Status of Women in Assam

LIPIKA DAS

“The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women. There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. The idea of perfect womanhood is perfect independence. There is no hope of rise for that family or country where there is no estimation of women, where they live in sadness.” (Swami Vivekananda)

In every society all around the world, different roles have been assigned to men and women. Men work as resource provider and women do the reproductive and home-making role. Not only in India, all over the world, women are regarded as subordinate to men.

In the ancient Indus Valley Civilization of India, women enjoyed a very honorable position in the society. They were worshipped as Prakriti, the mother goddess— the inventor, preserver and destroyer of the universe.

Though in the early days of human civilization women received a highest position but certain historians claim that the Ancient India failed to establish women power and later were deprived of equal opportunity with men not only in property rights but also in spiritual practices.

According to Jataks, women were considered as obstacles in getting salvation. A historical survey shows that all Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads and Epics reveal the status of women and their struggle for power in ancient India. Wives were regarded as “Ardhangini”, means half part of their husbands.

The married men cannot perform any crucial or religious activity without their wives. In spite of highly male dominated patriarchal society, women enjoyed a position of respect and reverence.

Assam, a North-Eastern state of India, has population of 31,160,272 as in 2011 census, of which 15,954,927 are males and 15,214,345 are females. The sex ratio (females per 1000 males) is 954 and the female literacy ratio is 67.27%. Like other parts of India, Assamese women too are still shackled to traditions, customs, age-old superstitions and beliefs, dogmatism and orthodoxy.

Still, most of the Assamese women remain suppressed by their husbands, in-laws, household chores and remain economically dependent upon their male counterparts throughout their lives. Due to absence of awareness to acquire basic knowledge and information regarding their rights, facilities and advantages, there is always lack of economic empowerment among the Assamese women.

The increasing rate of female literacy is quite satisfactory but it is not equal with the rate of male literacy. Even it can be seen that the drop-out rate of Assamese school going girls is still increasing. At primary level, the average drop-out rate for girls has increased from 5% in 2009-10 to 11.9% in 2011-12 and at upper primary level from 13.5% in 2009-10 to 14.3%.

But it is also important to note that women in Assam are in a better position in the field of education than the all India average. As per 2001 census the literacy rate for Assam is 64.28% as against 65.83% for India. Actually, this problem is not only of today, Assamese women have been suffering a lot for a long time. Even in the Katha Guru Charit, there are many references where it appears that women were considered as property and always at the disposal of her husband.

Women were considered not more than a slave; neither they were given any identity except of her husband. Ironically, women themselves had rejected the idea of being independent and having a separate identity.

But interestingly, there were some other women too who were exceptionally free, enterprising, self-assertive, independent and active participant in social production. Like medieval Assamese women, today’s Assamese women too participate in economical activities.

But the work participation rate of women is considerably low in comparison to men. Though women’s work participation rate does not satisfy us but Assam is not the worst among other Indian states. But it is very unfortunate to see that in terms of decision making bodies, the status of Assamese women is truly worst. In 1977 elections, out of three female candidates, two candidates were elected for the Lok Sabha.

In 1984 and 1989 elections, no female candidates contested from Assam. Despite having a glorious history of Assamese women’s active participation in politics of pre-independent India, they failed to occupy a good position in decision making process and leading role in party politics.

Apart from these, women’s health issues should also be mentioned. Both the Central Government and State Government sponsored various schemes for women like Majoni, Mamoni, National Health Mission, Janani Sishu Suraksha Karyakram etc.

Not only government actions and steps are important for removing gender inequalities and empowering women, change in the society’s outlook and attitude towards women is also mandatory. Women empowerment could be achieved only when women are treated respectfully and equally as a human being with an identity of her own rather than taking her as a commodity and primarily as a sex object to be abused, exploited, discriminated and ill-treated.

Women are never considered as individuals. They are always seen as dependent beings upon men. The worldwide scenario of women’s condition and status is also very pathetic. Discriminatory social norms and the negligence of women’s rights result the continuation of serious challenges in terms of health, nutrition, education and employment. The West is also not an exception in this case.

According to W. J. Goode, “…the domestic and maternal obligations assigned to women and the lack of interest of women in assuming equal responsibilities….” are the ‘Two roadblocks’ of women’s lives since past till present. Along with legal and political rights, western women had to struggle a lot for “sexual emancipation” in the 19th century. The demand of the sexual revolution was needed to protect women’s respect and honor of all classes.

Unfortunately, most of the present women too experience sexual harassment. At their workplace also, the difference between men and women can be felt very strongly. A study by the International Labor Organization in 2013 shows that the global wage gap is 23%.

Studies have shown some interesting facts like, the construction sector has the smallest gender gap but only has 9% of women workers, within the U.S. economy, women represent around half of the workforce of the country, South Korea has the widest gender pay gap where men earn 37% more than women, Luxembourg has the narrowest gender pay gap where men earn only 3.4% more than women.

Here is a quote of United Nations from 1980 which is still prevalent: “Women constitute half of the world’s population, perform nearly two-thirds of its work hours, receive one-tenth of the world’s income, and own less than one-hundredth of the world’s property.” Again, it is seen that nowhere in the world women enjoy the same legal or constitutional rights as men.

Having access to proper education is a kind of privilege for mankind but 62 million girls all over the world do not have access to education due to poverty or social taboos. In the area of leadership, only 32% of administrative positions are taken by women leaders. In fact, in U.S.A., until 1920’s, women were not allowed to cast their votes.

Hence, it can said that it is an essential prerequisite for women’s full participation in political, economic, social and cultural development from which an equal status for women can be achieved.

[Writer Lipika Das, Assistant Teacher, Goaltuli Girls’ M.E. School, Goalpara]

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