The social structure, which includes the caste and class systems, along with established social norms, gender relationships, traditions, customs, and important social organizations, contribute to the subordinate status of women and maintain discrimination through various social mechanisms.
Social Structure
- The Caste Structure
- The subordination of women was crucial to the development of caste hierarchy. The higher the caste the greater were the constraints on women.
- Caste distinctions are upheld by adhering to strict rules related to purity and pollution, maintaining separate eating habits and marrying within the same caste.
- The practices of being vegetarian, avoiding alcohol, and imposing restrictions on women are considered important aspects of maintaining ritual purity and are connected to domestic activities.The control on women comes from two major aspects-
- Women not being allowed to inherit property like land and being confined to their homes, away from public life.
- Men have significant control over women’s sexual lives through practices like arranged marriages, child marriages, banning divorce, imposing strict monogamy on women, and even customs like sati and not allowing widows to remarry, including those who are very young.
These rules were most strictly followed by the higher caste groups to maintain their ritual and biological purity, uphold their higher caste status, and retain economic dominance. Lower caste groups, while trying to improve their social and economic standing, also adopted the restrictive norms related to women’s freedom from the higher castes.
2. The Class Structure and Women’s Work
The limitations imposed on women differ between the upper and lower castes and are also influenced by the class structure. It seems that the class structure further strengthens the established gender hierarchy within the caste system.
- Women from upper castes and higher social classes are often kept away from public activities and mainly focus on domestic work.
- Women from middle castes with small landholdings are more likely to work in their own fields or sometimes take up paid work.
- Women from artisan castes and lower social classes engage in home-based production and don’t face the same level of seclusion and mobility restrictions as upper-caste women.
- In urban areas, as people move from farming to other jobs, upper-caste individuals are more common in the middle class. In this group, women started coming out of seclusion, getting educated, and finding jobs during the last century. The key point is that they became less financially reliant on men.
- However, this shift didn’t dramatically change the subordination of women. Women’s lower status is deeply rooted in the caste and class structures, and we need to understand this to address women’s issues correctly.
- Otherwise, problems faced by women will be wrongly seen as just cultural quirks, and violence against women will be seen as isolated incidents.
Social Institutions
- The Institution of family
- Marriage
- Religion and women
- The Institution of family
- The family is the most important social group where its members have strong connections and specific roles. It’s where children are born, raised, and taught about traditions, culture, religion, and social values. This prepares them for different roles in society.
- The family also plays a role in keeping order in society by guiding behavior and making sure that values and rules are followed, even though it’s not a formal authority like the government.
- In most Indian families, men have more power and authority. When it comes to things like property and where a married couple lives, it’s often in favor of the husband’s side. Older men usually make important decisions.
- In certain Hindu families, daughters receive some movable property as a gift when they get married, which is called “stridhana.” In 1956, a law called the Hindu Succession Act was passed to make the rules about inheritance the same for everyone.
- Marriage
- Marriage is when a man and a woman officially become a couple, and it comes with certain rights and responsibilities for both the husband and wife and for their children.
- In many cases, girls are raised to think that getting married is what they’re supposed to do, and being a wife and mother is seen as a great accomplishment. Only a very small number of women choose not to get married.
- Marriage is seen as something that’s supposed to make a woman feel settled, secure, respected, and confident in society. This belief can sometimes make unmarried women feel less confident. They often face insecurity and don’t always get the respect they deserve in society.
- Similarly, widows, divorced women, and separated women often don’t get the respect they should. This shows that a woman’s social status in India is often closely tied to whether she’s married or not.
- In a family where the men have more authority, a married woman usually takes care of household chores alongside her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. The men typically focus on earning money. In such marriages, the male partner often has more power, and women are not usually seen as equals.
- However, as cities grow and industries develop, family dynamics are starting to change.
- Religion and women
- Religious texts, particularly in Hinduism, emphasize the importance of having sons. According to the code of Manu, a man was believed to gain spiritual merit by ensuring the purity of his wife and, through her, the well-being of his sons.
- In this belief system, having a son is seen as crucial for several reasons. Sons are needed to perform funeral rites for their fathers, honor the souls of male ancestors through rituals, and help their fathers and ancestors achieve spiritual liberation (moksha).
- Women are expected to bear sons, continue the male lineage, and assist in performing these rituals. This hierarchy of gender roles leads to a preference for sons and, in contrast, a lack of attention and care for daughters.
- This affects various aspects of life, including access to food, healthcare, education, freedom, rights, and justice.
FAQs
Q: What is social structure?
A: Social structure refers to the patterned relationships, roles, and institutions that shape human interaction within a society. It encompasses various elements such as social hierarchy, status, and roles assigned to individuals based on factors like gender, age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic class.
Q: What are social institutions?
A: Social institutions are established patterns of behavior and relationships that fulfill specific societal needs and functions. These institutions, such as family, education, government, religion, and economy, organize and structure various aspects of social life, providing frameworks for interaction, socialization, and the maintenance of order.
Q: How do social institutions impact women?
A: Social institutions can significantly impact women’s lives by shaping their opportunities, roles, and status within society. For instance, gender norms and expectations embedded in institutions like family, education, and the economy often result in inequalities and barriers for women in areas such as education, employment, and political participation.
Q: What role do women play in social structure?
A: Women play multifaceted roles within social structures, influenced by cultural norms, historical contexts, and institutional arrangements. While women have made strides in challenging traditional gender roles and accessing new opportunities, they still often face systemic barriers and inequalities that limit their full participation and agency in social life.
Q: How can social structure and institutions be reformed to empower women?
A: Empowering women within social structures and institutions requires addressing systemic inequalities and biases. This can involve implementing policies that promote gender equality in areas such as education, employment, healthcare, and political representation. Additionally, challenging and transforming cultural norms and attitudes regarding gender roles and expectations is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.
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