An Analysis of the Social Stature of Women and Their Hardships in The Present Legal Environment

Abstract

India is a multicultural society where no generalization could apply to the nation’s various regional, religious, social and economic groups. Throughout history, women have generally been restricted to the role of a home-maker; that of a mother and wife. Despite major changes that have occurred in the status of women in some parts of the world in recent decades, norms that restrict women to the home are still powerful in India. In spite of India’s reputation for respecting women, including treating her as a Goddess, history tells us that women were also ill-treated. There was no equality between men and women. This is true of ancient, medieval and early modern times reform movements in the 19th and 20th centuries led by great social reformers provided boost to women’s legal status in India. Independence of India heralded the introduction of laws relating to women. The Indian Constitution provided equality to men and women and also gave special protection to women to realise their interests effectively. Special laws were enacted to prevent indecent representation of women in the media and sexual harassment at workplaces. The aim of this study is to understand the social status of women during various phases and effectiveness of various laws related to women. The methodology used is purely descriptive and analytical in nature. Secondary and electronic resources have been largely used to gather information and data about the topic. The research depicts that the women empowerment is not essentially political alone; it is a process having personal, economic, social and political dimensions with personal empowerment being the core of the empowerment process. In spite of equality guaranteed by the constitution, gender-just laws are still to be realized.