This document discusses the history of women's rights and participation in politics in India. It notes that while women enjoyed equal rights in ancient India, their status declined in later periods. In modern times, British colonial rule ended some oppressive practices against women but discrimination continued, especially in rural areas. The freedom movement encouraged women's participation in politics through leaders like Gandhi and organizations. However, women still face significant challenges in active political participation and leadership due to social and economic factors like patriarchal control and lack of funding. True equality and representation remains elusive.

1. GENDER & POLITICS
MITHUN
19SAHS2050002

2. INTRODUCTION
 Since the early ages women did not have
the same rights as men and in general were
considered weaker.
 The same applied more or less in India too.
 Even in this modern era women are
fighting for equal rights as men.
 They don’t want to be discriminated from
equal opportunities in the name of their
gender.

3. WOMEN IN ANCIENT INDIA
 Available sources show that women enjoyed equal rights as
men and openly discussed political and social problems in Vedic
period.
 Their position in society started to get worse in late Vedic
period,
 In Medieval period practices like Sati, Polygamy and Child
marriage started and were said to have religious importance.
 In Modern age the British East India Company ended some
evil practices like Sati, Widow remarriage, Child Marriage, Right
to Property and Female infanticide.
 Even now in rural India such evil practices on
women do exist.

4. WOMEN IN NATIONAL MOVEMENT
 Gandhi stressed for active participation of
women in the freedom movements.
 Gandhi’s encouragement resulted in
emergence of large number of women leaders.
 Women were a integral part of non violence
movements in India.
 Sarojini Naidu, Madame Cama and Annie
Besant formed the Women’s Indian Association.
 Women faced a lot of suppression in rural
areas.

5. WOMEN IN POLITICS
 The amount of women
participation in active politics is
still very low.
 Women are not given more
seats and are restricted to the
number of seats they receive
through reservation.
 Majority of those who win are
still told by their husbands as to
what they have to do.
 Women are not allowed to act
on their own and are controlled in
the name of the existing cultural
norms.

6. MAJOR CHALLENGES
In Panchayat elections the major problem faced by
women is social and economic forces. Women is rural
is still considered to sit at home look after kids and
cook food for the family, and they are not in general
allowed to work as it is thought that if she earn her
own money then she will become disobedient in
nature and would end up ruining the family’s name in
the society.
Even if a Women becomes a Panchayat head they are
used as proxies by Panchayat Patis(Husband). As
again the men ends up having the real power in the
end.

7. In rural area women don’t
stand up for each other in
general. Many times women
in powerful posts like
Mayor, Corporations and
muncipal officials don’t
stand up against these
practices due to lack of
support and are intimidated.
In Legislative Assembly and
Lok Sabha the
discrimination is still
eminent, majority of the
seats given to women
candidates are those were
the party don’t expect a win,
and are forced to go against
a strong candidate. In a way
they are mostly given those
seats were the defeat is
sure.

8. Women having held various constitutional posts –
from the Speaker of the House to Chief Ministers,
Union Ministers and even Prime Ministerial and
Presidential posts, a venomous patriarchy continues
to resist a more equitable distribution of political
power.
Another challenge is the question of funding – any
pragmatic observer will admit that fighting an election
is an expensive proposition. Given the low financial
power of women in society on an average as
compared with men, this becomes an additional
hurdle, with most female candidates dipping into their
personal or family coffers to fight this uphill battle, or
relying on monetary help from supporters.