The Unaddressed 'Domestic Sphere': Violence, Unpaid Work, and the State of Women in India
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Social Development, Women's Issues; Key Legislations (Domestic Violence Act); Important Reports (NFHS, Time Use Survey); Government Schemes (Anganwadi, ASHA).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Society): Role of women and women's organization; Salient features of Indian Society; Social empowerment.
General Studies Paper 2 (Social Justice & Governance): Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
General Studies Paper 3 (Economy): Indian Economy and issues relating to employment; Inclusive growth.
Essay: Topics on Women Empowerment, Patriarchy, Gender Justice, and Inclusive Growth.
Key Highlights from the News
This article criticizes the double standards in the official narrative about women in India. While "Nari Shakti" is celebrated in public spheres like politics, sports, and science, the violence and inequalities women face in the domestic sphere, where the majority of women's real lives unfold, are conveniently ignored.
This shows the deep-rooted patriarchal structures in Indian society.
The 'Domestic Sphere' as a Site of Disempowerment & The Way Forward:
The Problem:
Violence and Lack of Safety: Homes are often not safe spaces for women. NFHS data clearly shows this. The government's refusal to criminalize marital rape is part of this problem.
Economic Invisibility: The failure to assign economic value to women's unpaid domestic work devalues their contribution to the economy.
Reinforcing Gender Stereotypes: The idea that housework and caregiving are women's "natural" jobs is promoted by the government itself.
Exploitation in Public Sphere: This perspective from the domestic sphere is reflected in care work in the public sector (ASHA, Anganwadi), where women are exploited with low wages.
Way Forward (The "Alternative" proposed in the article):
Cultural and Legal Action against Violence: Strong legal measures and social awareness campaigns against domestic violence.
Recognition and Reduction of Unpaid Work: Recognize the value of women's unpaid work. To reduce it, the government should establish universal child and elder care centers.
Promoting Shared Responsibility: Foster a culture where housework is not solely women's responsibility but is shared by men as well.
Justice for Scheme Workers: Provide ASHA and Anganwadi workers with minimum wages, government employee status, and benefits.
Balanced View: While declarations about 'Nari Shakti' are welcome, they are meaningless without action.
Women's empowerment is a comprehensive concept. Along with providing women opportunities in politics and economy, it is essential to ensure their safety, equality, and respect at home.
Without reducing the burden of unpaid domestic work and recognizing its value, India cannot achieve true gender equality.
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