are restricting to 33% with the bill and hence there need not be any reservation”. A clever way of opposing the reservation??
Any comment on this regarding the situation in TN? One would always expect that the leaders who claim to be followers of Periyar would have implemented this immediately. I have no idea about the situation in DMK and ADMK regarding this. Well, ADMK is far away from Periyar, but DMK must have brought this women’s reservation in its party level atleast.
Ram prasad
No political party has implemented any idea within its structure.
DMK when in power provided reservation for women in Panchayat institutions. They provided reservation for women in Government services. Granted property rights to women etc. But at party level they are only marginally better than any other party.
ADMK built up Women police force, implemented thottil kuzhnthai thittam.
Women self help groupS are vigorously promoted by Stalin by which he has already built up a seperate electrorate for himself. This is one of the secrets of success of DMK in elections.
Thanks for the information malar. I was just telling somebody else that Periyar’s effort in this gender equality should be compared to that of sipoy mutiny in indian freedom struggle. We still have a long way to go. It is a pity to see that all those who oppose racial discrimination and any discrimination on the basis of religion,ethnicity etc., dont speak much against gender based discrimination.
Moreover while giving rules for men in politics in chapter 91, Thiruvalluvar asks the men not to take advice from wives!
———
Women through out the world had always faced discrimination. Apart from religion, social evolutionary process had led to gender based discrimination. Vikadakavi wrote some information regarding the practice of Sati in various parts of the world. Regarding the above mentioned Thirukkural, there is a similarity between Thiruvalluvar and Mohammed. Muhammad in his Quran tells that if we need to consider a woman as a eyewitness in any issue, there need to be two women. For any case, the number of women eyewitness should be double that of men.
But those who give importance to Thirukkural, will keep this chapter 91 aside and move on admitting the fact that its irrational to say so. It will not happen in the case of islamic theocratic countries. thats where the problem is. Eventhough the cultural and evolutionary aspect led to such thoughts, religion is responsible for the continuing irrational discriminatory aspects. I read that Syria had appointed female judges for the first time last year. Not sure if they had followed quran and had doubled the number of female judges inplace for each male judge.
The first and foremost obstacle in women’s emancipation is the attitude of men. Yes, it is correct, hypocrisy of men especially Indian men.
When the first time I visited this blog, the side bar showed glamorous pictures of women. You people don’t have the confidence about the quality of your articles. You need attractive girls to capture the attention of your viewers. You need the female body to promote your blog.
First, stop treating women as commodity. Once it is stopped, women will grow automatically.
Guna – Why do you want to defy nature. Men and Women attract each other. The qualities each seek and admire may be different, but the attraction is inevitable and very much required for human civilization to continue. Do you think good looking women are commodotizing themselves?
Am certain most appreciate the wisdom in Thirukkural..Just like all books written during a certain time and location, some of Thirukural was also context-sensitive..
Here is a writers commentary on some of the isssues in Thirukurral also
http://truthdive.com/2009/01/04/thirukural-an-observation-and-analysis/
The article is not perfect but some points are valid..
Sunderapandyan:
Dont listen to Guna! Keep putting good looking women..I like!
Guna! I swear you wont like if I posted my glamorous pictures..
This is reported in TOI
”HC nod for 30% women reservation in TN subordinate service
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has upheld the 30 per cent reservation for women in Tamil Nadu state subordinate services.
Dismissing as without any substance, a petition, claiming that the reservation was ‘illegal, unconstitutional and void’, a Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice H L Gokhale and Justice D Murugesan held ‘it is very clear that the provision for reservation contained in Rule 21 of Tamil Nadu state and Subordinate Services Rules is very much in consonance with Article 15(3) and it cannot be said to be in any way violative of Article 16(2) of the Constitution of India’.
Citing various Supreme Court Judgements, they said a price has to be paid if constitutional promise of social justice had to be redeemed.
Stating that an opportunity was a requirement to prove the competence of the person concerned, the Bench said ‘it is precisely a lack of opportunity which has led to backwardness of some communities and also amongst women’.
Pointing out that reservation was one of the methods constitutionally recognised to overcome backwardness, they said ‘that being the constitutional objective, there is no question of any unjustified discrimination’.
The Bench also noted a submission by Additional Advocate General P S Raman to the recent trend and effort to provide reservation to women in legislative bodies. Raman had referred to the proposed ‘Women (Empowerment for Equal Participation) Bill 2005.”
————————————————————————————————————————————–
Ramprasad,
What we need to note is that this reservation for women was implemented by DMK government in 1989 for the first time in the whole of India.
TN has shown the way because it was run by a non congress Government following policies of Periar.
Congress has the liability of following Gandhi who supported caste system evolved by Varnashrama Dharma and other orthodox Hindu practices set against the equality.
malar
We welcome comments from well informed and well read people but they have to state what information they have and what they have read.
And regarding the photograph, the one in this article is showing women of all age groups in our traditional wear.
Guna can have no complaints about it.
Hmm… “sloga 9-32″ Never noticed it before.
Well written article. Irritating the statusquo-ists, naturally. :)
-vikadakavi
Like any book that was written long ago, there may be one or two verses even in the Kural (which is generally timeless) which should not be applied to modern times. However, unlike other ancient “holy books” that the followers of various religions demand absolute adherence to and attach a tag of non-questionability, the Kural has no such limitations and should be free to be questioned and evolve with the times. If any chapter of the Kural does not treat women as the equals of men, it should be revised. I would love to see Tamil scholars come out with an edition containing the revised couplet(s) and also the original one(s) and explaining the reasons for the change.
Alien
Many Tamil Scholars will not accept for a revision of Thirukkural.
If we have to be modern, anyone can write a modern kural as a new book.
Attempt by some others to write a book like Thirukkural in the past centuries were not fruitful as they were not comparable with Thirukkural. We need a personality like Thiruvalluvar to take that kind of task again.
In the past five years I released pamphlets of 10 couplets each under three topics only namely “elderly care”, ” Rain water harvesting”, ‘ Save the sculptures” on demand from organisers of relevent campaigns. These were written exactly in Kural veNbaa meter which I learnt myself. May be if I collect my own topics after two decades you will find a chapter on modern women too.
malar
Sabash Alien!
You are a tiger! Even I felt that it would be nice to revise some sections of thirukural..For ex, the article I had given touches some of the points..When so much is said for women and a lock called “Katpu” it will be nice to give a men a few..Or may be he thought humans and men specifically are not a monogamous animals based on science..or at least he could have clarified it as honesty and trust rather than a skin. but then he does say truth is valid only when it does not hurt others..(or did someone else say that)..But folklore does indicate remarriage and divorce was practiced in Tamil society..In the Chera world(remember malayalam is only 600-800 yrs old and it was tamil before), women had lot more sexual freedom..as recorded by Portuguese
But it has so many valuable points to outweigh the weaknesses..
Malar:
Wonderful effort..I dont know if Thiruvalluvar was a famous personality when he wrote it..He is known for his works rather than the other way around! May be you could be the next Thiruvalluvar..Only time can be the judge in this things..My grandfather was a researcher on Thirukural and has published his urai..
It will be nice to write a management book based on Thirukural..Like mgmt books based on chinese art of war or mgmt books based on spanish Machiavelli “The Prince”..a Tamil prof of marketing in a US business school was interested also..
Another interesting insight I have noticed of Thirukural! Many people who follow Thirukural closely are very successful in their careers. this includes the TN CM, Bombay DGP and few others..the only ones I know of who followed Thirukural and was not super successful in their career was my Tamil teacher..but then even he was an entertaining and successful teacher!
It does have some secrets to professional excellence..
Has something gone wrong with the software/server? Everytime I type a long message and hit the submit button, I get an error page and when I click hit the back button the message has gone for good :-(
Hello,
diazepam drug
By discovering the root cause of ones anxiety the individual can seek to eliminate it forever.
purchase valium
So, if you seek to cure your anxiety once and for all, ask your doctor if Valium is suitable for you.
http://www.thedrunkgeek.com/ – purchase valium
It is the individuals own responsibility to eventually find the root causes of their thought patterns which is causing them the anxiety.
Women’s Reservation Bill: Denying Citizens Rights to Contest in Elections.
“First parties have to give more tickets to women.Leave Loksabha.Let us start with Rajyasabha.Give 33% to women in Rajyasabha.Then increase it to 50% there.”
It is against my constituions right and the proposed women reservations bill is not to empower the women, it is having hiden agenda to increse the men’s life more miserable by making more and more anti-male law and policy by some male hater women. I should not be punished for the worng doing( if any ) by political party head.
If the representations of women in politicis is not more , the worng done by political party head, so attack them or ban those political party first, do not punish the common citizen of india , as common citizen had not discriminated when they choose the men or women MP, the result confirms the same.We do not want to see more rabri devis …we want to see more capable women MP or chief minsiters who earn thier position and respect by thier hard work. If sonia gandhi can’t take the risk to file 100 women in elections and do not have confidence, why the common citizen should have confidence to them?
–
(Crime Is Crime. Punishment should be irrespective of gender, religion and caste. Let us be honest and fight for truth.Vote for any Party, but Not to Congress.)