The population of a country very often reflects the view and treatment of the women in that society. If the population is high, one can almost assume that the status of women is very low, and, likewise, if the population is low, the status of women is high. The religion in a certain society is almost always what influences that status. In India all of this is true.
India's major religion is Hindu. It makes up about 82.4% of the population, followed by Muslim at 11.4%.(Mehadevan 187) Both cultures consider women to be inferior to men. The Hindu religion gives a four stage life plan for the man, leaving the woman home to take care of her family, and to do the work. "Manu also prescibed a perrenial dependent role for a woman throughout her life starting with the father, continuing with the husband and ending with the son."(188) In Islam, women are to cover their bodies from head to toe and, in most societies, wear a veil to cover their faces.
In both religions and other cultures in India, especially the northern part, widows are greatly discriminated against because they did not commit Sati. Sati is the practice of women who have lost their husbands to throw themselves onto his pyre in order to attain salvation.(190) They are forced to dress in all white and are forbidden to remarry. They also cannot join in any festivities of any kind.
Because of this low status and past discrimination of women, their opportunities are incredibly limited. Education is not considered a priority for women and therefore their employment rates suffer. The literacy rate is low, especially in the rural areas: (Mahadevan 191)
| 1961 | total 12.95 rural 8.55 urban 34.51 |
| 1971 | total 18.70 rural 13.08 urban 42.05 |
| 1981 | total 24.82 rural 17.96 urban 47.82 |
As early as 1952 a family planning program was being launched in India. This program was not taken seriously, though, until the early 1980's. Rs 35 billion were given to the program, but it still lacked enthusiasm. "As a result, only 38.70% of the eligible couples have been protected with one or another contraceptive method (1986)." Sterilization in women is growing and is considered "...beneficial for improving the quality of life of women and their status alike."(199)
This is good news and it is only getting better as time goes on and awareness goes up. The status of women in India is slowly rising, and the fertility rate is decreasing. But the problem remains that the population of India is dangerously close to disaster. While the status of women is increasing, there must be more measures taken to protect women and to lower the population. Right now, India is on the right track.
Jordan Burch Emmart
To see the general demographics of India click here
Copyright © 1996, Jordan Emmart