Ethics Theory, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing
Q. 3. Women’s movements in India have transitioned from a focus on welfare to one of empowerment. Critically examine the contribution of women’s organizations in driving this transformation. (150 words, 10 marks)
Introduction
The women’s movement in India has evolved from welfare work to empowerment strategies. Women’s organizations have driven this transformation by shifting from addressing symptoms to dismantling root causes of gender inequality.
Body
Earlier Focus on Welfare and Protection
- Charity and Relief Work: Early organizations provided immediate relief without questioning structural inequalities. Example: Bharat Stree Mahamandal (1910s) provided aid to widows while reinforcing dependency.
- Mother-Child Care Services: Welfare paradigm emphasized reproductive roles over individual agency. Example: Women’s groups supported ICDS, positioning women as beneficiaries rather than decision-makers.
- Vocational Training Centres: Skills limited to traditionally feminine occupations within social boundaries. Example: AIWC established tailoring centers, maintaining gender segregated skill sets.
- Focus on Moral and Domestic Roles: Early interventions strengthened patriarchal norms. Example: Reform movements promoted homemaking ideals, limiting aspirations to domestic spheres.
Shift Toward Empowerment
- Legal Reforms and Justice: Organizations demanded systemic legal changes over individual interventions. Example: Mathura rape case protests led to Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1983.
- Economic Independence: Focus expanded to comprehensive economic empowerment including asset ownership. Example: SEWA enabled collective bargaining, microcredit access, and cooperative ownership.
- Political Participation and Voice: Organizations demanded representation in decision making institutions. Example: Sustained advocacy resulted in 33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions.
- Reproductive and Bodily Autonomy: Contemporary movements challenge patriarchal control over women’s bodies. Example: CREA and TARSHI pioneered discussions on sexual rights and consent.
Key Contributions of Women’s Organizations
- Shaping Laws and Policy: Organizations evolved from requesting intervention to actively drafting legislation. Example: Lawyers Collective advocated for 2013 POSH Act and developed implementation guidelines.
- Grassroots Mobilization: Groups built feminist consciousness at village level. Example: Mahila Samakhya created alternative educational spaces challenging gender roles.
- Breaking Social Taboos: Organizations transformed private issues into public concerns. Example: Breakthrough’s Bell Bajao campaign encouraged community intervention in domestic violence.
- Digital and Public Campaigns: Modern movements leverage technology for solidarity networks. Example: Digital collectives like Sayfty and #MeToo created safe spaces for survivors.
Challenges and Limitations
- Urban-Rural Disconnect: Empowerment strategies remain concentrated in urban centers. Example: Rural women face barriers in accessing justice mechanisms compared to urban counterparts.
- Resource and Funding Issues: Organizations struggle to secure sustained financial commitment. Example: Grassroots collectives operate on uncertain funding, limiting intervention scaling.
- Resistance and Backlash: Empowerment strategies face organized opposition from established power structures. Example: Conservative groups opposed sex education programs in several states.
- Intersectional Gaps: Movement sometimes overlooks caste, class, and religious intersections. Example: Dalit women’s organizations highlight mainstream feminism’s failure to address caste-based violence.
Conclusion
Women’s organizations have transformed India’s approach from welfare to empowerment, reimagining women as agents of change rather than recipients of protection. However, gaps remain in rural access, funding, and intersectional inclusivity that require sustained attention.
