GENDER STEREOTYPING IN INDIA
Gender stereotyping refers to the practice of ascribing to an individual women or man specific attributes,characteristics,or roles by reason only of her or his membership in the social group of women or men.
Gender stereotyping is defined as an generalization of characteristics,differences and attributes of a certain group based on their gender.Gender stereotypes create widely accepted biases about certain characteristics or traits and perpetuate the notion that each gender and associated behaviors,if a man or women act differently from how their gender is expected to behave there is a disconnect in the evaluator's mind.As our society moves to a border construct of what "gender means" individuals who are stuck in this binary idea of gender have a difficult time wrapping their brains around individuals who do not fit into a strict gender dichotomy,or do not identify with any gender at all.For example; assertive women are called"bitches" and whores,while men who don't appear or act masculine are called :sissies" or "wimps" or assumed to be gay , which is a very offensive stereotypes in the LGBT community.
How Indians View Gender Roles in Families and Society
More than half a century ago,Indians was one of the first countries in the world to elect a women as prime minister, and the country currently has several highly influential women politicians, including Sonia Gandhi,the head of one of the major national parties.Today,most Indians say that "women and men make equally good political leaders," and more than one-in-ten feel that women generally make better political leaders than men ,according to a recent pew Research center survey of nearly 30,000 adults throughout India.Only quarter of Indian adults take the position that men make better political leaders than women.Yet in domestic settings,Indians tend to say men should have more prominent roles than women.About nine-in-ten Indians agree with the notion that a wife must always obey her husband, including nearly two-third who completely agree with this sentiment.Indian women are only slightly less likely than Indian men to say they completely agree that wives should always obey their husband,according to the survey,which was conducted between late 2019 and early 2020.
Many Indians express egalitarian views toward some gender roles in the home.For instance ,62% of adults say both men and women should be responsible for taking care of children.But traditional gender norms still hold sways among large segments of the population;Roughly a third of adults feel that child care should be handled primarily by women.Similarly a slim majority says that both men and women in families should be responsible for earning money,but many Indians see this mainly the obligation of men.And Indian adults overwhelmingly say that when jobs are in short supply, men should have greater rights to employ than women,reflecting the continued prominence of men in the economic sphere.Eight-in-ten agree with this sentiment, including a majority who completely agree.Indians value having both sons and daughters:Nearly all Indians say it is very important for family to have at least one daughter .And most Indians say that both sons and daughters should have equal rights to inheritance from parents and have the responsibility to care for parents as they age .But survey respondents are far more likely to say that sons ,rather than daughters,should have greater rights and responsibilities in these areas.
In Indian society,gender inequality is a major problem.In India,ingrained gender inequality severe impacts women lives despite decades f legislation a constitution that premises equal rights for men and women .Gender gas still exist despite significant economic growth.Due to a number of causes of gender inequality in India, including the high level of discrimination against women as well as numerous discriminatory social norms,laws, and cultural practices,India has been ranked poorly on various indices of gender disparity.These include economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment ,health and survival,political empowerment, and legal protection.Women are discriminated against and instance of gender inequality occur in India, such as inaccessibility to jobs and education, under representation in politics ,poor access to health and nutrition services.Violence against women still exist in the Indian society.
MAIN CAUSES OF GENDER STEREOTYPING IN INDIA
The unfavorable and unacceptable treatment of a person because of their gender constitutes gender discrimination .Women are typically the ones who deal with this kind of discrimination on the basis of gender.The Indian constitution ensure equal rights and privileges for men and women yet the majority of women in India are deprived of the use of these perks and chances.
There are several causes of gender stereotyping in India,such as:
ILLITERACY
Causes of gender stereotyping in India have resulted in educational regress in India.It is a sad fact that girls in India are still denied the opportunity to learn despite the nations educational reforms.People need to mend their perspectives and comprehend the advantages of educating girls.A well,educated women sure that other family members ,particularly the children ,have a good education.
POVERTY
Given its recent rise to prominence and rapid progress,India is still a developing country and a large number of people live below the poverty line.Poverty is also a contributor to gender disparity in India.One of the primary drawbacks is that,despite the prevalence of education in rural areas,families prefer to send their sons for education rather than sending their daughters.
WOMEN'S LACK OF AWARENESS
Women's ignorance of their rights and limitations on achieving equality is another contributor to gender inequality in India.The prevalent cultural and social conventions,which state that women should be obedient to men , are frequently to blame for this lack of awareness .It's critical to remove these obstacles so they may demand equality.
SOCIAL PRACTICE ,BELIEFS,AND CUSTOMS
Many household still today favor a son over a daughter and desire a male child.Sons are valued more than daughter and desire a male child.Sons are valued more than daughters in terms of economic, political,and religious considerations,particularly in rural communities and business societies.
CHILD MARRIAGE
Child marriage in India is almost caused by gender inequality.Before they turn 18,girls are coerced into marriage in order to establish a family.This is the result of families having conservative ideas that only males and girls should attend school because they need education and are meant to take care of the family.Early marriage leads to pregnancies in women who are still unable to care for either themselves or their unborn kids.Subsequently,having an impact on their physical health.An emphasis on the causes of gender inequality in India is required to end gender discrimination and ensure that we reach every kid, especially the most vulnerable .Vulnerability can be influenced by a persons'sage,color,social status ,gender identity,location,state of health,and aptitude.These other factors interact with gender discrimination and make them worse.Save the children is known its commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering girls around the world.If we want to build a future that ,inclusive,and free of gender discrimination,we must start in childhood.
