The fact that India has seen many positive changes and improvements in inequality and religious conflict cannot be disputed. However, demographically much more is necessitated to bring the country up to the level of its economic competitors. While the country’s constitution promotes equality and tolerance, Indian society still has a huge amount of poverty, discrimination, and violence. An excellent case study of this fact is yet another form of disparity: gender-based inequality.
Historically, Indian women were limited to wholly dependent and subservient roles. Society dictated that women must always be under the complete subjection of a male authority in their lives: whether a father, husband, son, etc. Additionally, male children were deemed more valuable than females.
Today, many things have changed in India. First, India’s constitution provides for gender equality in its preamble. Women do hold esteemed positions in Indian government such Vasundhara Raje Scindia, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, and Sonia Gandhi, the President of the Indian National Congress Party.
Yet, while so much success is seen in the women’s rights movement, there is still much gender-based inequality in India – especially in rural and poorer areas. Much like there is an extreme disconnect between the wealthy and impoverished in India, this same phenomena is seen in women’s rights. Demographically, more than three hundred and sixty million people or 36% of the population in India lives beneath the global poverty line. Of these millions, seventy-three percent are women and children. These statistics are attributed to many of the fundamental remnants of Indian belief left over from earlier times.
For many Indian women, much like their predecessors, they are viewed as inferior to men. This perspective affects every aspect of these women’s lives. Because women’s healthcare is not a priority, India accounts for twenty-seven percent of the globe’s maternal deaths. In childhood, female deaths exceed male mortality rates by a staggering six hundred thousand each year. In fact, one in every six infant deaths is due to gender discrimination. Additionally, women commonly suffer from malnutrition and a lack of access to healthcare.
As well as physical suffering, many women are extremely limited in options for their future. Under constant subjection to an authoritative male figure, many Indian girls are given as child brides. Although the practice was made illegal in India’s constitution, UNICEF reported in 2009 that forty percent of child marriages occur in India. Women also suffer from lower literacy rates than Indian men, especially in rural regions. Landownership is also predominately restricted to males. While laws do exist which endow women with property rights, in practice these laws are inadequately enforced – making women increasingly dependent upon men.
Undeniably India has seen much change and improvement in women’s rights in the past few decades. In 1950, Women gained suffrage and currently make up eight percent of India’s parliament. Yet, suffrage and holding political office have not wrought significant change to many of India’s women. If only women residing in certain areas of the country experience a positive change in women’s rights, India’s pro-women reforms can only be deemed symbolic. Inequality in India is a compounding issue not only because of its prevalence but also because of its vast demographic effects. Not only is there a vast disconnect between the wealthy and poor, but this same disconnect transfers over to a disparity between male and female. Poverty is not a simplistic subject in India: it contains many variables and facets that delve farther into society – penetrating areas such as caste, birthplace, gender, and education. India’s past progress must be accompanied by further still institutional changes before a true democratic society may emerge.
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Thursday, April 15, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
15 Links to Further Reading
1. Social Inequality Threatening India's Economic Stability
This article presents the argument that India cannot maintain its economic growth or become a true force in the world economy as long as such disparity remains within its country. Using statistical evidence and anecdotes, the author creates a compelling case that domestic improvement must precede any notable role in the international realm.
2. Reducing Poverty and Inequality in India: Has Liberalization Helped?
In this study, by Raghbendra Jha, the effects that liberalization has had on poverty and inequality in India are assessed. From his research, Jha concludes that India has seen an increase in inequality and only a minor decrease in poverty since liberalization.
3. Gender Inequality
This article examines yet another aspect of inequality in India: gender inequalities. The article provides historical information regarding the origins of these inequalities and the status of women in India today.
4. The Hunger Project
This website is home to a non-profit organization with the goal of stopping world hunger. On the site are news updates from countries around the world, including India, where most of the world's poor reside. The site also draws connections between the stopping inequality in India and ending hunger.
5. CIA World Fact Book
The CIA World Fact Book is an excellent resource for general information on India as a whole. The site provides a wide variety of facts ranging from subjects of government to demography to transportation.
6. Incredible India
This website hosts excellent photographs of the scenic feast that is India. The site is geared towards tourism and gives a different spin on India tailored for potential visitors. A perusal of the site would give a viewer no knowledge of the extreme poverty of India - only the beauty and pleasures that await those who can afford them.
7. Ensuring Secular Harmony in India - Searching for Some Answers
This article presents a history of historic violence and tension between Indian Muslims and Hindus. The article argues that, in order for peace to be achieved, the Indian government must truly embrace a pluralist society, not just in word, but in deed.
8. Ethnic and Religious Conflicts in India
This article gives historical background into why India has experienced and experiences so much conflict between religious and ethnic groups. This is an excellent source for a better understanding of the diverse background of India and how this background shapes today's realities.
9. Christian Persecution India
This blog provides news updates on the status of persecuted Christians in India. It is a helpful source to determine what religious atrocities are currently occurring.
10. The Caste System in India
This site gives general information on what the caste system in India is and how it works. The site does an excellent job of explaining how all these facets of the system affect Indians' lives.
11. The Castes of India
This blog gives helpful information on the levels of the Indian caste system and how these pertain to life in India. The author describes the historical basis of the caste and focuses especially on the lives of the untouchables.
12. Caste and Inequality in Healthcare
This blog draws a connection between level of caste and quality of healthcare. This connection outlines yet another disparity in India linked to its institutionalized system of inequality.
13. Hunger and Poverity in India and Pakistan
This blog explores the severity of hunger and poverty in India and preventitive measures to combat these issues. The author goes into great depth and has many rich insights.
14. India's Problems
This article delves into India's vast array of social problems from inequality to education to poverty. The author argues the root causes of these issues and the proper response the world should have toward them.
15. How to Help India's Poor
This article gives useful strategies that we as consumers can employ to help increase the quality of life for the impoverished in India as well as decrease inequality.
This article presents the argument that India cannot maintain its economic growth or become a true force in the world economy as long as such disparity remains within its country. Using statistical evidence and anecdotes, the author creates a compelling case that domestic improvement must precede any notable role in the international realm.
2. Reducing Poverty and Inequality in India: Has Liberalization Helped?
In this study, by Raghbendra Jha, the effects that liberalization has had on poverty and inequality in India are assessed. From his research, Jha concludes that India has seen an increase in inequality and only a minor decrease in poverty since liberalization.
3. Gender Inequality
This article examines yet another aspect of inequality in India: gender inequalities. The article provides historical information regarding the origins of these inequalities and the status of women in India today.
4. The Hunger Project
This website is home to a non-profit organization with the goal of stopping world hunger. On the site are news updates from countries around the world, including India, where most of the world's poor reside. The site also draws connections between the stopping inequality in India and ending hunger.
5. CIA World Fact Book
The CIA World Fact Book is an excellent resource for general information on India as a whole. The site provides a wide variety of facts ranging from subjects of government to demography to transportation.
6. Incredible India
This website hosts excellent photographs of the scenic feast that is India. The site is geared towards tourism and gives a different spin on India tailored for potential visitors. A perusal of the site would give a viewer no knowledge of the extreme poverty of India - only the beauty and pleasures that await those who can afford them.
7. Ensuring Secular Harmony in India - Searching for Some Answers
This article presents a history of historic violence and tension between Indian Muslims and Hindus. The article argues that, in order for peace to be achieved, the Indian government must truly embrace a pluralist society, not just in word, but in deed.
8. Ethnic and Religious Conflicts in India
This article gives historical background into why India has experienced and experiences so much conflict between religious and ethnic groups. This is an excellent source for a better understanding of the diverse background of India and how this background shapes today's realities.
9. Christian Persecution India
This blog provides news updates on the status of persecuted Christians in India. It is a helpful source to determine what religious atrocities are currently occurring.
10. The Caste System in India
This site gives general information on what the caste system in India is and how it works. The site does an excellent job of explaining how all these facets of the system affect Indians' lives.
11. The Castes of India
This blog gives helpful information on the levels of the Indian caste system and how these pertain to life in India. The author describes the historical basis of the caste and focuses especially on the lives of the untouchables.
12. Caste and Inequality in Healthcare
This blog draws a connection between level of caste and quality of healthcare. This connection outlines yet another disparity in India linked to its institutionalized system of inequality.
13. Hunger and Poverity in India and Pakistan
This blog explores the severity of hunger and poverty in India and preventitive measures to combat these issues. The author goes into great depth and has many rich insights.
14. India's Problems
This article delves into India's vast array of social problems from inequality to education to poverty. The author argues the root causes of these issues and the proper response the world should have toward them.
15. How to Help India's Poor
This article gives useful strategies that we as consumers can employ to help increase the quality of life for the impoverished in India as well as decrease inequality.
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