Marriage and Women's Rights in India: Traditions and Challenges, Dispense di Cultura Inglese I

Scarica Marriage and Women's Rights in India: Traditions and Challenges e più Dispense in PDF di Cultura Inglese I solo su Docsity! LEZIONE 13-14 Women’s condition and marriage Women’s rights are secured under the Constitution of India. Nonetheless, inequalities generated by religion are still hard to die. Hinduism strongly influences women’s condition. Marriage is the most important goal in the life of a woman, according to Hinduism. The dharma (assigned duty) of a married woman is seen as the dedication and commitment to her husband. The ideal role model would be Sita of Ramayana. Sita being the idolized wife rejected her own comfort to enforce her husband’s dharma. In modern times, the Hindu wife has been someone who must, at all costs, remain chaste or pure. This is in contrast with very different traditions of earlier times. MARRIAGE IN INDIA Vedas = Hindu life consists of crucial stages. According to the Vedas the Man’s life: 1) Student stage a man should study 2) Household master stage ( = Grihastha). Marriage grants access to the second stage. Marriage is the union between the two spouses and their families. Most marriages are arranged by families. Arranged marriages = traditional stronghold of Indian society. Defended by many, including women. How to choose an ideal partner • Criteria = caste, belief, horoscope, social and economic condition of the family. • Marriage expenses = met by the bride’s family + dowry • Ads in newspapers and the Internet  photos and public meeting (to make a choice) • Love marriages are usually opposed • Problem of children marriages • Old Hindu polygamy disappeared – monogamy now for both partners WEDDING CEREMONY (different ones) The Day before the wedding the family met together: Mehndi (hennè colouring of the bride’s hands, arms and legs = sort of bachelorette party/hens party involving only women = addio al nubilato) The Mandapa is built (kind of gazebo, where the ceremony will be celebrated) Wedding day: • Baarat (groom’s arrival) • Kanya Danam (the bride’s parents give their daughter away in marriage) • Vivaaha (a knot in the sacred cloth of groom and bride is tied) • Agni Parinaya (bride and broom chant vedic mantras and go round the sacred fire seven times) • Asmarohana (groom mounts on a stone to recite prayers) • Saptapadi (the seven steps: central part of the ritual) CEREMONY (2) Wedding day: • Mangalsutra Dharana (sacred necklace that the groom ties around the bride's neck) • Suhaag (red powder symbolizing fertility and regenerative powder of women put on bride’s head) • Aashirvaad (groom’s family gives presents to bride’s family) DOWNSIDES CHILD MARRIAGE Traditionally prevalent in India, continues to this day. Historically, child brides would live with their parents until they reached puberty. In the past, child widows were condemned to a life of great agony, shunned by society. Although child marriage was outlawed in 1860, it is still a common practice. According to UNICEF’s "State of the World’s Children-2009" report, 47% of India's women aged 20–24 were married before the legal age of 18, rising to 56% in rural areas. The report also showed that 40% of the world's child marriages occur in India. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Domestic violence in India is endemic. Around 70% of women seem to be victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence was legally addressed in the 1980s. The National Crime Records Bureau reveal that a crime against a woman is committed every 3 minutes, a woman is raped every 29 minutes, a dowry death occurs every 77 minutes, and one case of cruelty committed by either the husband or relative of the husband occurs every 9 minutes. This occurs even though women in India are legally protected from domestic abuse. Domestic violence is not handled as a crime or complaint, it is seen more as a private or family matter. Most women refuse to report it. Dowry related crimes – bride burning In 1961, the Government of India passed the Dowry Prohibition Act dowry demands in wedding arrangements are made illegal. However, many cases of dowry-related domestic violence, suicides and murders have been reported. A 1997 report claimed that each year at least 5,000 women in India die dowry-related deaths, and at least a dozen die each day in 'kitchen fires' thought to be intentional. The term for this is bride burning and is criticized within India itself. Amongst the urban educated, such dowry abuse has reduced considerably. In 2011, the National Crime Records Bureau reported 8,618 dowry deaths. Unofficial estimates claim the figures are at least three times as high. . Sampat says, “We are not a gang in the usual sense of the term, we are a gang for justice.” The Gulabi Gang was initially intended to punish oppressive husbands, fathers and brothers, and combat domestic violence and desertion. The members of the gang would accost male offenders and prevail upon them to see reason. The more serious offenders were publicly shamed when they refused to listen or relent. Sometimes the women resorted to their lathis, if the men resorted to use of force. The group consists of women between 18 and 60 years old. It is reported to have spread and, since 2010, it has been active across North India, both on the streets and in local politics. The Gulabi Gang was known to use physical violence if needed to make a point and if physical violence was of no use, then they would resort to publicly shaming the offender. Despite becoming popular for its violent approach to much of its activism, it also uses non-violent tactics such as marches and occupations. In 2011, the gang helped Sheelu Nishad, a 17-year-old girl who had been gang raped. Nishad was arrested after arriving to the police station to file a report. The rapists, which also included a member of legislature, arrived to the police station first and requested her arrest. The victim's father approached the Gulabi Gang who in turn organised two mass demonstrations in front of the police station and legislator's house. Pal has said that «Yes, we fight rapists with lathis [large bamboo sticks]. If we find the culprit, we thrash him black and blue so he dare not attempt to do wrong to any girl or a woman again». Suman Singh, a later commander of the gang, mentioned that when «a woman seeks the membership of Gulabi Gang, it is because she has suffered injustice, has been oppressed and does not see any other recourse. All our women can stand up to the men and if need be seek retribution through lathis». SAYTFY Sayfty is an association that works with communities to facilitate open conversations with the aim to bring a fundamental shift in how violence against women is perceived. More precisely, it is an online platform that educates and empowers women and girls against all forms of gender based violence. It is quite different from the Gulabi Gang as it relies more on education and awareness creation, than on direct action. They are made of volunteers who offer their contribution in different ways. As they write in their Facebook page: «Our mission is to help women in India protect themselves against violence with the help of personal safety products, information and awareness». Dr. Shruti Kapoor – Founder and President Shaken by the horrific gang rape in Delhi 2012 that caught the attention of the global news media, Dr. Shruti Kapoor founded Sayfty in June 2013  to educate and empower women and girls of India against all forms of violence.  The initiative aims at creating awareness of laws and legal rights, dialogue around women’s safety. Considered as one of the most influential people in global policy in 2019. The 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder case involved a rape and fatal assault that occurred on 16 December 2012 in a neighbourhood of Delhi. The incident took place when Nirbhaya (a name used to protect the identities of rape victims), a 22-year-old physiotherapy intern, was beaten, gang-raped and tortured in a private bus in which she was travelling with her male friend. There were six others in the bus, including the driver, all of whom raped the woman and beat her friend. Eleven days after the assault, she was transferred to a hospital in Singapore for emergency treatment but died two days later. The incident generated widespread national and international coverage and was widely condemned, both in India and abroad. Subsequently, public protests against the governments for failing to provide adequate security for women took place in New Delhi, where thousands of protesters clashed with security forces. Similar protests took place in major cities throughout the country.  In the end the attackers were arrested. One died in custody apparently of suicide. One underage was condemned to prison. Four adults were condemned to death penalty and executed in 2020. YOUNG INDIA Indian population is very young (about 50% below 25) = about 700 million young people who will change the face of India. These young people have grown up in liberalised India, so they have a different culture from their parents. Only a small percentage is rich or well-to-do, but it still means that over 20 million of young people can afford luxury things. They have access to Internet and TV, spend time in pubs, cafés and restaurants. Young women spend money on beauty products and fashion. The icons for teenagers are now different. An example = Sania Mirza, a tennis player of Muslim background. She wears ultra short skirts and make up, and has been heavily criticized by orthodox Muslims. But she is much admired by Indian teenagers.  Myth for most teenagers = money (getting rich, living rich). They are also big consumers. Main bought products = clothes (including western brands or imitations, such as Levi’s, Benetton, Reebok, Nike) accessories (Ray-Ban), mobile phones (Nokia is the most sought for). Many learn computer science to get good jobs in the Information technology sector. Spirit of entrepreneurship of young people in rural areas: - mobile phones used as public phones - send emails for villagers.  Cultural changes: many young people still accept arranged marriages even though more and more prefer love marriages. New methods of arranging marriages: they use mobile phones to talk with the future partner and get to know each other better + use of the internet to choose the partner. Also changes in mixed-caste marriage: a good job in the IT sector is preferable to the right caste. They are also usually little interested in politics.  INEQUALITIES Still there are many young people who are dispossessed, who live in rural areas without electricity (and Internet) and who are not educated.    EDUCATION Education is provided by public (state) schools (controlled and funded by the government at three levels: central, state and local) and private schools. Investments have increased over the years. The Indian Constitution states that free and compulsory education is provided as a fundamental right to children aged 6 to 14.  Reality: In the 2011 Census, about 73% of the population was literate (81% for males and 65% for females). In 2017-18 a National Statical Commission survey stated that literacy was 77.7% (84.7% for males and 70.3% for females). The school system in India has four levels:  lower primary (age 6 to 10) divided into 5 «standards», (the classes)  upper primary (11 and 12) divided into 2 «standards»  high (13 to 16) divided into 4 «standards»  higher secondary (17 and 18) divided into 2 «standards». LANGUAGE(S) IN EDUCATION The three-language formula (Hindi,the major language+english+local language) is sponsored but there are local resistances. Many public schools have the state’s official languages as the primary school language (for political reasons). English is generally introduced as a second language from grade 5 onwards. English is an important «lingua franca». It is an aspiration language for most Indians: learning English is viewed as a ticket to economic prosperity and social status. Thus almost all private schools in India are English medium. Governments have tried to promote Hindi as a second «lingua franca». It is the world’s third language, in terms of the number of its speakers. The official language of many north Indian states, it is widely spoken throughout India as a link language, and is regarded by many Hindu emigrants from India to the UK as their chief cultural language. Modern standard Hindi is the vehicle of writing, journalism, and of the film industry. At private schools, the medium of education is often English, but Hindi and/or the state's official language is also taught as a compulsory subject. At public schools there might be local differences.