International Women’s Day: Without action, there’s no room for celebration

When we take note of what’s going on in the world, it seems there’s little reason to celebrate International Women's Day this year. Some of the most heinous crimes against women and girls, as well as boys, that came to light in the Jeffrey Epstein case, carried out by the world's most powerful men, have suddenly disappeared from the front pages. With wars and emergencies declared, the demand that offenders be held accountable has only weakened. Ironically, the most misogynistic leaders are now using women's rights as a pretext to effect regime change for their own ends. 

India is not exempt from such trends. To hold powerful perpetrators of crimes against women accountable is nearly impossible. And even when a rare legal victory is achieved, it means little for women's safety or equality on the whole.

Despite this state of affairs, we have to recognise that India has made advances. School enrolment for girls is at an all-time high, and significant laws and court rulings have tried to alleviate injustices women face. 

However, for every two steps forward, we take one and a half steps backwards. At the same time, we struggle to hold on to half a gain in the final analysis. 

According to WHO data, almost one in three women worldwide at some point in their lives have encountered physical or sexual abuse. In India, over 29% of women between the ages of 18 and 49 who have ever been married report having been the victim of physical or sexual abuse, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). Shockingly, over 3% of pregnant women said they had been subjected to violence. These figures, too, do not tell the entire story, as many violent crimes are never even reported.

Tragically, a survivor doesn’t only have to deal with crime itself, but also with the silence, lack of support and disastrous consequences when she seeks justice. Survivors encounter numerous obstacles, including stigma, lack of financial independence, fear of reprisals, and hostile or inaccessible services. Survivors need police systems that treat them with dignity, and easy access to safe shelters, counselling, and legal assistance.

Following horrific crimes against women, we often see temporary public indignation in India. However, this indignation, often misdirected, does not look at the root causes of gender-based violence. Reactive rage does not lead to long-term structural change.

Violence needs to be understood as a public health issue. Our frontline workers, as well as doctors, must be trained and equipped to spot it and provide necessary assistance. 

Regressive social norms are at the root of public inaction and contribute to the persistence of gender-based violence. Patriarchal structures, norms, and expectations form a deadly cocktail. Community-based interventions have demonstrated that norms can shift when communities accept liability rather than look away. These interventions involve local leaders, families, and youth actively opposing harmful practices like dowry demands or victim-blaming.

Violence against women constitutes more than a law-and-order issue. It is intertwined with concepts of entitlement, power, and toxic masculinity. Boys are socially conditioned to think that controlling women is acceptable, whether in overt or covert ways. We need a paradigm shift in which men and boys are raised differently. We must teach them concepts such as consent, bodily autonomy, respect, and empathy at an early age. 

By teaching them to challenge sexism when they see it, defy stereotypes, and understand privilege, we can make them active allies for achieving gender equality. Changing portrayals of gender roles in popular culture—in books, films, etc—can go a long way in deconstructing the patriarchal attitudes imbibed at an early age.

Gender justice cannot be separated from the broader issues of equality, dignity, and agency. When women lack economic independence, educational opportunities, or control over their reproductive choices, they are more vulnerable to violence. NFHS-5 shows this clearly: women with lower education, no assets in their name, and limited freedom for decision-making face significantly higher rates of domestic violence. 

Celebrations, messages, and symbolic gestures have become a new norm on International Women’s Day. But this year's theme is Rights. Justice. Action should remind us that without action, there’s no room for celebration.

(Poonam Muttreja is the Executive Director of Population Foundation of India)

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)