JOIN USIn more backward societies, women are forced to undergo all sorts of privations in the name of custom.
Womens’ issues have hit the headlines of late with three tragedies – all concerning the vulnerability of the ‘weaker sex’ in a male dominated society. The first was an explosive situation as it was related to the church and medical practice. It concerned a dentist from India who became the victim of religious tenets practised in a predominantly catholic country. The sad story of Savitha Halappanavar, who died in childbirth when the foetus she was carrying poisoned her system, is a typical example of blind adherence to religious doctrines made in another age and time.
But it must be remembered that many such doctrines are a question of interpretation whether they belong to a church, mosque, temple or synagogue. These have always been places where men dominated and laid down rules of conduct and behaviour according to their individual interpretation of the holy books. Women had no choice but to follow them. The present instance of a pregnant woman, a medical practitioner herself, falling victim to such man made decrees in the 21st century speaks volumes of blind religious precepts and practices, denying a woman choices in matters concerning her own life and motherhood.
More chilling
The second instance was even more chilling. It was barbaric and concerned a paramedical practitioner, although this time it happened in the capital city of our own country. A 23-year-old physiotherapist was raped by several men in a moving bus. This is not a rare occurrence, as similar shameful incidents are a daily occurrence in our cities, towns and villages. The only difference being that the Delhi incident received wide media coverage as well as overwhelming public condemnation. Women, young and old, and even girl children have been the victims of rape – in many cases by members of their own families.
Social censure and fear of punishment often act as deterrents to the victims coming into the open to reveal their misery and humiliation.
They may go through life traumatised by the incident. But they maintain silence.
What choices do these women have in the abuse of their bodies or their forced silence after the event? Once again, the rules of conduct are dictated by men. They are outdated, irrelevant codes of behaviour which society blindly accepts and follows. The choice to dress, to move around with freedom and exercise independence at work or at home is limited for women. A woman may be highly educated and have an upwardly mobile career, but she is also bound by the same rules as her less educated sisters.
Restriction in women’s choices is not an Indian phenomenon. As official studies show, they exist even in the most advanced countries and societies where women are vulnerable to atrocities over which they have no control. In more backward societies, women are forced to undergo all sorts of privations in the name of custom and religion. They have no choices in personal matters like marriage or childbirth.
They also presume, not surprisingly, that women can be exploited socially, economically and sexually too. Their attitudes are formed from birth when a boy child sees his sisters treated differently at home. Whether it is parents, or educators or employers, they see their daughters as liabilities, as the less favoured or the less competent at home, in school or in the workplace. In a country like ours, such attitudes are seen in all spheres of activity. Female foetuses destroyed in the mother’s womb. Girls pulled out school once they attain puberty. Women “given away” in marriage along with a dowry.
Women allotted unskilled jobs in labour. Women paid less salaries for the same job. While the illiterate, uneducated woman toils in the field or factory for a pittance, her more educated, professional woman hits the glass ceiling in corporate offices. Both suffer the same exploitation.
The third casualty was a nurse from India in a hospital in England who became the hapless victim of a prank by two irresponsible media men. What made them choose her for their bit of fun? Why did they not train their guns at some male nurse? Did their ugly scoop hope to expose a princess’ medical condition? Or, did they think this unfortunate nurse from a third world country a fitting object for their investigative skills? Jacintha Saldhana may be dead. So too, Savitha Halappanavar and “Damini.” Their stories will be buried and forgotten by the police, the media and by society itself. But, what happened to them were not solitary instances. They are the symbols of a world where women have limited choices in the most vital matters of life.