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Rending the Veil: Women Challenging the Theocracy

By Anju Kanwar.

Published by The International Journal of the Humanities

The World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Programme released on May 16, 2005, a study on the global gender gap. Sadly, of the 58 countries that were included in the study, not a single one of them has been able to close the gap between the two genders. India ranks 53rd in this study, with only Korea, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt ranking lower. Such studies point the finger to the direction we must go.
The Indian Constitution clearly upholds the principle of gender equality in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. Not only are women granted equality but the State is authorized to “adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women.” Furthermore, India took its place at the international level by sanctioning international conventions and plans. However, the gap between the goals set up by the Constitution, legislation, and other efforts, and the lived reality of many women of India remains wide open. Indeed, the impact of religion on this reality is all pervasive. The dissident acts of many individuals and
groups need sustained support to successfully challenge the theocracy and empower the women.

International Journal of the Humanities, Volume 6, Issue 9, pp.53-60. Article: Print (Spiral Bound). Article: Electronic (PDF File; 543.567KB).

Dr. Anju Kanwar

University of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA