Chandigarh, March 7 — Women’s Day is a celebration of progress, yet the reality remains harsh—gender equality is still more of an aspiration than a reality. Despite advancements in education and rights, deep-rooted biases, wage gaps, and domestic violence continue to hold women back.
Education has been a game-changer, with India’s female literacy rate rising from 58% in 2011 to 70.4% in 2023. But numbers alone don’t tell the full story.
In Kerala, where literacy stands at 92%, women enjoy greater independence, while in Bihar, where it’s at 73.9%, social and economic struggles are more pronounced. Education alone isn’t enough if society refuses to evolve.
The workplace remains another battleground. Women still earn 60–73% less than men, especially in the private sector, because their work is undervalued and they are still seen as physically weaker.
Even today, many families hesitate to let women work outside the home, reinforcing old norms that men should earn while women manage the household. But when given the same opportunities, women have proven they can perform just as well—if not better—than men.
Beyond the workplace, domestic violence remains a harsh reality, affecting 32% of married women.
Bihar reports the highest rate at 59%, while Kerala records the lowest at 9.9%. The reasons are all too familiar—poverty, substance abuse, and a society that still places men above women. Many women endure abuse simply because they have been conditioned to accept it. Changing this mindset starts with raising boys who respect women and eliminating toxic masculinity from our homes.
Real empowerment goes beyond laws and policies. Women need financial independence, emotional support, and a society that sees them as equals, not as secondary citizens.
Until we stop making excuses for inequality, Women’s Day will remain just a symbolic celebration rather than a true marker of progress.
It is an opinion piece, written by a Guest Columnist
