ROLE OF WOMEN AND WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION

ROLE OF WOMEN AND WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION
Women form an important social category. Social empowerment is meaningless if half of the population of country remains in grips of malnourishment, selective sex abortion etc. The basis of woman as a social group is not limited biological but also the socio-cultural entity. Social status and roles of women are defined not only in terms of the gender dimension but also in terms of the norms, values, beliefs, traditions and customs of the society. estate
Women as a social category cut across the boundary of caste, class, race, etc. social groupings. Women as a social group have diversified socio-economic groups and are also divided in terms of spatial considerations like rural and urban. However, women are frequently an especially oppressed group within each unit of socio-economic stratification.
However, we cannot simplify women issue as a conflict between men and, or the women’s movements as a crusade against men. Indeed, these issues are an outcome of the prevailing social system. The norms, values, customs and old socialisation processes govern each member of society, over generations to form his/her attitudes and behavioural patterns. Similarly, these also formulate expectations of each member of society. The structural arrangement of the society provides women low position. They are economically exploited and discriminated, socially subjugated and politically rendered a powerless group in the society.
Women’s issues are thus perceived to be linked to social issues. These issues are especially focussed on women’s unequal access to productive resources, decisionmaking bodies, health care facilities, education, employment opportuni es and social justice. In this respect, the study of women’s issues needs to be incorporated within the discussion of wider social issues, concerning the rights of underprivileged sections of society.