Click to play videoAt the end of this week, India will celebrate Independence Day. All through this Independence Day week, CNN-IBN and Hindustan Times present a survey on how Indian society has changed since Independence. On Wednesday, the topic of discussion was what Indians feel about modern women.
India has a woman President, a woman as the President of the Congress party and a woman Speaker in the Lok Sabha. But the modern woman is often blamed for obscene dressing, suggestive moves and being overtly bold.
Bold and aggressive women are, in fact, perceived as misusing gender right laws.
On the panel of experts to debate the issue were actor Pooja Bedi, former National Commission of Women chairperson Poornima Advani and author Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan.
Methodology of the survey
The CNN-IBN-Hindustan Times poll was conducted by GfK Mode in street corners and homes in 16 cities (metros, large towns and small towns) spread across the four zones of the country. 3,506 people were interviewed between July 19 and 23 for the survey.
Do women make better bosses at the workplace? |
67% or nearly 7 out of 10 feel that women make better bosses at the workplace |
33% feel women don't make great bosses |
Interestingly 55% men feel that women make better bosses |
Would you prefer to work under a male or a female boss? |
63% are fine working under either a male or a female |
20% prefer a male boss |
17% prefer a female boss |
Do working women neglect family duties? |
33% feel working women neglect family duties |
67% feel working women don't neglect family duties |
Are men becoming violent towards women with their changing roles in the society? |
29% agree that men are becoming violent towards women as their roles change in society |
51% agree somewhat that men are becoming violent towards women as their roles change in society |
20% don't agree that men are becoming violent towards women as their roles change in society |
Is there an increase in rape and sexual harassment due to the way women wear clothes? |
79% or 8 out of 10 feel that rape & sexual harassment linked to the way women dress |
21% feel rape & sexual harassment aren't linked to the way women dress |
Are the existing laws on rape, dowry, harassment etc being wildly misused by women to target men? |
84% feel women are misusing rape and dowry laws to target men |
16% feel women are not misusing rape and dowry laws to target men |
Do women too harass men inside their homes? |
39% say women too harass men inside their homes |
61% feel women don't harass men inside their homes |
48% in the north feel that women too harass men inside their homes |
Is it true that women cannot undertake tough tasks as they are physically weaker? |
44% feel women cannot undertake tough tasks as they are physically weaker |
56% feel this is not true |
Would you be uncomfortable if your wife or sister works till late in office? |
69% men would feel uncomfortable if their wife or sister works till late in office |
30% men would not feel uncomfortable if their wife or sister works till late in office |
1% don't know or can't say |
Are you uncomfortable with bold, aggressive women at the workplace? |
62% men or 6 out of 10 feel uncomfortable working with bold, aggressive women |
38% men don't feel uncomfortable working with bold, aggressive women |
Is evidence of virginity in a bride-to-be a big issue for you? |
37% men said yes it is |
63% men said no |
According to the survey 79 per cent of those polled felt that rape and sexual harassment were linked to the clothes some women wear while just 21 per cent felt that rape and sexual harassment weren't linked to the way women dress.
Actor Pooja Bedi blamed the men for still harbouring such conservative views
"I think it is very unfortunate when people do make these kinds of comments. One would therefore assume that in countries where women are completely covered there would be no instance of rape which is not the case. I think it is very sexist to make remarks like that. As our society progresses we will encounter situations where men will be threatened by the modern woman and use anything on their part to cast aspersions on their character and to try and pull her down. It is threatening for Indian man as in just one lifetime he has seem Indian woman going from strength to strength. She is not the typical mother, grandmother or aunt he grew up with. The modern woman has her place in the society, has economic independence. She is equal," said Pooja.
Poornima Advani, too, agreed that the Indian man was feeling threatened by the modern Indian woman.
"I agree that the Indian man feels than the modern Indian women are advancing fast and he finds himself quite inadequate to cope with them. It is ridiculous to say that clothes are connected with rape and sexual harassment. I think it is the perversity," Poornima said.
But are not some women dressing inappropriately?
"There are two questions. First what they should wear is their private life and let them decide what they want to. To say that as she dresses in that way so she is the target of rape is ridiculous and I condemn that," replied Poornima.
The modern and free woman should not be a sex symbol and she should not be defined by what she wears.
Meenakshi said that men must change their views with changing times.
"I won't agree. I think as long as woman are having sex because they want to have sex… it is ok. I don't think you should try and fix the woman here. I don't think you should be saying 'you should not'. Men should be asked why they are so focussed on cloths. But I do agree that you should be careful with what you are wearing. Stereotypes should be changed rather than the people," said Meenakshi.
But is the sexually assertive woman in public necessarily a free woman? Is she necessarily one who has progressive thoughts in her head?
"I honestly believe that the modern Indian woman is a wonderful individual. She beautifully balances tradition, her role in the family, her responsibility to the family and you can't call that archaic. I think it is wonderful that women still hold on to those values. At the same time she is economically independent but she will have to keep fighting especially at a time when the Indian women are coming into their own. There are rapes in villages and small towns where women are 'fully clothed' according to men," Pooja argued.
The haloed and scared nature of female virginity is no longer an issue with the young generation.
"I don't think it was an issue. People are having sex in this country. Sex is everywhere. That fact that we are trying to deny it just shows the fact that we are not in 21st century," said Meenakshi.
Poornima said that even though she had very conservative views of sex, she was not in favour of virginity tests.
"I do have very conservative and moral views. But today virginity should not be an issue for modern mankind because woman and man must be considered at par. That does not mean I am promoting pre-marital sex. No! I am against pre-marital sex and I think sex with one man and then another man has a lot to do with adolescent psychology, about mental stability. But that does not mean that virginity should be an issue neither in case of a woman nor in case of a man. The only test should be for HIV and not virginity before marriage," she said.
Is the Indian women still perceived as only a wife and a mother?
"The fact is she is a wife and a mother. But that is not her only achievement. It is very important for women who work to feel in complete command of their workplace. I think Mrs Clinton has quite a lot of work behind her and she has been quite successful. I don't think she should have taken it so personally. She should have just laughed off the comment. You should be the change you want in the world. I am all for women in the work place leading the way," said Pooja
Do modern and independent women sometimes have to play a conservative role to be acceptable?
"I don't think so. I also feel uncomfortable with aggressive men. But traditionally women's role has been to bow down and accept what's given to them. I think Indian men have been overtaken in terms of development by the Indian women. Some one who is going for her job would be cast off as a lesbian as or like more of a man than woman, which I think is unfair," said Meenakshi.
But despite the modernity Indian women are not neglecting their responsibilities towards their home and family. They are equally at ease at home and office.
Poornima attributed it to the versatility of the modern Indian women.
"Indian woman is a great juggler. They can juggle very well between home, work, family, their husband’s needs and children's needs. It is beautiful when you see the synthesis between all the roles a woman plays. I am of the view that it is the working woman who understands the needs of the modern child better. When she is with her child, she wants to give her child quality time. So I think working women make very good mothers," she argued.
The modern woman is one who works and also takes care of home. She may not be the spaghetti top wearing type but it is often projected that way.
"There are two questions. The modern Indian woman at the work place and then the way she dresses. A working woman does not have to be in spaghetti strap. You could be a working women in a saree or a salwar kurta. Your thoughts have to progressive. The way you conduct your life and your thought classify you as modern and progressive, and not the way you dress," said Pooja
Meenakshi concluded the debate saying, "I think the definition of modern woman is one who is conformable in her skin. I am glad that Indian women are in trend with latest fashion but I don't think it is fair to co-relate with what you are wearing with what you are inside."
Watch this space for Thursday's State of the Nation: What Indian society thinks about dress code?
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