Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The Indian women’s movement has evolved through distinct phases. The first wave, largely focused on social reforms like Sati and widow remarriage in the 19th and early 20th centuries, was spearheaded by social reformers. The second wave, emerging in the 1970s, marked a significant shift, moving beyond purely social issues to encompass political and economic concerns. This wave was characterized by a broader, more radical agenda, influenced by global feminist thought and responding to specific socio-political conditions within India, such as the Emergency and subsequent political changes. It aimed for systemic change and challenged patriarchal structures at multiple levels.
Key Features of the Second Wave Women’s Movement in India
The second wave of the women’s movement in India, spanning roughly from the 1970s to the 1990s, was a period of significant activism and intellectual ferment. It differed substantially from the first wave in its scope, methods, and objectives.
1. Socio-Political Context & Rise of New Issues
Several factors contributed to the rise of the second wave:
- Post-Independence Disillusionment: Despite constitutional guarantees of equality, women continued to face discrimination in various spheres of life.
- Global Feminist Influence: The rise of second-wave feminism in the West, with its focus on issues like reproductive rights, equal pay, and challenging patriarchal structures, influenced Indian feminists.
- Emergency (1975-77): The Emergency led to widespread human rights violations, including forced sterilization, which galvanized women’s groups to fight against state repression and for reproductive autonomy.
- Economic Liberalization (1991): While initially not a central focus, the economic liberalization process and its impact on women’s employment and livelihoods became a concern later in the wave.
2. Key Issues Addressed
The second wave addressed a wider range of issues than its predecessor:
- Anti-Price Rise Movements: Women actively participated in movements against rising prices in the 1970s, recognizing the disproportionate impact of inflation on poor households.
- Bodily Autonomy & Reproductive Rights: The forced sterilization campaigns during the Emergency sparked a strong movement for women’s reproductive rights and against coercive population control measures.
- Domestic Violence: The issue of domestic violence gained prominence, leading to demands for legal reforms and support services for victims. The Indrani Mukherjee case (2015) brought this issue to the forefront, though the movement had been advocating for it much earlier.
- Dowry & Bride Burning: The movement continued to fight against dowry-related violence, including bride burning, demanding stricter laws and enforcement.
- Rape & Sexual Harassment: The Mathura rape case (1978-79) – the custodial rape of a tribal woman – became a landmark case, highlighting police brutality and the vulnerability of marginalized women. It led to demands for legal reforms regarding rape laws and police accountability.
- Equal Pay & Employment Opportunities: The movement advocated for equal pay for equal work and greater access to employment opportunities for women.
3. Prominent Actors & Organizations
The second wave saw the emergence of numerous women’s organizations and activists:
- All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA): A left-wing organization focusing on women’s rights and socio-economic issues.
- National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW): A secular organization working on a range of women’s issues.
- Women’s Liberation Alliance (WLA): A more radical group advocating for fundamental changes in patriarchal structures.
- Manushi: A journal and organization founded by Madhu Kishwar, focusing on women’s issues and promoting grassroots activism.
- Individual Activists: Prominent activists like Kamala Bhasin, Flavia Agnes, and Mary Roy played crucial roles in shaping the movement.
4. Intersectionality & Challenges
While the second wave broadened the scope of women’s issues, it also faced criticisms:
- Class & Caste Bias: Critics argued that the movement was often dominated by middle-class, upper-caste women and failed to adequately address the concerns of marginalized women.
- Lack of Intersectionality: The movement initially lacked a strong focus on the intersection of gender with other forms of oppression, such as caste, class, and religion. Later, activists began to address these issues more explicitly.
- State Response: The state often responded to the movement with repression, particularly during the Emergency, and sometimes with co-option, attempting to control and channel women’s activism.
5. Legal and Policy Impacts
The second wave contributed to several important legal and policy changes:
- The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1983: Introduced stricter penalties for rape and custodial rape, partly in response to the Mathura case.
- The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (Amendments): Amendments were made to strengthen the Dowry Prohibition Act and address dowry-related violence.
- The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986: Aimed to prevent the objectification of women in media and advertising.
Conclusion
The second wave of the women’s movement in India was a transformative period, expanding the agenda of women’s rights and challenging patriarchal structures in new ways. While facing internal critiques and external challenges, it laid the foundation for subsequent feminist activism and contributed to significant legal and policy changes. The movement’s legacy continues to shape the ongoing struggle for gender equality and social justice in India, with contemporary movements building upon its achievements and addressing its limitations.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.