Dependence

(Designed by: S.B.Gul)

Dependent is one who would relying on, or subject to, something else for support; not
able to exist, or sustain itself, or to perform anything, without the will, power, or aid of
something else; not self-sustaining; contingent or conditioned; subordinate; often with on or
upon. Men control womens productivity both within the household and outside, in paid
work. Within the household women provide all kinds of services to their husbands, children
and other members of the family throughout their lives. Feminist writer Sylvia Walby calls
this as the patriarchal mode of production where womens labour is expropriated by then
husbands and others who live there. She calls housewives as the producing class and
husbands are the expropriating class. The work done by housewives is not considered as
work at all and housewives become dependent on their husbands.
The property and other productive resources are controlled by men and are passed on
from father to son. Even in societies where women have legal rights to inherit property,
customary practices, social sanctions and emotional pressures that prevents them from
acquiring control over them. According to UN statistics, Women do more than 60% of the
hours of work done in the world, but they get 10% of the worlds income and own 1% of the
worlds property.
In Indian villages, girls remain dependent upon the father, brother or cousin and this
very feeling continue in their married life. We must give capacity building training to girls in
schools to be independent. The programmes of free universal education upto the age of 14
should be vigorously implemented. The courses of studies should inculcate the values of
gender equality, self-respect, courage, independence, etc., which would help to develop the
personalities of girls / women. In all kinds of public participation, the primary
responsibilities of women for looking after home and children always come in the way,
unless arrangements are made for child care and other domestic responsibilities sustained
participation of women in the public sphere is not possible.