Summary

Society Class 07

THE CLASS STARTED WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS TOPICS (04:35 PM)

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (04:41 PM)

Any act of gender-based violence that results in physical, sexual, or mental harm is referred to as violence against women.
Extent:
Life cycle (Cradle to grave) of violence against women.
Pre-birth: Sex-selective abortions
Infanthood: Infanticide
Child: Child labour, Child marriage, etc.
Adolescent: Cybercrimes, trafficking, etc.
Adulthood: Domestic violence.
Old Age: Violence against old females.
Statistics:
According to the NCRB Report, 46% increase in the incidents of violence against women in the first eight months of 2021.
As per the survey of the National Commission for Women,
86% of women (Who were victims of violence ) didn't approach any authority.
77% of them didn't speak about it to anyone.
Only 14% had the intention to report, however, only 7% could reach the appropriate authority.
According to UN Women, during the time of the Pandemic increased violence against women is observed also called as Shadow Pandemic.
Causes of Increased Violence against Women:
Institutionalization of patriarchy.
Different processes of socialisation.
Objectification and commodification of women.
Gender stereotypes that women are weak, passive, and dependent.
Traditional and cultural practices, for example, Child marriage, honour killing, female genital mutilation, etc.
Internalization of patriarchal norms both by men and women.
As per the Gender Social Norm Index (UNDP), according to 25% of men and women think it's absolutely fine for husbands to beat wives.
Situational factors, for example, Alcoholism or drug abuse, etc.
It increases the likelihood of violence by reducing inhibitions or clouding judgments.
For Women with higher economic status, the risk of violence is high as it directly threatens the male hegemony.
In the nuclear family the incidences of violence are high because, in the backdrop of lack of social support and increasing life stress, women are used as a cushion to vent out their frustrations.
Institutional weakness:
Lack of stringent laws.
Lack of proper enforcement.
Gender insensitive attitude of various stakeholders.
Lack of certainty.
Various Efforts are taken regarding Violence against women:
Legal Efforts:
Domestic Violence Act.
Dowry prohibition of Act.
Sexual Harassment (Prevention) Act.
International Provisions:
UDHR: Article 5 (No one shall be subjected to inhuman treatment)
UN World Conferences:
1975-Mexico

1980-Copenhagen

1985-Nairobi

1995- Beijing
Vienna Declaration (1993): Equal status for Women.
CEDAW.
Despite increasing legal provisions violence against women in the context of India is on the rise due to multiple factors:
Institutionalization of law and more focus need to be put on the implementation of the law.
Due to Bystander apathy.
Increased commodification of women.
Lack of legal knowledge, less reporting of violence, etc.
Internalization of patriarchy.
Pendency of cases
The low conviction rate of the cases.
Lack of gender sensitization of lawmakers and implementers.
Fear of social ostracisation.
Implications of Violence against Women:
It will negatively impact the status of the nation at the global level and impact tourism, healthcare, and overall soft power of the nation.
Health:
It affects the mental, physical, and reproductive health of women
Economic Issues:
Direct Cost: Loss of income, Loss of Productivity, etc.
Indirect Cost: Impact on child and child mortality, etc.
Question: Explain the paradox where on the one hand increased violence against women justifies strong laws, but on the other hand these laws are misused by women. (150 Words/10 Makrs)
Approach:
You can mention a few points as:
Lack of gender-neutral laws
Revenge-seeking tendencies
Corruption of value systems i.e. Seeking economic benefits by misusing the laws and increasing consumerist culture where alimony is seen as a means to climb the social ladder.
Extramarital affairs.
Lack of provisions regarding false complaints.
It has become a part of organized crime rackets as well.
Lack of commission for men to protect the interests of the men.
Due to secularization, Marriage is no longer a sacred institution hence increased incidences of divorce and separation.
Failure to meet expectations in relations has also resulted in misuse of laws.
Similarly even under POCSO despite the consensual relation due to family and societal pressure, It often leads to false implications for the boys.
Societal stereotyping of men.
In Conclusion, the Misuse of the law does not justify its dilution but creates grounds for better regulation.

DOWRY (05:34 PM)

It is the major reason responsible for:
Sex-selective abortion.
Girls are treated as an economic liability.
lack of investment in technical education and skill.
Child marriage.
Domestic abuse.
Skewed sex ratio.
Causes of Dowry:
The culture of acceptance of dowry by both men and women. i.e. They themselves believe that there exists hierarchical relationships between men and women and hence dowry is justified.
Culture of consumerism.
It is treated as an investment i.e. give and take culture.
It is also identified with the concept of groom price which is determined based on the market value.
For Example, Caste, Education, Job, Property, Future prospects, etc.
Sanskritization with respect to the practice of dowry.
Lack of proper implementation of existing laws.
The practice of dowry is associated with matters of prestige.
Way Forward:
Promoting the concept of Adarsh Marriage.
For Example, Affluent people refrain from lavish weddings.
Stigmatization of the practice of dowry.
Implementing the right to inheritance in practice.
Outlawing of extravagant weddings.
Focus on more education and skill development for women rather than just marriage.
Attitudinal change among men i.e. they should not be treated as commodities for sale and purchase in the marriage market.
Educate society with respect to the ill effects of dowry.
Equal Sharing of expenses between both bride and groom's family.
Concept of mass wedding.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (06:10 PM)

Reasons for increased incidents of Domestic violence:
Nuclear families are more prone to domestic abuse.
Cultural acceptance of domestic abuse.
Lack of parental support or economic dependence leads to poor reporting.
Lack of criminalization of marital rape also increases incidences of domestic violence.
Egodefensive attitude among males in marital relations.
Lack of witnesses also reduces the deterrence.
For Example, the UP state government initiated the "Bell Bajao Campaign"
With respect to rural areas, violence against young widows is rising.
Sexual Harassment Act:
The Supreme Court held that the objective of the act is the protection, prevention and redressal of complaints.
It defines what constitutes sexual harassment: Quid pro quo and Hostile work environment.
Section 354(a) of IPC defines sexual harassment as Physical contact, request for sexual favour, sexually coloured remarks, etc.
According to FICCI, 36% of Indian companies and 25% of MNCs have yet not constituted an 'Internal Complain Committee'.
Approximately 70% of the women do not report the cases due to the following reasons:
Lack of understanding of the term 'Sexual Harassment'
Lack of faith in the complaint mechanism.
Fear of retaliation.
Fear of social exclusion.
Fear of domestication due to stigma associated with violence against women.

SURROGACY (06:38 PM)

It is the practice where women give birth to a child for an intending couple with the intention to hand over the child after birth to an intending couple.
Provision of the Act:
It prohibits commercial surrogacy.
Surrogacy is permitted on the basis of certain conditions/terms.
Registration of surrogacy clinics is compulsory.
Central/State government will appoint authority for evaluating and taking action against breach of provisions.

TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: DIVERSITY