Ambresh Ranjan
War always brings with it a long-lasting devastation. It might be severe for one side and comparatively less grievous for other side. But all the parties involved in it are bound to share uneven grief and anger commonly. One of the bitter truths of war is that its repercussions are gender-specific. The broader picture reveals that not only war but other issues like climate change, environment or other humane-originated disasters have harsher effects on women leading to different circumstances for both the gender.
Women are said to be generally associated with professions considered physically less tough as they have to play a more resilient work in maintaining home and associated activities. But the sufferings they experience during conflicts are not less painful than men. In the patriarchal society, all important decisions are taken by males but their repercussions are equally shared by women. This dilemma of our society has always been witnessed in every age. The book by Farida Khalaf, Andrea C. Hoffmann – The Girl Who Escaped ISIS– has outlined the sufferings and state of women in Iraq during the ISIS-led conflict. They were forcefully separated from their families and loved ones, traded like slaves and made to live at the mercy of their owners. During the war, many women became victims even though they didnot have any direct role in the battles.
Last year in August 2021, Taliban took total control of Afghanistan and their 20-year-old fight with other powers affected the nation very badly. During the pre-Taliban era, there were instances of the involvement of women in major roles in the country, but not to the extent of decision making that could result in the peace and stability of the region. At present, what position do we find of women in Afghanistan? Citing a new research report, the Human Rights Watch and the Human Rights Institute at San Jose State University (SJSU) recently said, “Taliban rule has had a devastating impact on Afghan women and girls.” Since the taking control of Afghanistan, Taliban have imposed various restrictions on women and have created huge barriers to women's and girls' health and education, curtailed freedom of movement, expression, and association, and deprived many of income. Afghanistan is ruled by males only. Despite the fact that women are a substantial section of the population,, they cannot voice their concerns strongly. Rather they have to live in the conditions that have been allowed for them by their male counterparts.
In post-Gaddafi Libya, conditions of women have still remained subordinate to men. The law does not specifically criminalize domestic violence. It discriminates against women with respect to marriage, divorce and inheritance. There is a reduced sentence for a man who kills or injures his wife or another female relative because he suspects her of extramarital relations. Besides, online violence against women has reportedly grown steadily in recent times. Regime changes in such countries have nothing to do with gender equality.
The patriarchal system has dominated societies always. Nonetheless, there have been distinct social conditions of women in different societies worldwide. Compared to women in most ancient societies, Egyptian women enjoyed a better place in society as they could own and inherit property and do business. Egyptians allowed women to succeed to the throne. In contrast, in early Chinese societies, women were definitely subordinate to men in patriarchal families. Their primary functions were to perform household tasks and produce offspring (preferably sons) and had little to no economic independence outside of family structures.
In modern times issues related to gender equalities are discussed on many platforms and occasions. Certain things have changed in their favour also and they have been provided platforms to share their roles. Women today constitute a large workforce in corporate, education, service, defence and other major sectors, thereby making them financially independent. And this change has definitely contributed in improving their situation in modern society. But they are still far from attaining social independence. And during situations like war their concerns and views are hardly heard before finalizing family decisions. And they suffer the most during conflict times and in the aftermath.
(The writer is a former journalist, now associated with a public sector bank. The views expressed are personal.)
