Discrimination Against Women In Modern India

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WOMEN: BACKGROUND AND PERSPECTIVE
WHERE DO THE ROOTS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN LIE

It is a paradox of modern India that women wield power and hold positions at the topmost levels, yet large sections of women are among the most underprivileged. Some women from the upper classes head political parties and command large followings, yet women 's representation in the Parliament and state legislatures has not been more than 10 per cent.

The roots of discrimination against women lie in the religious and cultural practices of India. The beginning of changes started with the reform movements in the nineteenth century, which addressed practices like sati, child marriage, life of the widows, etc. The status of women in the contemporary context is reflected in the state of their health, education, employment and life in society.
Today, Indian women have won several victories against an oppressive way of life and are poised to raise pertinent questions that will make their lives more emancipating.
The position of women in ancient India has been a very complicated one because of the paradoxical statements in different religious scriptures and sometimes in the same text at different places. Some have described their status as ‘equals to men’, while others have held not only in disrespect but even in positive hatred.
This is why it has presented many problems to sociologists while evaluating women’s status in India. The cultural history of India reveals that in India

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