“Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and the feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu?

Intro :

Post-independence India has witnessed the rise of iconic women in politics (Indira Gandhi, Sushma Swaraj), science (Tessy Thomas), sports (P.V. Sindhu), and entrepreneurship (Falguni Nayar). However, social attitudes towards women have remained largely patriarchal, often expecting women to conform to traditional roles, and casting feminist movements as “anti-family” or “Western” disruptions.

Curriculum Reform and Gender Sensitization in Schools: NCERT textbooks should include stories of grassroots women leaders and social reformers like Savitribai Phule. Initiatives like Gender Equity Movement in Schools (GEMS) have shown success in Maharashtra.

Media and Entertainment Responsibility: Campaigns like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao gained visibility through media. However, popular cinema must move beyond token feminism. Web series like Delhi Crime and Gullak are positive shifts.

Involving Men and Boys: Programs like Men Engage Alliance and Parivartan by NGOs work with boys to challenge toxic masculinity and normalize respectful behavior.

Strengthening Legal Mechanisms: Fast-track courts for gender-based violence, and community legal awareness drives (e.g., Nyaaya platform) can improve access to justice.

Grassroots Mobilization: Women’s self-help groups (SHGs) like Kudumbashree in Kerala have shown how economic empowerment can translate into social mobility and confidence.

Religious and Cultural Reform: Encouraging reform within personal laws, as seen in the triple talaq judgment (2017), contributes to dismantling patriarchal religious norms.

Political Representation Strengthened by 106th Constitutional Amendment Act (2023): The 106th Constitutional Amendment provides 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. While its implementation is linked to delimitation after the Census, it marks a constitutional recognition of women’s rightful place in national leadership.

To transform India's patriarchal social fabric, interventions must go beyond schemes and laws to reshape attitudes and institutions. With the 106th Amendment guaranteeing political representation, India has taken a historic step. Yet, for true gender parity, change must percolate to homes, communities, and cultural spaces — making equality not just a constitutional provision but a lived experience.