This presentation is about the different faces of indian Women. Their contributions to the country , their greatness etc.

1. Faces of Indian WomenFaces of Indian Women
““One of the most enduring cliches about India is that it is the country ofOne of the most enduring cliches about India is that it is the country of
contradictions. Like all cliches, this one too has a grain of truth in it. At thecontradictions. Like all cliches, this one too has a grain of truth in it. At the
heart of the contradiction stand Indian women: for it is true to say that theyheart of the contradiction stand Indian women: for it is true to say that they
are among the most oppressed in the world, and it is equally true to say thatare among the most oppressed in the world, and it is equally true to say that
they are among the most liberated, the most articulate and perhaps even thethey are among the most liberated, the most articulate and perhaps even the
most free. Can these two realities be simultaneously true?”most free. Can these two realities be simultaneously true?”
Urvashi ButaliaUrvashi Butalia

2. Outline of the presentationOutline of the presentation
 Place of Women in Indian SocietyPlace of Women in Indian Society
 Indian Women in Modern TimesIndian Women in Modern Times
 EducationEducation
 EmploymentEmployment
 EmpowermentEmpowerment
 Trivia: Famous Faces Indian WomenTrivia: Famous Faces Indian Women
 IntrospectionIntrospection

3. Place of women in Indian society:Place of women in Indian society:
A (cultural) historical perspectiveA (cultural) historical perspective
 The Goddess (The Goddess (DeviDevi))
 The motherThe mother
 The sisterThe sister
 The wifeThe wife
 TheThe tawaiftawaif

4. Indian Women in Modern TimesIndian Women in Modern Times
EducationEducation
 LiteracyLiteracy
 Gender gaps:Gender gaps:
 Differences across statesDifferences across states
(Kerala has highest female(Kerala has highest female
literacy; Rajasthan, Bihar andliteracy; Rajasthan, Bihar and
Uttar Pradesh have theUttar Pradesh have the
lowest)lowest)
 Differences between rural andDifferences between rural and
urban areasurban areas
 Parental preference for boysParental preference for boys
going to schoolgoing to school
 Higher dropout rate amongHigher dropout rate among
girlsgirls
FemaleFemale MaleMale
19711971 22%22% 46%46%
19911991 39%39% 64%64%
20032003 48%48% 70%70%

5. Indian Women in Modern TimesIndian Women in Modern Times
EducationEducation
 Gender gaps in higher educationGender gaps in higher education
 About 1 percent of total women population has collegeAbout 1 percent of total women population has college
educationeducation
 In engineering and business, the proportion of femaleIn engineering and business, the proportion of female
students is much smallerstudents is much smaller
 In education, nearly half of the students are menIn education, nearly half of the students are men

6. Indian Women in Modern TimesIndian Women in Modern Times
Barriers to Female EducationBarriers to Female Education
 Poverty: one-fourth of India’s population livesPoverty: one-fourth of India’s population lives
below the poverty line (2002)below the poverty line (2002)
 Social values and parental preferencesSocial values and parental preferences
 Inadequate school facilitiesInadequate school facilities
 Shortage of female teachers: 29 percent at theShortage of female teachers: 29 percent at the
primary level and 22 percent at the university levelprimary level and 22 percent at the university level
(1993)(1993)
 Gender bias in curriculumGender bias in curriculum

7. Indian Women in Modern TimesIndian Women in Modern Times
EmploymentEmployment
 Difficult to get an overall picture of employment amongDifficult to get an overall picture of employment among
women in Indiawomen in India
 Most women work in the informal sectorMost women work in the informal sector
 Women accounted for only 23 percent of the total workers inWomen accounted for only 23 percent of the total workers in
the formal sector in 1991the formal sector in 1991
 The number of female workers has increased faster than theThe number of female workers has increased faster than the
number of male workersnumber of male workers
 Female unemployment rates are similar to maleFemale unemployment rates are similar to male
unemployment ratesunemployment rates

8. Indian Women in Modern TimesIndian Women in Modern Times
Barriers to Female EmploymentBarriers to Female Employment
 Cultural RestrictionsCultural Restrictions
 Hierarchical society (caste system)Hierarchical society (caste system)
 PurdahPurdah system: the veiling and seclusion of womensystem: the veiling and seclusion of women
 Discrimination at WorkplaceDiscrimination at Workplace
 More prevalent in fields where male competition is highMore prevalent in fields where male competition is high
 Less prevalent in fields where competition is lowLess prevalent in fields where competition is low
 Lack of employment opportunitiesLack of employment opportunities

9. Indian Women in Modern TimesIndian Women in Modern Times
EmpowermentEmpowerment
 Social EmpowermentSocial Empowerment
 EducationEducation
 There is no direct relationship between education andThere is no direct relationship between education and
work force participation; but may affect their participationwork force participation; but may affect their participation
in household decision makingin household decision making
 Economic Independence:Economic Independence:
 Economic independence does not imply significantEconomic independence does not imply significant
improvement in social standingimprovement in social standing
 Culture and tradition play an important roleCulture and tradition play an important role
 A small fraction has opened up towards Western valuesA small fraction has opened up towards Western values

10. Indian Women in Modern TimesIndian Women in Modern Times
 Economic EmpowermentEconomic Empowerment
 Property RightsProperty Rights
 Matriarchal societyMatriarchal society
 Economic Decision MakingEconomic Decision Making
 In the householdIn the household
 In businessesIn businesses

11. Indian Women in Modern TimesIndian Women in Modern Times
 Political EmpowermentPolitical Empowerment
 Representation in democratic institutionsRepresentation in democratic institutions
 Government reservations policy for women: theGovernment reservations policy for women: the
constitutional amendment of 1990sconstitutional amendment of 1990s

12. TRIVIATRIVIA
Recognize Famous FacesRecognize Famous Faces

22. Famous FacesFamous Faces
 Indira GandhiIndira Gandhi
 Mother TeresaMother Teresa
 Mira NairMira Nair
 Kalpana ChawlaKalpana Chawla
 Gurinder ChadhaGurinder Chadha
 Arundhati RoyArundhati Roy
 Jhumpa LahiriJhumpa Lahiri
 Aishwarya RaiAishwarya Rai
 Sushmita SenSushmita Sen

23. IntrospectionIntrospection
Faces of an Indian womanFaces of an Indian woman
 WifeWife
 MotherMother
 SisterSister
 Bread earnerBread earner
 Compassionate member of the societyCompassionate member of the society

24. ““The origin of a child is a mother, a woman. ….sheThe origin of a child is a mother, a woman. ….she
shows a man what sharing , caring , and loving is allshows a man what sharing , caring , and loving is all
about. That is the essence of a woman."about. That is the essence of a woman."
Sushmita Sen, Miss Universe 1994Sushmita Sen, Miss Universe 1994

25. ……but that is just a beginningbut that is just a beginning….….
Thank youThank you