Question

In nineteenth century struggles for democracy often centred round political equality, freedom and justice. one major demand was the right to vote for women. Why were women given voting rights much later than men in most countries. Why did this not happen in India?

Answer 1

Women were given voting rights much later than men because:

​a. The idea of Women's subordination to men, was well entrenched in most of the societies which regarded women as inferior and not equal to men.
b. Women were considered to dominate the private sphere , involve in domestic household work, their political representation and participation was not considered important.
c. It was believed that if women were allowed voting rights, or were allowed to participate in the public sphere, it would break the traditional hierarchy in the society.
d. It was only in the l9th century that women suffrage movement for voting rights, equality, for right to work took shape.

This however was not the case with India because:

a. Women actively participated in the freedom struggle.
b. India's struggle for independence was against the oppressive colonial rule and a fight for freedom, equality , justice which it did not deny to its citizens after gaining freedom.
c. The Constitution of Independent India granted right to vote to all, embraced universal adult franchise .