The view of empowered women with respect to gender equality in home

Introduction

Women covering half of the world population is the back bone of society. Women empowerment means the ability of women to take decision according to their own choices, capacity to provide self-respect and should also caring, loving and respect doing attitude for other women. They should have capacity to influence social change for themselves and others. Women empowerment is the process of upliftment of economic, social and political status of traditionally underprivileged women, in the society.It is the process of guarding them against all forms of violence.Women empowerment creates a society, a good environment wherein they can breathe without the fear of oppression exploitation, apprehension, discrimination,and general feeling of persecution which goes with being a women in traditionally male dominated society. It provides greater degree of selfconfidence and sense of independence among women. It organizes women to increase their self-reliance. It provides greater autonomy to women. It makes the women to realize their full identity in all spheres of life. It is the process of creating awareness and capacity building.Gender equality is the act of doing same treatment to both sex male and female.It is well known that in ancient India women was considered half of the man. "Ardhnarishwar" is concept in our Indian culture. At that women was worrier also.Queen kaikya participated in battle of Dewa Sur Sangram There was no provision of Child marriage and "Sati pratha".Women was allowed to select her life partner.This was called "Swaymber". Learned women were reported at that time. Gargi did sastrath in king Janak assembly. There was many women Rishi at that time. Women constituted the key role in the arch of Indian society .According to Saravanakumar,A.R (2016) "No doubt the Rig Vedic Women in India enjoyed high status in society and their condition was good.Even the women were provided opportunity to attain high intellectual and spiritual standard.But from enjoying free and esteemed positions in the Rig -Vedic society, women started being discriminated since Later -Vedic period in education and other rights and facilities." With respect to medieval India condition of women was very bad during Mugal and English period. "Perda Pratha", "Sati pratha" was prevalent at that time. Thanks to Raja Ram Mohan Roy who stopped SatiPratha.Women literacy was very low at that time. It is matter of happiness and satisfaction that after independence www.extensionjournal.com both man and woman were provided equal right in our constitution. A number of government scheme such as Rastria Mahila Kosh,Mahila Samridhi Yojna,Indria Mahila Yojna,Swa Shakti Group,National Mission for Empowerment of Women,ICDS,Dhankalakahmi,Ujawala, Beti Padao and Beti Bachao,Equal Pay for Equal Work, Right to Property to Women, Hostels for Working etc was started. Number of legislations for women benefit such as Dowry Prohibition Act1961, Maternity Benefits Act 1961, Medical Treatment of Pregnancy Act 1971, Domestic Violence Act 2005, Sexual Harassment Act 2013, etc was passed. Year 2001 was celebrated as women empowerment year by Indian Government. Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD) and associated bodies were involved in a number of initiatives to improve the status of women in the country. But gender disabilities and discrimination are found in India even today. As far as social structure is concerned they are not treated as equal to men in all the walks of life where as in the western societies women have got equal right and status with men in all walk of life.. Gender bias is observed in India in home and also in society. Preferential treatment is given to male. This is common where women are illiterate, socially and economically backward and not empowered..Present study was conducted in different mohalla of Muzaffarpur, Bihar with following objectives 1. To know the views of empowered women on gender biasness. 2. To assess the impact of women empowerment on gender equality in home. 2. To know the views of un empowered women on gender biasness. 3. To know the difference between views of empowered and un empowered women on gender biasness. 4 To get suitable intervention point. 5. To offer useful suggestion in light of findings.

Rationale 0f the study -Without the development of women India cannot develope.We cannot achive our goal to become a develope country.Without the cooperation of women farmers income cannot be double.Mal practices such as Dowry Systom, Child Marriage, Domestic Violence, Sexual Harrasment in Home,Work Place and in Society etc can not be stopped. It is well known that women should be empowered not for their own development but for the development of nation and society.According to Dr.Khoda Meena and Sangita Hazarika (2024) [4] " we cannot say the nation is developed until and unless the Girls are empowered". It is generally thought that in home where women is empowered and educated girls will not face the problem of gender biasness.Views of empowered women and un empowered women are different with respect to gender biasness. So it is necessary to know the clear cut situation present in society between the views of empowered and un empowered women. As it is well known that per centage of women empowerment is low in India. Goa, Punjab, and Sikkim have comprehensive levels of women empowerment while West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Rajsthan ad Bihar have significantly lower levels.Women empowerment should be increased in India and Bihar . This survey will provide a solution how to views of the un empowered women will be changed regarding gender biasness. How hundred percent women will become socially, politically and economically empowered and all will be educated. Survey will give solution and will help the government, NGO and other social organization to form their policies.

Materials and methods A Survey to assess the views of empowered and un empowered women with respect to gender biasness in home was done in different mohalla of Muzaffarpur town Bihar such as Maripur Ramraji road, Chitraguptpuri, School road, Pankha toil, Rajendrapuri,BB ganj etc in the month of June 2026 to July 2026. The sample size constituted of 50 family where women were empowered and same number of control group where women were not empowered. Women having education and and economically self-dependency were considered to be empowered. Interview schedule prepared by researchers was used for data collection. Questionnaire was pre tested. Consent was obtained from respondents before the start of the interview. Time was taken from women to full fill the questionnaire. Researcher consulated with women at given time.

Respondents was briefed about the purpose,objective and and utilization of the data to get their full help and cooperation They were free to discontinue the interview if they want. The participants were assured of the confidentiality of the information obtained. Question was asked about the discrimination with regard to food, clothing disease treatment, and education between male and female child. Question was also asked about the language used in home for male and female child. Consent was taken whether girls should go in politics or not. They should do job or not. Their views was also noted about the employment of the women,dowry and child marriage . It was also asked from women that girl's child can take the place of male child or not. Woman consent was also taken about the equal property distribution in daughter and son. Collected data was processed, tabulated and presented in the per centage form in table no 1. Girls should get equal right in property 00 00 00 00 www.extensionjournal.com

Result and Discussion-Result showed that in empowered women family there was no discrimination with regard to food, clothing and disease treatment between male and female child, but in control group this was (30%), (40%) and (2%) respectively. The cause was because female child was considered less than male child. Economic status of un empowered women was not good. According to Jayachandran S., Kuziemko I (2011) [7] " In a poor society, wrong, internalized norms exist among parents that lead to better care for their sons as compared to their daughters." Arif et al (2012) [1] found in their study that in a poor house hold, mothers give food to their sons and husband first and later give to their daughter and eat them.Most probably, insufficient and poor quality food is left for females. In empowered group (25%) and in control group (80%) women gave importance to male child education as compare to female child. Daughter education was viewed as waste because there is no chance of get expected returns from educated daughters. Therefore investment on female education was useless to parents. This is the reason women are relatively less educated than men in our society. In un empowered group gender biasness with regard to girl education was due to lack of empowerment and education in mother. This is line of agreement with that reported by Dr.Khoda Meena and Sangita Hazarika (2024) [4] in their study. According to them "Educated mother educate family which results in an educated populace of a nation which builds strong nation.". This shows the importance of girl education because girls will become future mother. With respect to language used for male and female child it was very nice in both the group. Most of them used to call Beta for daughter. But it is cleared from table 1 that in empowered group (20%) women considered female child as "Paraya dhan" whereas it was (70%) in control group. Per centage of women thinking daughter" Paraya dhan" was very low in empowered group as compared to un empowered group. This may be due to education and empowerment in women.Question was asked why daughter is called "Paraya dhan". All of the women replied that it is due to dowry and other social system present in our society.From birth parents love and takes care of girl child full fills her all the needs and demand give her education according to their own capacity and at the time of marriage they had been asked to give dowry on the basis of job,education and status of boy. After marriage she becomes the family member of "sacral" and in fact has to be handed over to her husband and in-laws. She does not support her parent's family economically. Parents has no right on her instead of this son will take care the parents whole life and will become Budape ki Lathi in old age. Table 1 shows that in empowered group (70%) women told that girls should go in politics as compare to (10%) in control group. Question were asked why the girls should not go in politics. They think politics and political activities are for male not for women. The work of women are cooking, child bearing, rearing,love and care for parents/ husbands, home making and other domestic activities etc.This is in line of study carried by Cole & Sabik (2010) [3] .Hundred per cent women in empowered group was in favor of job for girls whereas it was (40%) in control group. Points were noted from un empowered women that why girls should not do job.Their views was that if a women goes to work, who will do the domestic work in home, who will look after the children, husband and other family members. Only women are capable to take care of the home and men are incapable of it. Her presence is needed in home to balance the family. Family members will be happier and comfortable if women are at home. It is the duty of man to earn money and rear the family. In contrast to this the views of empowered women was that women should be financially independent. She should have her own identity, dreams, enthusisam, and self respect . She will not need to ask her husband before buying the things which she likes.She can look after her own parents also. This views is due to education and empowerment of women. The education of women plays an important role in the advancement of society. According to (Bhat 2015) [2] in the words of pt Jawaher lal Nehru "If you educate a man you educate an individual, if you educate a women you educate a whole family. Women empowered means mother India empowered" Education is a milestone of women empowerment because it enables them to respond to the challenges, to confront their traditional role and change their life. It assists them in bringing equality and works as a means to improve their status with family, society and politicoeconomic system (Dr.Neelmani Jaysawal and Dr.Sudeshna Saha (2023) [5] . Consent of the women in both group were taken on child marriage. Child marriage is defined a marriage of girl before the age of 18 and boy before 21. According to Prohibition of child Marriage Act(2006) Child marriage is punishable by imprisonment of up to two years, or may be charged with a fine of up to one lakh rupees or both.

According to UNICEF (2014) [11] girls are more commonly affected by this practice. It is matter of happiness that no single women was in favor of child marriage. Un empowered women told that this is very bad practice and government has banned the child marriage. They have come to know the disadvantage of this malpractice through TV, social media and also from peoples in society. In TV there are so many serials that shows the bad effects of this custom. Media play an important role to change the views of the peoples about the malpractices of the society. It also provides the news to public about what happening in the world particularly in those areas in which audience do not possess direct knowledge or experience. Television has created awareness in society for the socio-cultural development. Views of empowered women was that girls should married not before graduation. They told that child marriage shows bad impact on women health due to early pregnancy. This is line of agreement with that reported by Reena Seta (2024) [9] from their study in Nepal. But such views was not noted in UN empowered women. Views of women was also noted on dowry system. According to Dr.k.NE E LA PUSHPAM (2022) [6] "It is the money this is given during marriage to the boy or their family, even property can also be included in dowry. The system of dowry was started from ancient time like during marriage the money will be given to the groom so that he can take proper care of bride, it was used to honor both side of family." It is the oldest malady or sickness of the Indian society. This terrible social disorder has created a place in heart, mind and blood of Indian society, and is still established. Due to this evil a number of girls are murdered. Situation forced the woman to commit suicide. Having seen this situation this the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961 also known as the anti -dowry laws has been passed. This legislation provides for a penalty in section 3 if any person takes or abets www.extensionjournal.com giving or receiving of dowry. The punishment could be imprisonment for minimum 5 years and a fine more than 15,000 or value of the dowry received, whichever is higher.

It is matter of satisfaction that all the women told that to take the dowry is not legal according to government and should not be taken. This may be due to awareness created in society by government, NGO, Social organization etc. Women consent was taken that girl child can take the place of male child or not. Eighty per cent women from empowered group told the answer is yes as compared to twenty per cent in un empowered group. With regard to the question girls should get equal right in property like son or not, all the women in both groups told that this should not be in common practice. 4. Media should be encouraged to create the awareness in the society about the advantage of women empowerment. Media should also give their suggestion how the women will be empowered. 5. Government should launch special scheme for education of women and their empowerment in rural areas 6. Awarness programme should be done to change the behavior based on sex discrimination in home and society by women. They should be advised not to do gender biasness between male and female child with regard to food, clothing, disease treatment, education etc.Children of both sex should be equally treated in the all sphere. 7. Parents should be aware about the importance of girl child. Awareness should be created about the value of educating girls so that they can contribute in the socio economic development of the country. 5. Child marriage and dowry should be strictly banned in society. 9. Women should be brain washed that girl child can take place of male if she will be educated and earning money. She can look after her parents in their old age just like male child. She is not"Paraya dhan" This thing can be done by social organization. 10.Free education should be given to girl child by government. 11.Social organization should come forward for education and marriage of poor girl child

Conclusion

From this study it can be concluded that women empowerment can stop malpractices in the society. This is supported by the findings of Mandal (2013) [8] from his study. According to him " Empowerment of women is very vital component of development discourse. It isvery much explicit that empowerment of women is very much required for positive change and transformation of unequal society. Despite independence of our country, women are still not free from their boundaries. The sufferings of our women are far worse than that of developed nations.It must be kept in mind that gender equity is the realization of complete equality in all aspects of the social order regardless of gender." Government, NGO and other social organization can play an important role to do all the women empower and educated. These organization and media can also play awareness programmes to remove mal practices in our society. Women education, technical training, adequate extension facilities can create a positive impact leading to a better society.

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