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Women in West (Sociocultural study)
Women in West (Sociocultural study)

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE:

The American revolution and the French revolution provided inspiration and momentum for the women's liberation movement

in the West.Women's reaction to male dominance can be traced to as early as 1777,when Ms. Abegail Adam wrote to her

husband who was a Congressman; "Not to put such unlimited powers in the hands of the husbands.Remember all men would be

tyrant if they could....We are determined to foment a rebellion and will not feel ourselves bound by any law in which

we have no voice of representation."

Marry wollstonecraft craft wrote the first feminist tract,"A vindication of the right of the Women" in responce to the

French revolution's declaration of the right of man.

Industrialization in the West literally tore apart the social fabric.Women assumed a completely new role in the society.

Their employment in the industries and factories produced family problems that motivated them to struggle for equality

and equal opportunities for development.They thought that they could bring change in their lives and improve social

status only through political representation.

John stuart mill presented the first women suffrage bill in the British parliament in 1867,which was turned down.In

1903 Ms.pankhurst founded women's social and political union (SPU) in Manchester,which hit the newspaper headlines

by disrupting a political gathering,SPU spreads rapidly to other parts of the country.

FAMILY ISSUES:

The very basic and foundation of family life,the institution of marriage is being seriously challenged by the increasing

trend of living together in the West.The legal age of marriage also indicates stark anomalies between the East and the

West.according to Shari'ah law,if the spouses have attained puberty,they can marry.

In the West,the legal age of marriage is 21 years for the male and 18 for the female.Marriages solemnized under these

limits should have the consent and approval of the percents of both the bride and the bridegroom respectively,as the

US civil law requires.That means,the girl should be 16 years old and the boy 18 in such cases.

Legalizing the age of marriage has created many problems for the Muslim societies,for example,the average age of

marriage for girls in Tunisia is 24 years which is quite high for a less developed country.Although divorce and separation

have been made simple and easy in Islam,comparatively there have been fewer divorces and separations than in the West.

SOCIAL PROBLEMS:

Women have always been dominated by men throughout the passage of time.In the modern context,situation has improved

indeed but still much is left to be done,during the nineteenth century,when the feminist movement had started to gain

momentum,female delegates were asked to sit in the back benches behind a curtain when they were attending the first

World anti-slavery Convention in 1840 the United States.They were not allowed to participate in the proceedings.

ANAMOLIES IN EMPLOYMENT:

The industrial revolution brought women in factories and industrial installation to work alongside men.Women and children

were generally ill-treated and paid less for jobs that demanded comparatively more labour.

During the I World War,employment opportunities for women increased manifold as military recruitment caused a labour

shortage which was duly filled in by the females.

However,the disparities and differences in pay and general treatment of women continued.in 1964,Equal Pay Act was

introduced in the U.S and subsequently the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was founded.

SEXUAL EXPLOITATION:

Sexual exploitation and sexual violence and criems against women are on the rise.Eve-teasing,cat calls.Obscene gestures

and bottom pinching have become so common that in many countries,special police squads have been raised and trained

to fight this hence in 1995,an Anti Eve-teasing Squad was posted in the Indian capital in plain clothes that has yielded

positive results.

Media is playing havoc with the female pride and honour.No advertisement,from cigarattes to soaps.Is considered to be

effective unless it carries the pictures of a female.Semi-nude billboards area common occurrence in the Western cities.

Fortunately,women in the muslim countries are leading a far better and secure life.The in situation of family is as

strong and intact as ever.The trend of living together is completely unheard of and so is the case with single mothers

issue.The percentage of illegitimate children is almost negligible.Nudity,pornography and sexual degradation of women

have not yet injected our societies.

The concept of modernity is,however having its impact on Muslim societies.The age of marriage has been raised and so is

the percentage of divorce.Large numbers of family units are becoming nuclear and the concept of extended families is fast

diminishing.Marriage of choice is gradually replacing arranged marriages and the size of the family is shrinking due to

the mass practice of family planning methods.On the contrary,in countries like Saudi Arabia,Malaysia,Pakistan and Iran,

women are actively participating in the task of national development and progress maintaining their traditional role,

observing the limits of hijaab and ensuring the sancity of womenhood and the privacy of their homes.

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