Human Rights case studies Flashcards
Where is India ranked in the UN’s Gender Inequality Index
India is ranked 135th of 187 countries in UN’s Gender Inequality Index
(Gender Inequality Issues in India) Violence against women
52% of Indian women think it is justifiable for a man to beat his wife.
Domestic violence is also tolerated by local communities + often by the state.
Dowry killings are still common, as well as rape + violence outside home, like assault on public transport.
This is due to the very patriarchal Indian society
(Gender Inequality Issues in India) Employment opportunity
Women are traditionally expected to remain at home to raise children/do chores or work in subsistence farming. Even women w tertiary education may struggle to fight social norms of early marriage + motherhood, in order to get job
(Gender Inequality Issues in India) Workplace discrimination
Maternity benefits are denied by many employers + most women don’t return to work after childbirth (only 25% do in Delhi)
(Gender Inequality Issues in India) Modern Slavery
Around 14.3 million people, mostly women + girls, were subject to modern slavery in 2014). Especially includes sex trafficking + forced marriage or labour.
(Gender Inequality Issues in India) Property ownership
Women have very few land + property ownership rights + any inheritance is passed to a male.
(Gender Inequality Issues in India) Healthcare access
Many households = no access to gov. healthcare services (only 2/3 do in Northern province of Bihar). Discrimination against women in receiving healthcare = closely related to social norms of women having little influence over own life choices.
(Gender Inequality Issues in India) Education access
70% of girls attend primary school, but this figure drops significantly at secondary level. Family/community opposition, the need to work to prevent poverty + cultural beliefs prevent girls being educated
(Gender Inequality Issues in India) Political participation
Lack of women in gov. positions on every scale. Only 11% of those in India’s parliament = women.
What are the consequences of gender inequality in marriage (India)?
- Women killed or disfigured if family cannot meet dowry demands by future husband. In 2014, 8,455 dowry-related deaths
- Women subject to ‘honour killings’ is refuse to go along w arranged marriage
- Marriage often used by men to obtain property + land from woman + their family
- Once married, many women subject to life of domestic violence, servitude + harassment
What are the consequences of gender inequality in children (India)?
- Often sex-selective abortions due to patriarchal society + desire for male offspring, meaning girls aborted = distort gender balance in India
- Poverty + poor healthcare = high maternal mortality rate (174 deaths/100,000) as well as infant mortality rate of 43.2%/1,000 live births
- Many women often tricked or coerced into sterilisation schemes - can end in permanent disfigurement or death
What is being done in India on a national level to tackle the gender inequality issues?
- Laws passed eg The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006), The Dowry Prohibition Act (2008), The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (2005)
- The Indian Gov. has joined CEDAW (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women)
- Gov. has ratified many human rights treaties, meaning have become national law