Lösung Women in India

Although women played an important role in the struggle for independence, and Gandhi and Nehru laid the foundation for complete equality of the sexes in the Indian Constitution, the traditionally subordinate role of women is still the norm for the mass of the people in India, especially for the 75% who live in rural areas. Women now have the vote, more possibilities in education and employment in the cities, but the literacy rate for women only rose from 29.7% (1981) to 39.4% (1990).

Women in rural areas have to work very hard physically as well as cope with the problems of frequent childbirth and insufficient health care.
Although "suttee", the practice of self-immolation by a widow on the funeral pyre of her husband, has long since been banished, widows and single women have a very low status in society. Sons are preferred to daughters as dowries have to be provided when the daughters marry, in the form of cash and gifts, in instalments if necessary. Most marriages are still arranged and the size of the dowry depends on the social standing of the groom.
Families with daughters get into debt as the dowries demanded become bigger and bigger, and although it was made illegal in 1961 the practice continues. The phenomenon of dowry deaths has caused great concern. 15,891 brides were killed or committed suicide in quarrels about dowries. Many deaths were in the form of kitchen accidents in the new husband's family, or starvation when the payments were late or not forthcoming. The husband was then , of course, free to look for another bride and another dowry.