Women’s Empowerment, Media and Realities
Women’s Empowerment, Media and Realities
By Prof. D. B. Gadling & Karuna Raut Dept. of Mass Comm. & Journalism, Solapur University, Solapur. Email : d_gadling@yahoo.com Contribution of Social Reformers Gender equality is the point of utmost importance in the empowerment of women. This concept is not altogether new to India. Various attempts were made to spread it by social reformers in India. During the 19th century Raja Rammohan Roy raised his voice against child marriages, Sati and polygamy. Maharshi Ravindranath Tagore, Keshav Chandra Sen, Ishwarchnandra Vidyasagar also fought against bad practices in the society. In Maharashtra, Dhondo Keshav Karve and Mahatma Jyoteeba Phule tried their level best for the upliftment of women. The marriages Act of 1872 approved widow marriages, intercaste marriages and banned child marriages and polygamy. Arya Smaj advocated equality for women by establishing a large number of schools for boys and girls all over the country. M. K. Gandhi made serious attempts for the equality of women and women’s participation in every aspect of life. Attempts made for the upliftment of women after the independence Fundamental Rights Article 14 states, “The state shall not deny to any person equality before law…..” Article 14 prohibits discrimination against any citizen on the ground of religion, caste, sex or race. Under article 39 (d), the state is urged to provide with equal pay for equal work to both men and women.1 In spite of various attempts cited above, the present position of women is not satisfactory. Hence it is thought now that mere remedies are not enough for women empowered. The realities of women empowerment are : 1. Society is dominated by the men Women constitute around 50% of the world’s population, but in no country they get their due; not even in developed countries. The positions at the highest level- political or administrative- are occupied mostly by men. Few women have risen to the top most elected offices like the
By Prof. D. B. Gadling & Karuna Raut Dept. of Mass Comm. & Journalism, Solapur University, Solapur. Email : d_gadling@yahoo.com Contribution of Social Reformers Gender equality is the point of utmost importance in the empowerment of women. This concept is not altogether new to India. Various attempts were made to spread it by social reformers in India. During the 19th century Raja Rammohan Roy raised his voice against child marriages, Sati and polygamy. Maharshi Ravindranath Tagore, Keshav Chandra Sen, Ishwarchnandra Vidyasagar also fought against bad practices in the society. In Maharashtra, Dhondo Keshav Karve and Mahatma Jyoteeba Phule tried their level best for the upliftment of women. The marriages Act of 1872 approved widow marriages, intercaste marriages and banned child marriages and polygamy. Arya Smaj advocated equality for women by establishing a large number of schools for boys and girls all over the country. M. K. Gandhi made serious attempts for the equality of women and women’s participation in every aspect of life. Attempts made for the upliftment of women after the independence Fundamental Rights Article 14 states, “The state shall not deny to any person equality before law…..” Article 14 prohibits discrimination against any citizen on the ground of religion, caste, sex or race. Under article 39 (d), the state is urged to provide with equal pay for equal work to both men and women.1 In spite of various attempts cited above, the present position of women is not satisfactory. Hence it is thought now that mere remedies are not enough for women empowered. The realities of women empowerment are : 1. Society is dominated by the men Women constitute around 50% of the world’s population, but in no country they get their due; not even in developed countries. The positions at the highest level- political or administrative- are occupied mostly by men. Few women have risen to the top most elected offices like the