A gender role, also known as a sex role, is a social role encompassing a range of behaviors and attitudes that are generally considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for a person based on that person's biological or perceived sex.
3. The act of stereotyping has been deeply rooted in our
veins. No matter how we understand it and try to
avoid it.
The Indian government has expressed a strong
commitment towards education for all, however, India
still has one of the lowest female literacy rates in
Asia.
In 1991, less than 40 percent of the 330 million
women aged 7 and over were literate, which means
today there are over 200 million illiterate women in
India.
This low level of literacy not only has a negative
impact on women’s lives but also on their families’
lives and on their country’s economic development.
4. A woman’s lack of education also has a negative impact
on the health and wellbeing of her children.
For instance, a recent survey in India found that infant
mortality Numerous studies show that illiterate women have
high levels of fertility and litracy was inversely related to
mother’s educational level .
Additionally, the lack of an educated population can be an
impediment to the country’s economic development.
5.
6. I am the Queen, the gatherer-up of treasures, most thoughtful, first of those who
merit worship.
Thus Gods have established me in many places with many homes to enter and
abide in.
Through me alone all eat the food that feeds them,-each man who sees, breathes,
hears the word outspoken
They know it not, yet I reside in the essence of the Universe. Hear, one and all,
the truth as I declare it.
I, verily, myself announce and utter the word that gods and men alike shall
welcome.
I make the man I love exceeding mighty, make him nourished, a sage, and one
who knows Brahman.
I bend the bow for Rudra that his arrow may strike and slay the hater of devotion.
I rouse and order battle for the people, I created Earth and Heaven and reside
as their inner controller.
7. On the world's summit I bring forth the Father: my home is in the
waters, in the ocean.
Thence I prevade all existing creatures, as their Inner Supreme
Self, and manifest them with my body.
I created all worlds at my will, without any higher being, and
permeate and dwell within them.
8. Hindu texts present diverse and conflicting views on the position
of women, ranging from feminine leadership as the highest
goddess, to limiting gender roles.
The Devi Sukta hymn of Rigveda, a scripture of Hinduism,
declares the feminine energy as the essence of the universe, the
one who creates all matter and consciousness, the eternal and
infinite, the metaphysical and empirical reality (Brahman), the soul,
(supreme self) of everything.
The woman is celebrated as the most powerful and the
empowering force in some Hindu Upanishads, Sastras and Puranas,
particularly the Upanishad, Devi Mahatmya and Devi-Bhagavata
Purana
Ancient and medieval era Hindu present a diverse picture of
duties and rights of women in Hinduism. The texts recognize eight
kinds of marriage, ranging from father finding a marriage partner
for his daughter and seeking her consent (Brahma marriage), to the
bride and groom finding each other without parental participation
(Gandharva marriage).
9.
10. The giving of gifts or money (otherwise known as a dowry) to
a groom on behalf of the bride’s family is common practice in
India, a marital tradition which dates back centuries.
The dowry buys into people’s pride and desire to “save face”
and the system (and exactly what is given) has substantial
consequences for families and women in general.
The financial restraints a dowry can place on a girl’s family
coupled with the increasing abuse of the tradition on the part
of the groom or his family has seen public perception of
dowry giving change, with the government now stepping in to
regulate its practice.
