The culture breeds dependence of women for both good and bad reasons. Having an overview of the societal pressures on women and their liberation.

1. Ravi Samuel MA, MPhil, PGCARM(Lond) [PhD]
Psychotherapist

2. The Fact: Dependence of girl on the
mother, then the father, then the husband, then
the children is a common phenomena.
Actually no different for a man!
Dependence refers to relying on a family
member or relatives or friends for food, caring
for the children, accommodation and security.

3. Increasing Single Women
(Clinical Observations)
Changes and Challenges in the society
(Research Observations)
What needs to be done?

4.  Education and Financial
Independence
Employment opportunities
Migrating to other cities and even abroad
Financial independence gives choice of
living alone

5.  Nuclear Family system – gives choice
for individual freedom
Not bound by whole range of relatives
decisions and opinions.
Parents easily go by the decisions of the
children, do not impose much of cultural or
traditional values

6.  Breaking up of Marriage (Weds and Vs.)
Marriage breaks up after few days to few
decades.
Girls come back to the mother’s house if
they have children
Some choose to live alone if they are having
a relationship with someone.

7.  Over the past four years the divorce rate in
Delhi almost doubled in 2008.
 In 2006, Bangalore, the IT hub of India 1,246
cases of divorce
 It has been estimated Mumbai has shot up to
4,138 in 2007 Kolkata and Chennai, are no
less behind.
 Kerala, known to be the most literate state
has experienced an increase of divorce rate
by 350% in the last 10 years.

8. Autonomy vs. Family and Social Roles
Lack of sexual freedom
Overcoming impositions - torch bearers of
culture and traditions

9. Abolition of Sati in 1829
Age of Consent Bill in 1892
Indian Marriages Act. In 1864
Indian Succession Act of 1865
Indian Divorce Act 1869
Hindu Women’s Right to Divorce Bill

10. Hindu Women’s Right to Property Act of 1937
The United Nations declared 1975–85 as decade for women
Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
Domestic Violence Act 2005
Ramakrishna Hegde’s Karnataka Govt
1983 25 mandating 25 per cent representation for women now
One third of the seats are for women.

11. Delhi ranks the highest of all Indian cities in crimes
against Women:
dowry deaths,
domestic violence and psychological torture,
rape,
abduction and molestation

12. Rape is the consequence of the double standards
we adopt with sexuality, pornography and
gay/lesbian choices
Only the individual has the right to choose his
sexuality
Rape is a social illness not isolated problems of few
men

13. The number of women online in India has crossed
the 12 million
The Internet is Avoidable
Until it becomes a Necessity

14. The number of women online in India has crossed
the 12 million
The Internet is Avoidable
Until it becomes a Necessity

15. Less than 18 per cent of the women make
independent decisions.

16. Parents
Relationships
Siblings
Relatives
Friends

17. Work – Family Interface
Mental Health
Violence
Reproductive Health
Gender Linked Attributions
Sexuality
Aging
Marriage and Motherhood

18. There is a need for specific studies on the
caregiving needs of the single women.
Social Policy and Services are required to
meet the emerging social reality of ‘single
women’

19. Ladies and
Gentlemen