Kristian Bertel | Photography
Archive story
In this archive story we are learning about the Gender inequality in India in Udaipur, India.
Read the background story of this archive photo by the photographer.
Gender inequality in India refers to the health, education, economic and political inequalities between men and women in India. Various international gender inequality indices rank India differently on each of these factors, as well as on a composite basis and these indices are controversial. This photograph is a portrait of an Indian woman in Udaipur.
Gender inequality in India refers to the health, education, economic and political inequalities between men and women in India. Various international gender inequality indices rank India differently on each of these factors, as well as on a composite basis and these indices are controversial. This photograph is a portrait of an Indian woman in Udaipur.
Kristian Bertel, Photographer By Kristian Bertel, Photographer
– Updated on March 22, 2024

Gender inequality in India

Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to femininity and masculinity and differentiating between them. Depending on the context, this may include sex-based social structures for instance gender roles and gender identity. Most cultures use a gender binary, in which gender is divided into two categories and people are considered part of one or the other boys or men and girls or women those who exist outside these groups may fall under the umbrella term non-binary.




What does gender inequalities in India impact?

Gender inequalities and their social causes, impact India's sex ratio, women's health over their lifetimes, their educational attainment and even the economic conditions too. It also prevents the institution of equal rape laws for men. Gender inequality in India is a multifaceted issue that primarily concerns men that places men at a disadvantage or that it affects each gender equally.


A deeply entrenched problem in India
Gender inequality in India is a major issue that has plagued the country since its independence in 1947. Despite advances in the areas of women's rights, gender inequality remains a deeply entrenched problem in India and the roots of this inequality can be traced to various cultural and social norms that still exist in India today, including traditional gender roles and gender-based discrimination. Gender inequality in India is a pressing issue that has yet to be addressed adequately. Despite recent strides made to support the rights of women, there are still significant obstacles that prevent them from fully participating in society.

Gender inequality in India is pervasive in all aspects of life
Women are expected to stay at home and take care of the household and children, while men are expected to be the breadwinners and are given more opportunities for education and employment. This can lead to a gender gap in wages, with men earning significantly more than women. Women also face discrimination in the form of gender-based violence, including sexual harassment, domestic violence and dowry-related violence.

Far-reaching effects of gender inequality
The effects of gender inequality are far-reaching, with women facing a range of challenges in their day-to-day lives. Women are more likely to be illiterate, have little access to healthcare and are more likely to suffer from Malnutrition. In addition, women are often denied inheritance rights and are denied access to resources and decision-making power. There are various initiatives and policies in place to address the issue of gender inequality in India. The government has introduced laws and policies to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, such as the 'Equal Remuneration Act of 1976' and the 'Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005' and the government has also taken steps to increase access to education and employment opportunities for women.

Despite these initiatives, it is clear that more needs to be done to address gender inequality in India. Gender inequality is a deep-rooted problem that can only be addressed through a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including the government, civil society organizations and the private sector. It is essential that all stakeholders work together to ensure that women are given equal access to resources, opportunities and decision-making power. Only then can India truly achieve gender equality.

Gender disparities in India

Some societies have specific genders besides man and woman such as the 'Hijras' of South Asia and these are often referred to as third genders and fourth genders and so on most people agree that gender is a central characteristic for social organization. Gender inequality has been a historic worldwide phenomena, not a human invention and based on gender assumptions. It is linked to kinship rules rooted in cultures and gender norms that organizes human social life, human relations, as well as promotes subordination of women in a form of social strata. The need to consider the socio-cultural influences that promote gender inequalities.

In India, cultural influences favor the preference for sons for reasons related to kinship, lineage, inheritance, identity, status and economic security. This preference cuts across class and caste lines and it discriminates against girls. In extreme cases, the discrimination takes the form of honour killings where families kill daughters or daughters-in-law who fail to conform to gender expectations about marriage and sexuality.




"When a woman does not conform to expected gender norms she is shamed and humiliated because it impacts both her and her family's honor and perhaps her ability to marry. The causes of gender inequalities are complex, but a number of cultural factors in India can explain how son preference, a key driver of daughter neglect, is so prevalent"




Disadvantage in several important ways
However, when India's population is examined as a whole, women are at a disadvantage in several important ways. Although the constitution of India grants men and women equal rights, gender disparities remain. Research shows gender discrimination mostly in favour of men in many realms including the workplace. Discrimination affects many aspects in the lives of women from career development and progress to mental health disorders. While Indian laws on rape, dowry and adultery have women's safety at heart, these highly discriminatory practices are still taking place at an alarming rate, affecting the lives of many today as seen in this India portrait.

Son preference in India
A key factor driving gender inequality is the preference for sons, as they are deemed more useful than girls. Boys are given the exclusive rights to inherit the family name and properties and they are viewed as additional status for their family. In a survey-based study found that son are believed to have a higher economic utility as they can provide additional labour in agriculture. Another factor is that of religious practices, which can only be performed by males for their parents' afterlife. All these factors make sons more desirable. Moreover, the prospect of parents "losing" daughters to the husband's family and the expensive dowry of daughters further discourages parents from having daughters.

Additionally, sons are often the only person entitled to performing funeral rites for their parents. Thus, a combination of factors has shaped the imbalanced view of sexes in India.




"A study found that old age security, economic motivation and to a lesser extent, religious obligations, continuation of the family name and help in business or farm, were key reasons for son preference. In turn, emotional support and old age security were the main reasons for daughter preference and the study underscored a strong belief that a daughter is a liability"




Discrimination against girls in India
While women express a strong preference for having at least one son, the evidence of discrimination against girls after they are born is mixed. A study found less evidence of systematic discrimination in feeding practices between young boys and girls or gender-based nutritional discrimination in India. In impoverished families, these scholars found that daughters face discrimination in the medical treatment of illnesses and in the administration of vaccinations against serious childhood diseases. These practices were a cause of health and survival inequality for girls. While gender discrimination is a universal phenomena in poor nations, a study found that social norms-based gender discrimination leads to gender inequality in India.

Gender role in society
Gender identity refers to a personal identification with a particular gender and gender role in society. The term woman has historically been used interchangeably with reference to the female body, though more recently this usage has been viewed as controversial by some feminists. There are qualitative analyses that explore and present the representations of gender, however, feminists challenge these dominant ideologies concerning gender roles and biological sex. One's biological sex is directly tied to specific social roles and the expectations and it is considered the concept of being a woman to have more challenges, owing not only to society's viewing women as a social category but also as a felt sense of self, a culturally conditioned or constructed subjective identity.

Social identity in India
Social identity refers to the common identification with a collectivity or social category that creates a common culture among participants concerned. According to social identity theory, an important component of the self-concept is derived from memberships in social groups and categories and this is demonstrated by group processes and how inter-group relationships impact significantly on individuals' self perception and behaviors. The groups people belong to therefore provide members with the definition of who they are and how they should behave within their social sphere.

Social roles in India
Categorizing males and females into social roles creates a problem for some individuals who feel they have to be at one end of a linear spectrum and must identify themselves as man or woman, rather than being allowed to choose a section in between. Globally, communities interpret biological differences between men and women to create a set of social expectations that define the behaviors that are appropriate for men and women and determine their different access to rights, resources, power in society and health behaviors. Although the specific nature and degree of these differences vary from one society to the next, they still tend to typically favour men, creating an imbalance in power and gender inequalities within most societies.




"Many cultures have different systems of norms and beliefs based on gender, but there is no universal standard to a masculine or feminine role across all cultures. Social roles of men and women in relation to each other is based on the cultural norms of that society, which lead to the creation of gender systems. The gender system is the basis of social patterns in many societies, which include the separation of sexes and the primacy of masculine norms"





See this video about gender inequality made by The Hindu.




The photographer's own experience about gender inequality in India
"- As a firsthand photographer, I recently had the opportunity to document the harsh realities that many women in India face on a daily basis. Traveling throughout much of India’s rural countryside, I was greatly affected by the injustice and lack of access to resources that so many of these women suffered from. My photographs captured the despair and frustration of women that are suppressed, in some cases the refusal of basic human rights and the conditions of gender disparity. The stories I heard were heartbreaking, stories of outdated infrastructures, lack of education, ongoing gender-based violence and a lack of job opportunities. However, it is important to also recognize the resilience and resourcefulness of these women. Despite the challenges, many of the women I spoke to remain determined to increase the rights of women and demand a better future", the Photographer says
.

"- Throughout my travels, I witnessed many projects that have been set up to support and elevate the status of women in India, such as organizations that strive to close the sexism and inequality gap, or programs that provide necessary skills and training to female workers. Although these projects are moving in the right direction, there is still much more to be done. While I was there, I was called upon as a photographer to truly capture the experience of these women and to do my part in helping fight the discrimination and inequalities that they face. The stories of gender inequality in India moved me deeply and it was truly heartbreaking to see how such basic rights are so often taken for granted. Despite the hardships, I was still inspired by the determination and bravado of these women who remain committed to achieving genuine equality. Although the future may still be uncertain, I have faith that the many projects that are actively working to promote women’s rights will eventually have a positive impact on India's gender disparities", the Photographer says again.

Read also:  An Indian portrait



An Indian portrait


Read also:  An Indian portrait

More archive stories

India is a land full of stories. On every street, on every corner and in the many places in India, life is rushing by you as a photographer with millions of stories to be told. In the archive story above, you hopefully had a readable insight in the story that was behind the photo of an Indian woman in Udaipur. On this website of Kristian Bertel | Photography you can find numerous travel pictures from the photographer. Stories and moments that tell the travel stories of how the photographer captured the specific scene that you see in the picture. The photographer's images have a story behind them, images that all are taken from around India throughout his photo journeys. The archive stories delve into Kristian's personal archive to reveal never-before-seen, including portraits and landscapes beautifully produced snapshots from various travel assignments. The archive is so-far organized into photo stories, this one included, each brought to life by narrative text and full-color photos. Together, these fascinating stories tell a story about the life in India. India, the motherland to many people around the world, a land of unforgetable travel moments. The archive takes viewers on a spectacular visual journey through some of the most stunning photographs to be found in the photographer's archive collection. The photographer culled the images to reflect the many variations on the universal theme of beauty and everyday life in India. By adding these back stories the photographer's work might immensely enhanced the understanding of the photographs.

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