In the modern era, where women like Indra Nooyi, Marissa mayor, Sania Mirza, Oprah Winfrey , Angela Merkel, Hillary Clinton, Sania Nehwal etc. are taking on the world head on, revolutionising it in various professions, the term gender discrimination seem to be a myth. But is it? Has the laurels, the accomplishments of a few women been so great that the fact that the sex ratio of India is still 945 per 1000 males can be neglected? Have they acquired so much education that the fact that literacy rate in males is still higher than females by almost 17%? Isn’t it evident from these facts that gender discrimination is still prevalent and a majority of our society follows it? Visit us at www.prayaascorps.com

1. GenderDiscrimination
In the modernera, where womenlike Indra Nooyi,Marissamayor,SaniaMirza,OprahWinfrey,
AngelaMerkel,HillaryClinton,SaniaNehwal etc. are takingon the worldheadon, revolutionisingit
invariousprofessions, the termgenderdiscriminationseemtobe a myth.But isit? Has the laurels,
the accomplishmentsof afewwomenbeensogreatthatthe fact that the sex ratio of Indiaisstill
945 per 1000 malescan be neglected?Have theyacquiredsomucheducationthatthe fact that
literacyrate inmalesisstill higherthanfemalesbyalmost17%?Isn’titevidentfromthese factsthat
genderdiscriminationisstillprevalentanda majorityof our societyfollowsit?
Nowone may stressthat the worldisa societyunderprogressandthusthese factsand figuresare
nothingbutthe figuresof the transitional graphthatismovingtowardsprogress.Anditispretty
justified,becausethat’swhatthe trendindicates,the sex ratiohasincreasedalotinthe past
decade, literacyratesare at the highestof all times .But at the same time one cannotignore the
incidentslikethe QualcommandWiprolawsuit,where suchtech-giantsfailedtoprovide gender
equalitytotheiremployees.Manystereotypesclaimthatgenderdiscriminationisnotthat bigissue
afterall but let’ssee how the US lawdefinessex discrimination-“Discriminationbasedongender(or
sex) isa commoncivil rightsviolationthattakesmanyforms,includingsexual harassment, lackof
equal opportunities, pregnancydiscrimination,andunequalpayforwomenwhodothe same jobs
as men.”As itis written,itis a civil rightsviolationwhichissame asrenderingyouoff yourproperty
and acquiringitillegally.
Nowtalkingaboutgenderdiscrimination,we oftenstumble onthe word- femalefoeticide,sexual
harassment,female infanticide,dowryetc. andthat’sbecause theyare directlyrelatedtogender
discrimination. Actuallyitworksina cycle i.e.genderdiscriminationeventuallyledtodowry
because of the fact that since womenare consideredas inferiortomen, hence theyshouldpayto
getmarriedin the formof giftsandmoney.Thisledtoproblemslike femalefoeticideandinfanticide
as the girlsnowborn were seenasa burdendue to the dowrytheywill carryin the future.Onthe
otherhand thisnotonlyledto the degradationof womeninthe societybutalsoledtothe
enhancementof the statusof menbecause of the dowrytheyattract whentheygetmarried.
Anotherfactor contributingtothisproblemwasthe Indianhistory,whichconsideredmales
as the carrier of generationsandthe rightful heirof the family,whichisone of the maincause
behindthisdiscriminationinIndia.Talkingaboutthe world,Saudi Arabiaisone of the mostextreme
casesof a developingnationfollowing genderdiscrimination,wherethe eventhe votingbywomen
startedinthe year2015. Generalizingit, the rootcause to thisproblem forthe whole worldismere
lack of knowledge andeducation. Womenare oftenseenpoordecisionmakersbecause of their
menstruationcycleswhichisquite ironical asitiswhatledto the birthof humanrace. The next
cause is that womenare oftenseenashouseholdmaids,who shouldtake care of the house,caress
the childrenandserve the male race,theyare consideredtobe lackingphysical strength,considered
weakinsimplerterms,butisitreallythe case?Are theyreallyweak?Dotheylackphysical strength?
I woulddefythe statementconsideringthe painamotherexperiencesatthe time of delivery,which
isalmostequal to 7 bonesbreakingtogether.
Summarisingthe above causes,itbecomesquite clearthatitis mere lack of knowledge and
educationthathas ledtoexpanse of ignorantmindsthusleadingtoaninventof a stereotypical
societywhere suchanabsurd practice isfollowed.Hence the onlysolutioncouldbe education,and

2. not justformal educationbutmoral educationwhichincludesteachingof respectingthe other
gender,propersex educationand motivating otherstodiscontinue thissocial evil.The other
solutionslikereservationsforwomeninvariousfieldsare worthanapplause butasit issaid-
Respectcan onlybe incorporatednotenforced,thusthere isadire needof educatingand
enlighteningthe societyaboutthisissue. Because if thisevilprevails,itisnotonlya bighurdle tothe
progressof the societybutalso is surely goingtoendwithdoomof the humanrace.
AboutPrayaasCorps-
"मानवीय सेवा ही इश्वरिये प्राथना है"
We started Prayaas with this motive and it reflects in our endeavour when we serve people. We
believe that just living is not enough, but one must have a purpose to live. And the person who
has a purpose to live leads a purposeful life.
Pranav Bharti
Intern at Prayaas Corps
A budding writer, blogger, app content writer, struggling coder ; dumbfounded by society and it’s
behaviour and with high emotional quotient.