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The increasing rate of suicide, among Indian women is alarming. Read to know about the factors that contribute to this dangerous trend.
A recent study by the Indian Psychiatric Society suggests that women are three times more likely to attempt suicide than men. It also goes on to explain that out of these, 10-15% cases are impulsive, while most others can be prevented through timely intervention and psycho-social rehabilitative assistance.
According to a statement by the President of the Indian Psychiatric Society, Dr G Prasad Rao, ‘”My life is not worth living’, is the most common expression. And, if people around them can sense and intervene in time, then such cases can be prevented.”
The statistic and the rationale offered in explanation to the statistic, suggest that women are in a vulnerable and dangerous space. In a social set up that is fraught with patriarchal attitudes towards women, that is restrictive to their right to health and their un-stigmatized access to help and resources, it is all the more painful to note that this trend might just wind up continuing unchecked if the structural violence of patriarchy continues to be perpetuated in practice.
Earlier this year, the BBC shared an article by Soutik Biswas, asking, “Why are India’s housewives killing themselves?” The article suggested that female literacy, the level of exposure to the media and smaller family size, are all perhaps indicators of female empowerment, which were correlated with higher suicide rates for women in these age groups.
It also explained that suicide rates among housewives were the lowest in the most ‘traditional states’, where family sizes were big and extended families were common. Rates were found to be higher in states where households are closer to nuclear families – Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
The subtext to this occurrence is pretty clear, in the way our systems are skewed against women: patriarchal social structures, hegemonic masculinity that reaches toxic proportions, constant honour-ification of the female identity and the burden of physical and mental strain with little to no psycho-social and medical support, can break anyone.
The treating of women as chattel and reassertion of these stereotypical views of women and the restraint on their freedom of access can be exceedingly suffocating and overwhelming. Coupled with the social stigma ascribed to a woman’s choice to seek help or to ask to address such matters, this skewed statistic is only reflective of a disturbing trend.
If you or anyone you know is feeling suicidal, here are some of the helplines available in India. Please call.
Aasra, Mumbai: 022-27546669
Sneha, Chennai: 044-2464 0050
Lifeline, Kolkata: 033-2474 4704
Sahai, Bangalore: 080–25497777
Roshni, Hyderabad: 040-66202000, 040-66202001
Image Source: Pixabay
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Shows like Indian Matchmaking only further the argument that women must adhere to social norms without being allowed to follow their hearts.
When Netflix announced that Indian Matchmaking (2020-present) would be renewed for a second season, many of us hoped for the makers of the show to take all the criticism they faced seriously. That is definitely not the case because the show still continues to celebrate regressive patriarchal values.
Here are a few of the gendered notions that the show propagates.
A mediocre man can give himself a 9.5/10 and call himself ‘the world’s most eligible bachelor’, but an independent and successful woman must be happy with receiving just 60-70% of what she feels she deserves.
As long as teachers are competent in their job, and adhere to the workplace code of conduct, how does it matter what they do in their personal lives?
A 30 year old Associate Professor at a well-known University, according to an FIR filed by her, was forced to resign because the father of one of her students complained that he found his son looking at photographs of her, which according to him were “objectionable” and “bordering on nudity”.
There are two aspects to this case, which are equally disturbing, and which together make me question where we are heading as a society.
When the father of an 18 year old finds his son looking at photographs of a lady in a swimsuit, he can do many things. What this parent allegedly did was to dash off a letter to the University which states: