Being a woman not easy in state

The figures came from a recent survey by the Department of Women Studies,Lucknow University,which was part of the Institute’s “Center for Excellence Scheme” to develop Gender Development Index for Uttar Pradesh.

The survey was conducted in two phases over nine districts. The second phase concluded in December. Six districts were chosen from five regional divisions of the state ¿ Eastern Region (Pratapgarh and Gorakhpur),Central Region (Lucknow),Western Region (Saharanpur),Bundelkhand Region (Chitrakoot) and Rohilkhand Region (Pilibhit).

Women were divided in three categories for the survey ¿ Adolescent Young Girls (between the age of nine and 17 years); adult women (between 18 and 44 years); and elderly women (45 years and above).

The field survey was conducted between May and October 2010.

Violence emerged as a major problem with 70.2 per cent adolescent,79.2 per cent adults and 78.1 per cent elderly women experiencing both mental and physical violence.

Of them,46.96 per cent said that the person responsible for their sexual harassment was a relative; 50 per cent of adult and elderly women said they were insulted by their husbands publicly. But 40 to 55 per cent women did not want to report against violence,said the report.

Eve teasing also seemed common — with 41 per cent adolescent girls and 56 per cent of adult and elderly women reporting eve teasing in their locality; 56 per cent adolescent women said their mobility is restricted by family members due to fear of eve teasing.

Gender discrimination at work also emerged prominently in the survey,with women in Pratapgarh and Pilibhit reporting that they get Rs 20 to 30 less wage per day than men.

All women reported that they do not have any committee to complain against sexual harassment.

The state of health is also low,with 69.3 per cent adult and 62.2 per cent elderly women having two meals a day.

Adolescent girls have the most to eat ¿ but only 48.9 per cent of them can have three meals a day.

Around 80 per cent women follow self-medication,most claiming that they did not want to “spend money on our health,we would like to use it for our home.”

Though 25 per cent of adult women got proper reproductive healthcare,“full antenatal coverage has been reported by none of the women in all five districts,” the report said.

Only 19 per cent women gave birth in hospitals. Neither adult nor elderly women have any power to decide on the size of their family and time of childbirth. Tendency of suicide is also high,with around 70 per cent adult and elderly women prone to depression — 22.8 per cent adolescent women,31.35 per cent of adult and 44.8 per cent of elderly women claimed to have thought of suicide.

Prof Rakesh Chandra,Director of Women’s Studies,under whom the project was completed,said: “Women studies needs to be understood as a tool for women’s empowerment,a reason why this study was undertaken. The survey is extraordinary in the way that it,for the first time,attempts to record women’s own voice.”