Being a woman in India often feels like walking a tightrope on one side, some laws promise equality, and on the other, a reality that constantly undermines those promises. Progress has been made, but any woman will tell you how far we still have to go. Whether it’s personal safety, workplace discrimination, or basic dignity, challenges remain. The truth is, laws alone don’t change lives real change comes from enforcement, cultural shifts, and policies that make a tangible impact.
Shockingly, marital rape is still not a crime in India. Section 375, Exception 2 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) continues to deny married women their fundamental right to consent. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which replaces IPC, presents an opportunity to correct this injustice. In 2022 alone, over 31,500 rape cases were reported, an average of nearly 90 cases per day (NCRB Report 2022). Meanwhile, cyber harassment and online abuse are on the rise, turning the internet into yet another unsafe space for women. The BNS must establish stronger protections against digital abuse, and fast-track courts must ensure victims receive timely justice without being lost in bureaucratic red tape.
Workplace discrimination is another battle. According to the WEF-Gender Gap Report 2023, women in India earn just 66% of what men make for the same work. While the POSH Act (Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013) exists, it is often ignored, leaving women vulnerable to harassment. Many complaints are dismissed, and women who speak up risk being labelled as “troublemakers.” Expanding paternity leave alongside maternity leave would challenge outdated gender roles and promote shared parenting, and companies must face real consequences for failing to comply with workplace safety laws.
Beyond paid work, the burden of unpaid labour continues to keep women from financial independence. Indian women spend nearly six hours a day on unpaid domestic work, compared to just 52 minutes for men. This invisible labour limits their career opportunities and economic freedom. The government must recognize unpaid labour in policy frameworks, offering social security and pension benefits to homemakers. Caregiving is work, and it deserves to be acknowledged and valued.
Women’s voices are also missing in decision-making spaces. Despite making up half the population, women hold just 14.7% of parliamentary seats (IPU Report 2023). The Women’s Reservation Bill, which mandates 33% representation in Parliament and state legislatures, has been stuck in limbo for years. Political and financial policies should actively support female entrepreneurs, ensuring they have equal access to funding, training, and networking opportunities.
Inheritance laws have improved on paper, but reality tells a different story. Despite the 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act granting equal property rights, societal and family pressures often compel women to relinquish their share. BNS must simplify inheritance claims and introduce penalties for coercion, ensuring that women can claim what is rightfully theirs without intimidation or legal complications.
Education and awareness are crucial for long-term reform. Schools must introduce gender sensitization programs, teaching boys and girls that respect and consent are non-negotiable. Comprehensive sex education—beyond biological explanations—must include conversations about boundaries, safety, and healthy relationships. Law enforcement officials must be trained under the BNS framework to handle gender-based violence cases with sensitivity and efficiency, so victims feel heard and supported rather than dismissed or blamed.
Healthcare and reproductive rights are just as critical. More than 23% of adolescent girls drop out of school due to a lack of menstrual hygiene products (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare). The government should provide free or subsidized sanitary products in schools and workplaces. Reproductive rights must be reinforced, ensuring safe and legal access to abortion under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act. India’s maternal mortality rate of 97 deaths per 100,000 live births (WHO reports) is still far too high for a country striving for gender equality.
At the same time, we must rethink gender-neutral laws. Most sexual violence laws under IPC and BNS assume only women are victims, yet men and transgender individuals also experience sexual violence and domestic abuse. Legal reforms must protect all survivors, regardless of gender, while post-divorce custody laws should ensure both parents receive fair treatment, and mandatory paternity leave should be enforced to encourage active fatherhood.
But legal changes alone won’t fix everything. Patriarchal mindsets that reduce a woman’s worth to marriage, family “honour” that restricts her choices and societal policing of women’s freedom must be dismantled. Women are often told to compromise, stay patient, or remain silent, reinforcing inequality. True change starts at home, in how we raise our children, in how we challenge gender roles, and in how we ensure boys grow up seeing their mothers and sisters as equals—not just caregivers.
India has taken steps forward, but true equality requires more than just laws. It demands a shift in mindsets, stronger enforcement, and acknowledgement of the everyday struggles women face. Criminalizing marital rape, ensuring workplace safety, increasing political representation, and simplifying inheritance claims are immediate priorities. Long-term progress depends on education, economic empowerment, and dismantling deep-rooted patriarchal norms.
Gender justice isn’t just about women’s rights,it’s about fairness for all. It’s time for India to stop making excuses and start making real, lasting changes.