The History of Feminism and Doing Gender in India

Abstract

The present paper looks at the historical background of the rise of feminism and women’s movement and doing gender in India. Not only in India but all over the world there has been a close link between feminism and the women’s movement, each inspiring and enriching the other. In the Indian context, while the women’s movement is a much earlier phenomenon, the term Feminism is a modern one. Feminism comprises a number of social, cultural and political movements, theories and moral philosophies concerned with gender inequalities and equal rights for women. In the pre-independence era, the women’s movement began as a social reform movement in the 19th century. At this time, the western idea of liberty, equality and fraternity was being imbibed by our educated elite through the study of English and the contact with west. This western liberalism was extended to the women’s question and was translated into a social reform movement. In the post-Independence period during the first few decades, the major concern was for overall economic growth. This was immediately followed by another decade, which witnessed an increased concern for equity and poverty alleviation. Gender issues were subsumed in poverty related concerns and there were no such specific programs, which aimed at women. In the post-independence period, the women’s movement has concerned itself with a large number of issues such as dowry, women’s work, price rise, land rights, political participation of women, Dalit women and marginalized women’s right, growing fundamentalism, women’s representation in the media etc. and a large number of Non-Government organizations have taken up this issue. Women’s studies and now Gender studies is also an off shoot of the long history of women’s movement in India. Various women’s studies Centres have been set up and today again these are at the brink of disappearing from the radar and there is a struggle which is now going on. Though a lot needs to be achieved and there are various impediments in making this reality available to a large section of women, the women’s movement has brought women’s issues center stage and made them more visible.

The Evolution of the Female from Suppression to Supremacy in the Select Novels of Postmodern Retellings of the Epic- A Review of Literature

“…38 Pande, Rekha. [73] 2018 The historical background of the rise of feminism in India is entirely different from the western concept of feminism. 39 Rai, Bharathi.…”

Domestic Violence and Its Impact among Married Dalit Women: A Study of Kalika 28, Pokhara Metropolitan City

“…Feminist Theory developed from the feminist movement. It takes a number of forms in a variety of disciplines such as feminist geography, feminist history and feminist literary criticism (Pande, 2018). Feminist discourse is an addition of feminism interested in academic or theoretical fields.…”

“…Physical violence can be defined by the following behaviors: slapping, kicking, beating, pushing, attacking with weapons or other similar activities. It is the abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, hurt, damage, or other physical suffering or bodily harm (Pande, 2018). Physical abuse can also include behaviors such as denying the victim of medical care when needed, depriving the victim of sleep or other functions necessary to live, or forcing the victim to engage in drug/alcohol use against his/her will.…”

The Detrimental Dialogue Between Indian Women, Beauty Discourse, Patriarchy and Indian Feminism

“…In India, early feminist ideology (the 1850s) places the passive, subservient women at the receiving end of equality, fraternity and education practised by Indian men exposed to Western ideals (Pande, 2018). The feminist women, who are confined to their patriarchal structure, spoke of feminist agendas only in their men's voice.…”

“…The Indian government sought to develop women’s interests. The country saw a surge of numerous establishments (private and public) supporting women’s growth, but ironically, these institutions lacked support from the government, and much of the institutions’ funding was cut (Pande, 2018). The emancipation of women disappeared from the agenda, and the glorious emergence of it at the beginning of the century saw a gradual death towards the end.…”