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Ambika (NA)     29 April 2011

Patriarchy and Sex ratio

 

Patriarchal societies are part of the problem of altered s*x ratios, female infanticide and foeticide. This needs to be acknowledged and changed.


India's s*x ratio, among children aged 0-6 years, is alarming. The ratio has declined from 976 females (for every 1000 males) in 1961 to 914 in 2011. Every national census has documented a decline in the ratio, signalling a ubiquitous trend. Preliminary data from the 2011 census have recorded many districts with s*x ratios of less than 850. The ratio in urban areas is significantly lower than those in rural parts of the country. Reports suggest evidence of violence and trafficking of poor women and forced polyandry in some regions with markedly skewed ratios. The overall steep and consistent decline in the ratio mandates serious review.

 

Sex selection and technology: Medical technology (like amniocentesis and ultrasonography), employed in the prenatal period to diagnose genetic abnormalities, are being misused in India for detecting the s*x of the unborn child and subsequently for s*x-selection. Female foetuses, thus identified, are aborted.

 

A large, nationally representative investigation of married women living in 1.1 million households documented markedly reduced s*x ratios of 759 and 719 for second and third births when the preceding children were girls. By contrast, s*x ratios for second or third births, if one or both of the previous children were boys, were 1102 and 1176 respectively. A systematic study in Haryana documented the inverse relationship between the number of ultrasound machines in an area and the decline in s*x ratios. Studies have also documented correlations of low s*x ratios at birth with higher education, social class and economic status. Many studies have concluded that prenatal s*x determination, followed by abortion of female foetuses, is the most plausible explanation for the low s*x ratio at birth in India.

 

The steady decline in the s*x ratio suggests that marked improvements in the economy and literacy rates do not seem to have had any impact on this index. In fact, the availability of new technology and its easy access for the urban, wealthy and the educated have worsened the trend and harmed the status of women in Indian society.

 

Sex selection and statutes: A prolonged campaign by women's groups and civil society organisations all over the country, in the wake of the skewed child s*x ratio in the 1991 census, led to the enactment of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act in 1994. However, this statute was not effectively implemented, leading to further skewing of the s*x ratios as recorded in the 2001 census. Social and financial pressures for smaller families intensified the misuse of such technologies to ensure the birth of sons. Such misuse cut across barriers of caste, class, religion and geography. The Act was amended in 2003, to include the more recent pre-conception s*x selection techniques within its ambit, with the aim of tightening regulation to provide more teeth to the law to prevent the practice. It mandated the regulation of sale of technology, the registration of diagnostic centres, the monitoring of medical personnel, procedures and protocols. It has procedures for complaints and appeals and regulation by local authorities.

 

And yet, the problems of implementation are ubiquitous. Violations go unpunished with very few cases being booked and a zero conviction rate. The collusion between people, the medical fraternity and the administration has resulted in the worsening of the s*x ratio and failure of the Act to make a difference.

 

Patriarchy and prejudice: The social system of patriarchy, with males as the primary authority figures, is central to the organisation of much of Indian society. The system upholds the institutions of male rule and privilege and mandates female subordination. Patriarchy manifests itself in social, religious, legal, political and economic organisation of society. It continues to strongly influence Indian society, despite the Constitution's attempt to bring about an egalitarian social order.

 

Patriarchal societies in most parts of India have translated their prejudice and bigotry into a compulsive preference for boys and discrimination against the girl child. They have also spawned practices such as female infanticide, dowry, bride-burning and sati. They have led to the neglect of nutrition, health care, education, and employment for girls. Women's work is also socially devalued with limited autonomy in decision-making. The intersections of caste, class and gender worsen the situation. Despite its social construction, patriarchal culture, reinforced by the major religions in the country, maintains its stranglehold on gender inequality. The prevalent patriarchal framework places an ideological bar on the discussion of alternative approaches to achieve gender justice.

 

Ethical blindness: The declining s*x ratio cannot be simply viewed as a medical or legal issue. It is embedded within the social construction of patriarchy and is reinforced by tradition, culture and religion. Female foeticide and infanticide are just the tip of the iceberg; there is a whole set of subtle and blatant discriminatory practices against girls and women under various pretexts. It is this large base of discrimination against women that supports the declining s*x ratio.

 

Many approach the problem superficially and focus on the declining s*x ratio and its medical and legal solutions. But those who seriously engage with the issues have found that much unethical conduct that goes on, whether in one's social or work life, happens because people are fooling themselves. Men, the dominant figures, and older women, who have lost the battle and have joined hands to form the ruling coalition, overlook many transgressions because it is in their interest to maintain the patriarchal culture. With such focus on patriarchal goals, the ethical implications of important decisions fade away. Such ethical fading results in engaging in or condoning behaviour that one would condemn if one were consciously aware of it. It results in ethical lapses in our social world, which are pervasive and intractable.

 

While viewing the girl child from only the narrow and bigoted, or financial perspectives, one fails to notice that many decisions have an ethical component. Consequently, one is able to behave unethically in relation to girls and women, while maintaining a positive self-image. Ethical fading also causes one to condone the unethical behaviour of others. Such “motivated blindness” tends to disregard issues that work against patriarchy. With the acceptance of patriarchal standards, based on religion or culture, even the most honest people have difficulty being objective. Those who overtly or covertly accept and defend patriarchy have a conflict of interest which biases their decisions against girls and women, in contexts both big and small. It is the everyday casual and hurtful misogyny — gendered language, s*xist innuendo, stereotyping and jokes, small institutional inequities, s*xualisation of society encouraged by advertising, media and capitalism that actually undergird violence of all types against women.

 

Need for gender justice: Viewing the s*x ratio as an individual or medical issue and suggesting medical or legal interventions to end the practice reflect poor understanding. While strict implementation of the law will help reduce female foeticide and infanticide, it will not eliminate the problems. Simply exhorting the general population and the medical profession to desist from such practice without attempting to change patriarchy will prove futile.

The major barrier to mainstreaming gender justice and scaling up effective interventions is gender inequality based on socio-cultural issues. The systematic discrimination of girls and women needs to be tackled if interventions have to work. Although medical intervention (of s*x determination and selective abortion of female foetuses) in the s*x ratio stands out as causal, it is the more hazy but ubiquitous and dominant relationship between gender and patriarchy that has a major impact on the outcome. The failure to recognise this relationship and the refusal to tackle these issues result in the declining s*x ratio. Debates on gender equality should not be reduced to talking about culture, tradition and religion. The prevalent patriarchal framework needs to be acknowledged as causal, interrogated and laid bare. Discussions on alternative approaches to achieving gender justice are mandatory.

 

While women are guaranteed equality under the Constitution, legal protection has little effect in the face of the prevailing patriarchal culture. India needs to confront its gender bias openly. It would appear that nothing short of a social revolution would bring about an improvement in the health and status of women in the country. Irony and hypocrisy are the two words that come to mind when patriarchal societies talk about justice for their women. Surely, the disappearance of millions of girls in India is reason enough to question the acceptance of patriarchy and search for an egalitarian social order.

 

(Professor K.S. Jacob is on the faculty of the Christian Medical College, Vellore.)

 

Pasted from <https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article1819313.ece?homepage=true>



Learning

 27 Replies


(Guest)

Ambikaji i also post this types of news in this forum

Here is the link:

https://www.lawyersclubindia.com/forum/Sex-ratio-gap-to-widen-by-2030-33644.asp

1 Like

(Guest)

 

It is Indian society. Indian culture. Sick seeds. Sick roots. Sick fruits.

 

Is not the religion behind all this sickness?

 

Which religion? Come out of it. Simple.

1 Like

(Guest)

I couldn't recollect it but somewhere Democratic Indian has posted a quote it is something "Warship of chain"..

 

Woman is enemy of herself by propagating "Karwachouth" for "Long live Pati Parmeshwar" and "Ever let me remain your Pair Ki Jooti" "Tumhare charnon ki dhool hi mere maathe ka sindoor hai" "Muze sada apni daasi banaaye rakhna" "Main hamesha tumhare gande kapde dhoti rahoon" "Main sada tumhare liye khana banaati rahoon" "Main hamesha tumhare jhoothe bartan dhoti rahoon" "Tum shaam ko kisi Raaja ki tarah ghar aakar pasar jao aur main tumhari aarti utaaroon aur tumhare liye doudkar Chaay banakar laaun, khana parosoon, jhoothe bartan uthaaun aur kisi bandhua majdoor ki tarah tumhare ishaare par nachti rahoon aur isi tarah sada suhgan rahoon".   

1 Like

(Guest)

 

Goswami Tulsidas ne to kaha hi hai;

 

DHOL, GANWAAR, SOODRA, PASHU, NAARI..!

YE SAB TAADAN KE ADHIKAARI...!!

 

Aur Walmiki Maharaj ne to Ram ke paida hone se pahle hi poori Ramayan likh di thi ki.. aisa hoga aur vaisa hoga.. Ram janam lenge aur apne pair se chhookar Ahilya ka uddhar karenge.. vagaira vagaira vagaira...

 

Aur bas tabhi se lage hain saare Ram log Ahilyaon ko laat maar maar kar unka uddhar karne me.

 

Are Ahilyao JAAGO, do laat maaroa aise Raamon ko aur apne apko insaan samjho baraabari ka !!!

1 Like

Arup (UNEMPLOYED)     30 April 2011

religion responsible for backwardness of human society.

2 Like

Democratic Indian (n/a)     30 April 2011

Originally posted by :Ram Samudre-DRF [NSSD-UOI]
"
I couldn't recollect it but somewhere Democratic Indian has posted a quote it is something "Warship of chain".. 
"

"It is hard to free fools from the chains they revere." - Voltaire


Patriachy and Sex ratio has its contribution. Besides this there are also historical factors. Female foeticide and clamour for male child started during medievel period in border states of India, when invaders from neighbouring countries would come in hordes and loved to kidnap young females to be sold in slave markets of Kabul and Baghdad. Times have now changed but mentality has not changed. This is most prevelant in border states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal.

2 Like

(Guest)

No,religion is not responsible.It's people's mindset.

 

Nowhere the Vedas say that Shudras must be discriminated,It's we,the kalyuga people who discriminate against them and against women.

 

Hindu religion never said that women are doormats or deserve to be beaten.It's some selfish minds,coupled with the invasions that destroyed the purity which people had in Satyuga.

 

Tulsidas did not invent Hinduism.These were his own thoughts.

 

Ultimately all depends upon people.If a Hindu wants,he can treat all as equals.If he does not want,it's his own mindset.Can we blame his religion for it?

 

Only one thing is responsible for a person's consduct......His family upbringing.

 

About women keeping Karwachauth,no woman does so willingly.It's societal pressure.You tell me who would like to remain hungry and thirsty for full 1day??

 

1 thing I agree,women are each others'enemies.It's not men.

If a bahu refuses to keep this vratha,her saas,nanad,jethani etc will make her life hellish through their taunts,bickerings,verbal abuses and will also poison her husband's mind against her.

 

Atleast in today's time,I have seen that men are not so particular that their wives keep vrathas for them.Mainly it's the female members who are more particular about customs and traditions to be followed.And they alone make a big issue if these are not followed properly.

 

What can a girl do then?If she wants to save her marriage,she has to follow these.So how can we blame her?


(Guest)
Originally posted by :Meenal Bahadur
"


No,religion is not responsible.It's people's mindset.
 

[WOW ! Wonderful collectivity in individual mindset of all !!.. So isn't can be said as the MINDSET OF THE ENTIRE INDIAN SOCIETY? So, isn't it they learned (brainwashed) by the culture they learnt?]  
 

Nowhere the Vedas say that Shudras must be discriminated,It's we,the kalyuga people who discriminate against them and against women.

[So, is it not true the RAMCHARITMANAS : Author SO SO GO SWAMI TULSIDAS is in every home and being a cause of such mindset? So, you consider the ULSIDAS a KALIYUGI SAINT WHO TEACHES ALL SUCH KALIYUGI LESSONS?]


Hindu religion never said that women are doormats or deserve to be beaten.It's some selfish minds,coupled with the invasions that destroyed the purity which people had in Satyuga.

Already here - [So, is it not true the RAMCHARITMANAS : Author SO SO GO SWAMI TULSIDAS is in every home and being a cause of such mindset? So, you consider the ULSIDAS a KALIYUGI SAINT WHO TEACHES ALL SUCH KALIYUGI LESSONS?]

Tulsidas did not invent Hinduism.These were his own thoughts.

Already here - [So, is it not true the RAMCHARITMANAS : Author SO SO GO SWAMI TULSIDAS is in every home and being a cause of such mindset? So, you consider the ULSIDAS a KALIYUGI SAINT WHO TEACHES ALL SUCH KALIYUGI LESSONS?]
 

Ultimately all depends upon people.If a Hindu wants,he can treat all as equals.If he does not want,it's his own mindset.Can we blame his religion for it?

Already here - [WOW ! Wonderful collectivity in individual mindset of all !!.. So isn't can be said as the MINDSET OF THE ENTIRE INDIAN SOCIETY? Is is not that the India was so called HINDUSTAN? So, isn't it they learned (brainwashed) by the culture they learnt?]

Only one thing is responsible for a person's consduct......His family upbringing.
 

Already here - [WOW ! Wonderful collectivity in individual mindset of all !!.. So isn't can be said as the MINDSET OF THE ENTIRE INDIAN SOCIETY? Is is not that the India was so called HINDUSTAN? So, isn't it they learned (brainwashed) by the culture they learnt?]


About women keeping Karwachauth,no woman does so willingly.It's societal pressure.You tell me who would like to remain hungry and thirsty for full 1day??

[So, is't it that all the conspiracy around women to follow the religious tradtions to make the DAASI (Devdaasi) of PATIPARMESHWAR for there exploitation?
 Prathma, dooj, teej, chaturthi, panchmi, chhath, saptami, ashtami, navami, dashahara, gyaras, barsi, teras, choudas, poornima and finally amavasya in the women's life?

1 thing I agree,women are each others'enemies.It's not men.

If a bahu refuses to keep this vratha,her saas,nanad,jethani etc will make her life hellish through their taunts,bickerings,verbal abuses and will also poison her husband's mind against her.

From where they learnt all this?


Atleast in today's time,I have seen that men are not so particular that their wives keep vrathas for them.Mainly it's the female members who are more particular about customs and traditions to be followed.And they alone make a big issue if these are not followed properly.

From where they learnt all this?
 

What can a girl do then?If she wants to save her marriage,she has to follow these.So how can we blame her?

"
1 Like

(Guest)

 

Leave all this pongapanthees and make an ideal modern democratic society wih equality humanity and throw away all such religion, caste, gender, regional, linguage based differences taught by pongapanthees.

 

OR

 

remain a daasi of men ever, choice is yours.

2 Like

(Guest)

So,

 

Everyone want a DEV (son) and not a DEV-DASI (daughter)

Since,

Everyone want a KING RAM (son) and not an AHILYA (dasi). Find, the reason of abortion.

and so, the market is high for BOYs for marrying a GIRL with huge DAHEJ, like doing AHSAAN.

 

Now say, the religion is not the reason for corrupting the Indian society.

 

For betterment of human society this anti-humanity religion should be declared a crime against civil society and punishable under IPC for murder of women's humanism.

2 Like

Ambika (NA)     01 May 2011

@ Democratic Indian,

Yes,  but t he reason of  making women an instrument of revenge and war strategies again is petriarchy, and continies till date. 

@ Samudre ji,

You are right. 

Women are also as much a product of patriarchy as men nurtured by major institutions like religion,  families, schools, and markets and media etc.  

However, because women are victims of  the patriarchal system, they relate to the struggles for women's liberarion/emancipation more readily and passionately than men and can relate  the conspiracy of religion, cultural norms reinforced by religions and other instituions to their lived realities. 

1 Like

Arup (UNEMPLOYED)     01 May 2011

make an ideal modern democratic society wih equality humanity and throw away all such religion, caste, gender, regional, linguage based differences

 

----   fully agreed with shri ram.

1 Like

Arup (UNEMPLOYED)     01 May 2011

...   so, the market is high for BOYs for marrying a GIRL with huge DAHEJ...

 

---   true.

daughters facing two diffrent types of problems.

one is from nature, physically they are weak than their counterparts, which causes rape etc. and another is by culture. by culture we consider son is priceless, an earning source, some religion also encourage this attitude, they declares that son is a must, son is prefarable, son extend the family. but whatever a son can do, a daughter - if educated and trained properly - can do the same.

it is the society, it is the culture, it is the religion, which, attracts girl child towards  back. we have to overcome it.  i deeply believe our society must overcome it.

1 Like

Arup (UNEMPLOYED)     01 May 2011

.........  during medievel period in border states of India  .......

 

----     not only in india. asia and europe both had the same picture.

i am not aware of africa.