Deepening Gender Violence and Patriarchal Backlash in India

Why in News?  “Recent incidents of gender-based violence, such as the Haryana murder case and the Odisha self-immolation tragedy, reveal a disturbing pattern of backlash against women’s rising autonomy and empowerment in India.

Relevance : UPSC/UPSC Mains

Mains : GS 1 – Social Issue/Sociology

 Key Issues Involved:

Patriarchal Mindset and Control over Women:

• Traditional Indian society still expects women to be dependent on men.
• A woman’s success, especially financial independence, is seen as a threat to male authority.
• In Haryana, the father’s confession reflects honour-based violence, where men feel “dishonoured” by a woman’s success.

 Institutional Apathy and Failure:

• Complaint systems in educational institutions and workplaces are often weak or inactive.
• In the Odisha case, the student’s repeated harassment complaints were ignored, showing lack of accountability and redressal mechanisms.

Political Polarization over Gender Violence:

• Incidents are often politicized instead of addressed seriously.
• Blame games between political parties replace real reforms, reducing gender violence to political rhetoric.

The Facade of Women Empowerment:

• Governments promote schemes like Ladli Behna Yojana or Mahila Shakti Divas, but ground realities show persistent violence and inequality.
• Even women who are financially independent or in the public eye face harassment and violence.

Role of Social Media in Spreading Misogyny:

• Victim-blaming and patriarchal narratives are amplified online.
• Social media often normalizes backlash against women influencers, professionals, and athletes.

Challenges:

Solutions and Way Forward:

Strengthen Institutional Mechanisms

• Mandatory and accountable Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in all institutions under POSH Act.
• Strict implementation of guidelines for handling sexual harassment cases in schools, colleges, and workplaces.

 Legal and Judicial Reforms:

• Fast-track courts for gender-based violence.
• Ensure victim-friendly investigation and trial processes to encourage reporting.
• Implement the Justice Verma Committee recommendations

 Gender Sensitization and Education:

• Include gender studies, respect, and consent education in school curriculums.
• Conduct regular gender sensitization workshops for police, judiciary, teachers, and community leaders.

Media and Social Media Regulation:

• Enforce strict rules against online harassment.
• Promote positive narratives of women’s achievements while penalizing victim-blaming content.

Move Beyond Tokenism in Politics:

• Ensure real representation of women in political and decision-making bodies.
• Focus on systemic reforms, not just symbolic women-centric welfare schemes.

Cultural Change:

• Encourage men to participate in conversations about gender equality.
• Break the silence around honour-based violence and normalize women’s autonomy.

Conclusion:

The recent Haryana and Odisha cases are reminders of the widening gap between India’s gender equality promises and reality. To make Nari Shakti a reality, India must focus on systemic changes, institutional accountability, and cultural transformation, not just political slogans.