Gender question in India: Emerging issues and debate

Abstract

With the beginning of International Decade for Women in 1975, there was an upsurge of interest in women's issues in India. This interest was visible both at the academic level as well as at the level of activists. Already a ground for debate was provided by the publication of a report of the Government of India's Committee on the Status of Women, in 1974. This report, called Towards Equality, drew particular attention to devaluation of women specially on the index of health, employment and political participation. It also highlighted the operation of gender bias at different cultural levels. The findings of this committee had certain significant implications for thinking about gender in India. It called for a more rigorous and systematic analysis regarding women's situation in Indian society; it also pointed to the need for an extended and broader perspective to understand the complexity and deep-rootedness of women's subjectivity. Culture, marriage, family, sexuality, etc. were indicated as the new areas which needed to be focused in this direction. This report provided a context within which academic and field activities related to women's issues could take place within the milieu provided by the International Decade for Women.