ATTITUDE AND BIASED PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIETY- A MAJOR HURDLEIN ACHIEVING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

Introduction
Mother + daughter + sister + mentor + leader + partner + teacher = WOMEN.
With the slogan of women empowerment the question arises that, “Are women become really
strong and is long term struggle has ended?” Empowerment can be viewed as means of creating a social
environment in which one can make decisions and make choices either individually or collectively for
social transformation. The extent of empowerment of women in the national hierarchy is determined
largely by the three factors – her economic, social and political identity and their weightage. These
factors are deeply intertwined and interlinked with many cross cutting linkages which imply that if
efforts in even one dimension remain absent or weak, outcomes and momentum generated by the
other components cannot be sustained as they will not be able to weather any changes or upheavals.
It is only when all the three factors are simultaneously addressed and made compatible with each
other can the woman being truly empowered. Therefore for holistic empowerment of the woman to
happen – social, economic and political aspects impacting a woman’s life must converge effectively.
Gender inequality
Women are getting back in the male dominated country. Women empowerment needs to take a
high speed in this country to equalize the value of both genders. The need of women empowerment
arose because of the gender discrimination and male domination in the Indian society since ancient
times. Women are being suppressed by their family members and society for many reasons. It is
believed that in past (Vedic period) women had enjoyed equal status as men. The Upanishads and the
Vedas have cited women sages and seers. But there also the practices like sati, jauhar, devdasis and
purdah were prevalent. This proves that gender discrimination is prevalent from that period and is still
there. In India there is a diplomatic move against the women in the male dominant society as women
are exploited by keeping her at a divine place and by worshipping her. Gender discrimination starts
from school, the primary space where a child looks himself in the outer world, then in workplace,
family, among friends. The problem with women at workplace is of serious one as there are few
women actually participating in the economy, as most of them are not allowed by their families, and
they are facing discrimination in different forms such as different questions asked to them in job
interviews, unfair treatment at workplace, priority given to male in promotions, harassment, etc. As
law is not so capable to penalize purdah system, it cannot penalize a father who restricts his daughter
to attend the night parties and not give equal freedom to her as of his brother. After discussing about
the problem, their cause the next thing comes is tools for the solution of the problem. And here the
most effective tool is law.