WOMEN'S AND FAMILY

Women and Family

A girl passes through her entire lifecycle within the framework of a family. She is conceived in the mother's womb; she arrives in a family as a baby girl, spends her childhood in the family, attains her adulthood after adolescence, reaches reproductive age and finally grows old. As an adult, she performs different roles like those of a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. In each of these stages, she has to make well-defined and definite contributions to her family. She undertakes different responsibilities in these roles. In discharging these responsibilities, she faces restrictions and risks which are heavier than those facing her male counterparts. In this sub-unit, we will bring under discussion the plight of women in the family as they perform different roles and explain what should be our ethical responsibilities towards them.

PRE-NATAL SEX SELECTION

Pre-natal sex selection and women

Indian parents invariably have a son preference. Gradually, this mindset is changing with the spread of education, advocacies and campaigns promoted by the state and non-state actors. But this change is confined to the higher classes, educated families living in urban areas. Majority of the poverty-ridden families, who do not have education, awareness about the importance of girls and women in a society continue to believe that lineage is traced through males, a son is expected to perform certain last rites which daughters cannot, that a son (putra) saves his parents from the hell called "put". As for the daughters, they are considered "parayadhan"(property belonging to others). In short, daughters

are treated as liabilities while sons are looked upon as assets. These beliefs compel parents to opt for prenatal sex selection. The detection of a female foetus leads parents to kill it in the mother's womb itself. This results in a declining sex ratio in society. The 2011 census shows that there are 940 females per 1000 males in our country. It is alarmingly low in some states and Union Territories like Haryana (877), Delhi (866), Chandigarh (818), Dadra Nagar Haveli (775), Daman and Diu (618). In our own state Odisha, the districts like Nayagarh (916) and Khordha(925), Anugul (942) and Dhenkanal (947) also have a low sex ratio.

Similarly, many girls are thrown on river banks, into wells or left on streets after birth. Such painful incidents take place during their infancy (i.e. Between 0 to 5 years of age). These are more common in northern states such as UP, Bihar, MP, and Rajasthan. It is also a gender-selective killing.

The Present Scenario

The present scenario

Even now women throughout the world are still treated as unequal to men. But gender equality is vitally important for society. Realising this, social reformers tried to fight against many customary practices that undermined women's position in society. Developmental activists, the international community and national policy planners are trying to ensure equality to women in various spheres of life. Considerable progress has been made in this direction so far as education, access to health services and participation in the economy and polity are concerned. But this progress has not benefited all women. Still a major portion of the

Women, Social Institutions and Practices

women population and girls face inequality in their homes, communities, work places and in the larger society. They fail to enjoy their human rights and are denied privileges and opportunities available to men. They do not lead a life of dignity.

Women's position in society can be better understood through a "life cycle" approach. The" life cycle "approach simply means that a woman's lifespan comprises different stages. There are six definable stages through which every individual goes: the pre-natal stage, infancy, childhood, adolescence, reproductive age and old age. In each of these stages we find a few women enjoying some degree of equality with men. But biological differences between men and women make women lead a different type of life in each of these stages.

The chart below depicts the stages of life a woman passes

Even now women throughout the world are still treated as unequal to men. But gender equality is vitally important for society. Realising this, social reformers tried to fight against many customary practices that undermined women's position in society. Developmental activists, the international community and national policy planners are trying to ensure equality to women in various spheres of life. Considerable progress has been made in this direction so far as education, access to health services and participation in the economy and polity are concerned. But this progress has not benefited all women. Still a major portion of the

Women, Social Institutions and Practices

women population and girls face inequality in their homes, communities, work places and in the larger society. They fail to enjoy their human rights and are denied privileges and opportunities available to men. They do not lead a life of dignity.

Women's position in society can be better understood through a "life cycle" approach. The" life cycle "approach simply means that a woman's lifespan comprises different stages. There are six definable stages through which every individual goes: the pre-natal stage, infancy, childhood, adolescence, reproductive age and old age. In each of these stages we find a few women enjoying some degree of equality with men. But biological differences between men and women make women lead a different type of life in each of these stages.

The chart below depicts the stages of life a woman passesIn each of these stages, it is noted that boys and girls, men and women lead different types of lives and their experiences become diverse. Customary practices, age-old beliefs, unequal power relations, social institutions like family, marriage, property do not treat men and women, boys and girls equally. Different set of rules, different attitudes and behaviour patterns on the basis of sex create gender inequality in society.

If we want to change these practices, let us take up this module and find ways to get rid of them. In this module, we are going to look into how many of our gender practices are against human values, morality and ethics and what we can do to eradicate them. Let us hope that a new wave of consciousness will shape a new generation of girls and boys in these class rooms, who will respect one another and work together to protect the rights of all people.

1.1.3 Desirable gender-related values

In this module we will be talking about some desirable gender-related values like

Gender Justice

Gender equality

Dignity of women

Eradication of discrimination on the grounds of sex

Respecting and honouring the human rights of women Recognising and appreciating the contributions of women

Developing compassion, care and respect for women

Social and economic inclusion of women

GENDER EQUALITY AS AN ESSENTIAL PRECURSOR TO SOCIAL PROGRESS

Gender equality as an essential precursor to social progress:

Social progress is achieved when a society meets the basic human needs of its citizens, allows the members to enhance and sustain the quality of their lives, and creates the conditions for all individuals to realise their full potential. But no society can

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Women, Social Institutions and Practices

develop without improving the condition of women. Evidences show that societies with greater gender equality achieve higher levels of social and economic rights for all their members. To put it simply, gender equality impacts Human Development. Therefore, Mahatma Gandhi rightly said, "If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate an entire family."Making women equal in all spheres would bring qualitative change in society. It improves people's health, raises the nutritional standards of the family, reduces child mortality and ensures better educational outcomes for the next generation. Gender equality is intimately related to sustainable development and economic progress. Women can also play a significant role in the conservation of natural resources, and combating climate change. Once they acquire knowledge and training, food, water and energy crisis can be dealt with more effectively. Women contribute equally to the economy. Gender equality can successfully reduce poverty. So, in order to achieve social progress we should make sure that "No one is left behind".

ETHICS AND VALUES

Introduction:

Why study this course titled 'Ethics and Values'

To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.

(Theodore Roosevelt)

Education is only complete when it leads to all round development of the individual, which encompasses not only mental but also moral development. Moral education, which imbibes ethics and values in students, influences the social thinking of the individual and makes him/ her distinguish between what is right and what is wrong. Moral education is a basic need for modern times where one is fast witnessing a degeneration of moral values. Moral education is important as it teaches diversity, tolerance, mutual respect and pluralistic values.

Moral values are values that express ideas about the good life. As such, concern for the moral virtues, such as honesty, responsibility, and respect for others, is the domain of moral education.

Science young people readily and unconsciously assimilate all types of influences, good or bad, it is important that society provides them with type of education that will make them acquire sound ethical and moral principles, and also develop appropriate attitudes and values that will help them to make good choices and decisions in their adulthood.

Moral education, then, refers to helping students acquire those virtues or moral habits that will help them individually live good lives and at the same time become productive, contributing members of their communities.

The system must be designed as such that the individual at a formative stage should distinguish to differentiate between what is good and what is bad.

There is need to encourage the youth to understand why people do

one thing and not another. They should be able to make choices in order to

become ethically mature adults. They should be assisted to learn how to

take a position and consider facts relevant about a moral issue.

The socio-culture changes like transition from joint family to

nuclear family system, dysfunctional families, excessive competition,

parental expectations, commercialization of education, increased crime

and violence, effect of media and information over-load, misuse of

information technology, globalization, consumerism etc. are putting

immense pressure on individuals, families and societies leading to

distortion and degeneration of values.

Moral values direct us to the right path to lead our lives. Imparting

these from the early days helps one to distinguish between right and

wrong. These values involve factors like loving others, helping others,

respecting others, morality, honesty etc.

The benefits of 'Ethics and Values' Education are:

It helps one to distinguish between right and wrong.

It gets reflects in one's personality; aiming at holistic development

of a person.

It makes the youth aware of eroding values and helps in wiping out

bad influences in the society like violence, crimes, agitations,

child abuse, disregarding women etc.

It helps in building self- confidence, motivation and a positive

approach to things; also helps in ensuring harmony and peace with

self.

It helps in finding out the true purpose of life and motivates one to

be dedicated, unselfish, loving and caring for others.

It leads to an education that connects heart, head and hand; thus

improves the quality of education.

It leads to an understanding of interdependence between family,

society, nation and the world; helps in developing a pro-active

social conscience amongst the youth and thus creates a balance

between the youth and their community.SEMESTER-I

Unit-1

Title: - Issues Relating to Women

Total no. of Periods-15

Full mark-25

Credit point -1

1.0 Aims of the Unit:

• The module aims to generate a sensitivity among the students

towards women.

Enable them to value the contributions of women, from family

to the larger society.

• To generate among them a distinct urge to respect women

• To appreciate that women should have equal status and equal

entitlements as member of the society.

Learning Objectives:

After going through the contents of the module and the classroom

transactions on the contents, the students are expected to

Have changes in their perceptions and practices towards

women.

• Develop proper attitude towards women and value their work

and contribution.

• Come forward to challenge the unethical treatments against

women.

• End gender based hierarchy and hegemony, remove the

feeling that women are counter to men and bring about a

complementarity among the hitherto existing gender binary.

CONTROL OVER POPULATION

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The population is often considered as a

source of economic, military, and political

strength. However, a high population

(overpopulation) can also be considered a

threat to the environment and resources.

However, population growth is a factor

that can be managed. Human population

planning is a means of intentionally

controlling the human population growth

rate. The practice may involve increasing

or reducing the rate of human population

growth. Below are some of the population

control methods that are sometimes

used.

Effective Population

Control Methods

Child Tax

Higher taxation for parents with more

children is one of the methods that can be

used to control the population. This

method of population control ensures that

taxpayers are entitled to an exemption for

a specified number of children (mostly

first two) but no other.

Contraception

Contraception is the most popular

population control method in the world. It

is a method used to prevent pregnancy.

There are several methods of

contraception or birth control. Some of the

methods are irreversible while others are

temporary.

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Infant Mortality Decrease

High infant mortality is one of the reasons most parents, especially in developing countries, have many children. Such parents want to ensure that at least some of their children survive to adulthood. It is hypothesized that if child mortality is reduced, fertility reduction will eventually follow, with the net effect being lower population growth. The rate of infant mortality can be reduced by pregnant mothers frequently visiting clinics, access to quality food, and access to healthcare service before, during, and after birth

One-Child Policies

The one-child policy is a population control method that encourages parents to have only one child. The policy was introduced in China in 1976 after the two child policy and involved setting a limit on the number of children one could have. Although it was abolished in 2015, the Chinese government claimed that about 400 million births were prevented However, the success rate of the policy remains a topic of contention as more than half of the population was allowed to have two children if the first was a girl

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Family Planning

Family planning services are methods and means which enables an individual to freely determine the number and spacing of their children. Under this population control method, parents may consider the number of children they wish to have of not have a child at all, as well as the age at which they wish to have children.

POPULATION AND COMMUNITY

POPULATION

A group of individuals of a particular species occupying a particular area at a specific time is called as population.

Ex-The entire student body at a school. Lotus plant of a perticular Lake

COMMUNITY

Community is defined as the group of organisms of different species living in same area and interacting with each other.

Ex- a forest of trees and undergrowth plants, inhabited by animals and rooted in soil containing bacteria and fungi,