HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 16: Model Answer

Question: How does patriarchy effects the position of Women in society? 8 Marks

 Answer: 

Patriarchy is a Social system  in which men  hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege  and control of property. Patriarchy is defined as the systematic domination of women by men in some or all of society’s spheres and institutions.

EFFECT OF PATRIARCHY ON WOMEN

1. Sexual Harassment at Workplace –

2. Declining CSR – As per the Census, 2011 the child sex ratio has shown decline from 927 females per thousand males in 2001 to 914 females per thousand males in 2011.

3. Domestic Violence – Every third women, since the age of 15, has faced domestic violence of various forms in the country, reported the National Family Health Survey (NHFS-4). In India intimate partner violence is the highest at 37.7% in the WHO South-East Asia region. Domestic violence can negatively affect a woman’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health.

4. Low Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP) And Glass Ceiling – FLFP is typically measured as the share of women who are employed or are seeking work as a share of the working-age female population. According to World Bank, India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR), has fallen to a historic low of 23.3% in 2017-18. Feminization of Poverty has become a new concept because of low per capita income with respect to women.

5. Literacy – The female literacy levels according to the Literacy Rate 2011 census are 65.46% where the male literacy rate is over 80%. While Kerala has the highest female literacy rate of 100%, Bihar is at the lowest with only 46.40%.

6. Low Political Status – With only around 9 per cent women in upper house and around 11 per cent in the lower house of parliament, India ranks 99th in the world in terms of female representation among MPs. Women have a very low status in the political scenario in the country. The number of women in the Parliament has never crossed the 20% mark till now.

 There are several constitutional, statutory and policy initiatives taken by the government of India to diminish patriarchy from the society.