Question 1
Mention different aspects of life in which women are discriminated against or disadvantaged in India.
Women face discrimination in several ways:
- Literacy Rate: The literacy rate among women is only 54% compared to 76% among men. Fewer girls go for higher studies, and the dropout rate is higher.
- Unpaid Work: On average, an Indian woman works one hour more than an average man every day, but much of her work (household) is not paid and therefore not valued.
- Sex Ratio: The Child Sex Ratio (number of girl children per thousand boys) has declined to 919 in the country due to preference for sons and female foeticide.
- Political Representation: The proportion of women in legislature has been very low (less than 15% in Lok Sabha).