History Of Feminism In India

Abstract: Feminism is a social movement that purposes the equal rights and opportunities for women in society. Feminism is to look towards women as human beings and to think about their problems, dreams and needs. Feminism is the belief that all people should be treated equally in legal economic and social areas – regardless of gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity and other similar pre-dominant identifying traits. Feminism is a socio-political movement which advocates involved active participation by women to demand for their rights. It is a movement which is fought against female oppression under patriarchy. The feminist ideologies also influenced the English literature in India. In the 20th century Women’s writing was considered

The history of feminism in India can be divided into three phases, the first phase, beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, initiated when male European colonists began to speak out against the social evils of Sati. The second phase, from 1915 to Indian independence when Gandhi incorporated women’s movements into the Quit India movement and Independent women’s organization began to emerge, and finally third phase, post independence, which has focused on fair treatment of woman at home after marriage, in the work place and right to political

Literary feminism was concerned with the politics of women’s authorship and the representation of women’s condition with literature. The feminist and feminist writers have been successful in achieving the legal rights for women, yet much has to be done at the social level. Feminist writers today proudly hold their cause of ‘womanhood’ through their writings. The Indian literature field is bold to represent feminism in the hands of well known writers. Who have transformed from theoretical theme to historic and cultural realities, levels of consciousness, women’s outlook and actions.

References:
1. Chitnis Suma,” Alphabet of Lust”, Kenyan review. Vol VIII 1951.
2. Eisentein,” Feminist Criticism and Social Change: Class and Race in Literature and Culture”, Cambridge University Press, London 1963. (p. 58)
3. Nahal Chaman, “Feminism in English Fiction Forms and Variants,’ in Feminism and Recent Fiction in English”, Ed, Sushila Singh, Prestige Books, New Delhi 1991 (p. 17)
4. Richards Janet, ‘Women Writers Talking”, Cambridge, London, 1981 (p. 3)
5. www.irjabs.com/files_site/paperlist/r_904_130610215832.pdf
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