Women have decision-making power in only 10.48% families

SCENARIO IN UP Heads of 89.49% families are men, reveals survey. Citizens say women should create space for themselves by convincing family with their knowledge

Women have decisionmaking power in only 10.48% families on an average in UP while at the national level they are heads of 12.83% families.

Most of the households are male dominated and the heads of 89.49% families are men. On the national level, males are heads in 87.15% families, reveals the data of the socio-economic and caste Census, 2011.

This is the reality despite speeches on women empowerment and emphasis on gender equality. Even after so many years of independence, half the population is far from getting rights.

Likewise, the data also shows that Aligarh has lagged behind in making women the head of the family.

An average family in Aligarh has more than eight members, which is much more than the national average of 4.93 while in UP this average is 6.26 persons.

Many responsible women of Aligarh have emphasised that the fair sex should not limit their outings only to kitty parties. They should also create space for themselves in other fields by convincing their family members with their knowledge.

Namita Singh, a renowned writer, said: “The society has not given women the right to take decisions. I have come across this fact in many surveys and have also written on it. This is more prevalent in middle class families. In issues like children’s studies, marriage and career, the viewpoint of male members matters more.”

Dr Rakhi Mehrotra, a gynaecologist said, “With passage of time, circumstances have changed and the society has also changed. It is not easy to change men’s psyche in this male- dominated country.”

Priti Saxena, president, Inner Wheel Club, said: “Things have changed and in many households women have equal rights. Now, daughter-in-laws are living as daughters in their inlaws’ house. But it is true that normally the society has not accepted major role of women. On the other hand, women also do not want to do any such thing that may become difficult for them. Some have preferred to take their rights while others followed traditions.”

Divya Lahiri, Brij Prant patron, Bharat Vikas Parishad said: “Women take care of the family. But they must also know what is going on in the country and world. They should develop the capacity to take decisions and not leave their home only for kitty parties and shopping. Women will get equal rights when they convince their family by their knowledge.”

Though the average of married couples in UP (35.10%) is lower in comparison to the national average (40.05%), married life is better here. Nearly 43.86% people are unmarried in UP whereas on national level this figure is 41.64%. Due to better married life, the average of divorces in UP is 0.07% as compared to the national average of 0.12%.

At the national level 0.38% husbands and wives are living separately but in UP only 0.23% couples have a separate life.