Question

Which among the following do you think might be the reasons for the persistence of gender-based discrimination in India?

• A. Patriarchal norms in India have marked women as inferior to men.
• B. Societal prejudices and regional immobilities have restricted the participation of women in the labour force.
• C. Unequal access to education, health, and work have restriceted their personal freedom and liberties.
• D. The gender pay divide between the two sexes have decreased leading to increase in income disparities.

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B), (C)

Unequal access to education, health, and work have restriceted their personal freedom and liberties.

Discrimination against women is a pervasive and long-running phenomenon that characterises Indian society at every level. Despite rapid rates of economic growth, India's progress towards gender equality has been far less impressive. The male-female wage gap is still significant. The participation of women in the labour force has declined in the past decade. The socially prescribed gender roles continue to hold women back. There is a need for policy interventions from the government to help create attitudenal shifts towards gender bias. There needs to be State accountability to implement various schemes, policies, laws, constitutional guarantees and international commitments. The government needs to encourage representation of women in postions of local leadership in governance. India needs to go a long way in eliminating gender-based discrimination.