Investigating Sexism Faced by Young Adult Women in Indian Families and its Negotiating Outlets

Abstract

India is a deep-rooted patriarch, where Gender bias is an inherent characteristic of a patriarchal society. Parents play a significant role in their children's formation of gender-role attitudes and stereotypes from childhood through young adulthood. In general, parents' expectations that their children behave according to gender stereotypes are stronger the more sexism they exhibit. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the presence of sexism in the homes of young adult women of Assam and to explore the variables of sexism faced by young adult women in their families. The study was carried out using a descriptive study design with a qualitative approach where a non-probability sample design was selected with a convenience sample technique used for providing a questionnaire to 40 participants who are young adult women from the age group 22-30 across Assam. The present study also used a semi-structured questionnaire. In this study, it was seen that the majority of the participants encountered sexism in their family. Out of all the participants, the majority of them also believe the prevalence of traditional gender roles in their family. It was identified that the majority of the respondents believe the negotiating outlets to sexism is an open conversation on gender equality and sexism in the family, balancing the decision-making power in the family, through awareness and sensitization and breaking intergenerational stereotypical norms and behaviors attached to a particular gender. Women are subjected to severe misogynistic crimes to subtle sexist comments, but they cannot escape from it. Family plays a vital role in the upbringing of a child. Sexism in the family often comes in the form of action and language.