Feminism

http://www.du.ac.in/fileadmin/DU/Academics/course_material/hrge_06.pdf

http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/salvwr/_assets/main/documents/reports/women&domestic_violence_counselling_standards.pdf

http://www.citehr.com/334542-challenges-faced-women-corporate-world-3.html

http://sherryx.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/objectification-of-women-from-fashion-industry-to-prostitution/

INTRO

Subordination of women to men is prevalent in large parts of the world.

We come across experiences where women are not only treated as

subordinate to men but are also subject to discriminations, humiliations,

exploitations, oppressions, control and violence. Women experience

discrimination and unequal treatment in terms of basic right to food,

health care, education, employment, control over productive resources,

decision-making and livelihood not because of their biological differences

or sex, which is natural but because of their gender differences which is a

social construct. “Sex is considered a fact - one is born with either male or

female genitalia. Gender is considered a social construction - it grants

meaning to the fact of sex. Conversely, it could be said that only after

specific meanings came to be attached to the sexes, did sex differences

become pertinent” (Geetha, 2002: 10). Gender based discriminations and

exploitations are widespread and the socio-culturally defined

characteristics, aptitudes, abilities, desires, personality traits, roles,

responsibilities and behavioral patterns of men and women contribute to

the inequalities and hierarchies in society. Gender differences are man

made and they get legitimised in a patriarchal society. This paper

attempts to link the theoretical dimensions of patriarchy with its empirical

experiences to engage in the ongoing debates and discussion on

“patriarchy” which manifests itself in various forms of discriminations,

inequalities, hierarchies, inferior status and position of women in society....