Why did social and religious reformers take up the task of upliftment of status of women
Answers
For many centuries, women in India had been socially oppressed and given lower
status to men. The various religions which were being practiced in India as well as
the prevalent societal norms positioned women to a status inferior to men.
Women in India have not been able to contribute as much as they could have to
the development of the country. They were treated as inferior and did not receive
the same care and opportunities as men. The traditional view often praised the
role of women as wives and mothers, but as individuals they were assigned a very
lowly social position. They could not find any other expression to their inborn
talents or desires except as housewives. For example, a woman could marry only
once among Hindus, a man was permitted to have more than one wife. Among
Muslims too, this custom of polygamy prevailed. In large parts of the country
women had to live behind the purdah. The custom of child marriage also
prevailed. Children as young as eight or nine years of age were married. Widows
could not remarry and had to lead a restricted life. In many parts of the country
the horrifying customs of sati or self-immolation of widows was prevalent. Hindu
women had no right to inherit property. Women were totally dependent on men
for economic support and social stature. The benefit of education was denied to
most of the women.