compare the present status of women with that of the 18th and early 19th century
Answers
Answer:
19th
The position of women in the nineteenth century was far from being satisfactory. It was their total seclusion that brought about their physical and mental degeneration. In many parts of India, especially in the north and east, the purdah had long become an established system both among Hindus and Muslims.
18th century
Their status in Hindu society was even worst. They had almost no rights to property and marriage laws were very cruel. The following traditions followed in the society vindicate their vulnerable conditions: According to the religious taboos, the wives used to burn themselves with their dead husbands.
Now
Women of today are not just restricted to cooking and taking care of their households, they have to step out their comfort zones to create their own images in the outside world as well. This is in short, can be termed as women empowerment. Society has now changed its stand and the way it looks at women, due to the progress achieved by women in all spheres of life. Men today are more understanding towards the women in their lives, yet we here many cases of harassment against women. The women have completely transformed in the modern day, the urban women specially has changed from being a mere homemaker to the modern day multitasking women, handling responsibility without fear. She had taken on the world with confidence. Women of today handle their duties and chores at home, manage a career outside their home, nurture their children and balance their family lives with their professions. This is the scene in most of the urban households today. Modern day women are independent, takes right decisions boldly, stands up for their rights and walks the path of success. Kalpana Chawla, Indra Nooyi, Susma Swaraj, Aishwarya Rai, Susmita Sen and many more women achievers are a prime example. This is the scene in the developing economy today. Women are well educated, they have crossed horizons, and their presence can be felt in male dominated areas. Women have been sent on many space missions. We see women rise as journalists, politicians, doctors, engineers, lawyers, actors and in many other professional spheres. Women of today, choose the right career paths that determine their future and thus we see them excelling in every walk of life. The women in rural backgrounds have still to complete a lot in terms of their urban counterparts. Not that the rural women are backward in any aspects, but the change and transformation that the urban women sees is definitely a little slower to the rural women. During the modern period of time, there was a steady development in the women status. There were many women reformers in India, who worked for uplift and betterment of their female counterparts. Women education was elevated and English was introduced during this period. Various female writers emerged in the society. In the modern time, women in India were given freedom and right such as freedom of expression and equality as well as right to be educated. Various prestigious positions at this period were held by women. They are enjoying the 'Ladies first' facility in the different fields. However, some problems such as dowry, domestic violence, sex detective abortion, female infanticide are still prevalent in our society. Now a days, women are educated about the social benefits including awareness about the existing social problems in the society, good recognition and image in the family community, plan and promote better education for their children, taking care of health of aged and children. At present, most of the women are given a chance of finishing their education to the degree level. They are discouraged from getting married and raising a family when they are young. There are numbers of women education grants from the government, that offer help to the women from poor background in order to give them a chance to be educated. There are various scholarships, that benefit women in India to achieve their carrier by going back to school on various training institutions, where they can further their education. Many NGO's in India also, offer support to women in order to benefit them in education. The government of India as well as state governments are setting aside funds that are used to empower women and other initiatives that will empower them. The women who have desire to improve their lives are allowed to take grants from the government and NGO's to empower themselves with higher education.