Mother Mind, Women of India 2008

[Guest guest]

As Their Moment Arrives, India's Women Seize It

 

 

 

By WeNews Staff

 

 

The

roles of women in India are rapidly changing, along with the nation

overall. Our eight-part series takes a look at how women are seizing

new opportunities, everything from writing their own stories to

challenging religious courts.

 

 

 

(WOMENSENEWS)--Women in India are facing a pivotal moment.

 

Their country has just celebrated the 60th anniversary of its

independence, but it is still struggling to realize the potential of

what it means to be the world's largest democracy. This year, India saw

the rise of the first woman, Pratibha Patil, to the presidency, 40

years after Indira Gandhi became the first female prime minister.

India's economy is growing steadily and opening up new economic

opportunities for women. Women are making gains in government, civil

service, business and culture.

 

At the same time, many are struggling to hold the tiger by the ear.

More than 200 million women in India are illiterate. A population chasm

is opening up as gender-selective abortions have resulted in the

" disappearance " of millions of baby girls. Maternal mortality rates are

among the highest in the world; 117,000 women each year die as a result

of childbirth. Working women--largely agricultural laborers--earn

one-third less than men. Thousands of women have been murdered in dowry

disputes and domestic violence is common.

 

One cannot help but recall the words of India's first prime

minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who said, " You can tell the condition of a

nation by looking at the status of its women. "

 

The outlook, though, has changed significantly since Nehru's time.

Today, millions of Indian girls are in school. Upon taking office,

Patil promised to fight for women's rights and end female feticides.

Each day, media reports tell of women challenging domestic abuse,

sexual harassment and rape. They are making inroads into business and

politics. Women are increasingly taking their own destinies into their

hands and charting new routes for achievement.

 

In celebration of this pivotal moment in time, Women's eNews is

producing a series of stories to specifically look at how women's roles

are changing in modern India.

 

Links to stories inside this series

 

 

" In India, Parents of Brides-to-Be Hire Sleuths "

Run Aug. 20, 2007:

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3283/

 

" Muslim Women in India Seek Secular Justice "

Run Sept, 24, 2007-:

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3324/

 

" India Paper Taps Marginalized Women as Reporters "

Run Sept. 30, 2007:

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3331/

 

" Tribal Women in India Welcome Outreach Efforts "

Run Nov. 23, 2007:

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3397/

 

" Paper Shines Bright Light Into India's Brothels "

Run Nov. 30, 2007:

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3403/

 

" Collective in India Extends More Than Credit "

Run Dec. 3, 2007:

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3406/

 

" Women in India Form Their Own Political Party "

 

Run Jan. 7, 2008:

 

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3450/

 

 

 

" Indian City Opens Doorway to Female Hindu Priests "

Run Feb. 2, 2008

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3506/

 

 

 

" India's Forest Law Leaves Women Feeling Cut Out "

Run April 20, 2008:

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3569/