Women and Society in India: Boundaries and Spaces

The essentiality of delving into the prejudices and challenges faced by women in society and their triumphs accomplishments within the framework of home and family, the workplace, religious institutions, government and media is more imperative than ever due to the changing gender and social norms, attitudes and behaviours paralleling broader social and economic changes. In present times, there has been a shift with respect to sexuality, queer identities, gender identities, stereotypical expectations and so on. There is greater visibility of these issues, and of people who subscribe to these spaces. There is a shift in the way sexual violence is perceived. The #MeToo movement and way women spoke up about the ways in which they face sexual harassment, sufficiently points out that there has been a definite shift.

For centuries women have suffered inequality, discrimination, subservience, injustice and caste and class prejudices at the a patriarchal social structure. They were confined to living and working in the private sphere around the home. Social traditions deemed that women should be respectful of the men in their lives: rulers, fathers, husbands, brothers and sons. However, with expanding cultural networks people and especially women found new ways to resist the oppressive gender roles. In countries like India, shifting traditional attitudes and expectations emerged alongside nationalism and the struggle for independence. These and other changes also helped create social reforms and new ideas about freedom, voting rights, education and work.

However, though, women are increasingly gaining control over their lives and taking their own decisions with regard to their education, career, profession and lifestyle, the question still arises: Have gender norms and attitudes really changed in our society?

This edited volume is a modest attempt to explore the challenges and hindrances which women confronts in today’s society as well as their triumphs and accomplishments in the face of shifting traditional perspectives, norms and attitudes The book enwraps under one cover the adversities and achievements of women in contemporary society across the wider categories of health, education, economy, politics, literature, media, popular movement, and development.