Beyond the Other:Towards ‘I- thou’ Gender Equality

philosophy

Ranjani.K.Murthy, 2013

Objectives

• Examine progress from a gender lens in India

• Reflect on difference between sex and gender

• Reflect on the construction of the ‘Other’ in India

• Reflect on diversity amongst women and the shifting nature of ‘Other’ and ‘I’

• Reflect on strategies to empower women, and argue for the ‘I thou’ perspective

Some limitations-My identity

• Am upper caste, upper middle class Indian woman married to a Muslim

• Will be shifting from “I” to “Other” during presentation

• From a subjective lens…

• Not oriented in philosophy

Achievements in India from a gender lens

Girls Education

Women work force

Mobility

Women in local governance

Women entering new domains

Men ‘help’ in housework

Challenges facing women

Gender based

Violence

Low % at top

Low assets

Low % in Parliament

Low % in religious institutions

High malnutrition/

anemia

Dalits, Adivasis, Minorities, WHH etc

Challenges facing men: gender lens

Alcoholism &

Substance

use

Male unemployment

Women/

men new tasks

Bread winner?

Inflow ofmigrants

Violence when dalits

benefit from

schemes

Sex and gender

Sex

Biological differences

Difficult to change

Does not vary with time and place

Does not vary with caste, class, race etc.

Gender

Social differences

Easier to change

Varies with time and place

Varies with caste, class, race etc.

Most differences

social

How do differences between men and women rise? Women as the Other

Space•Relegating

•Banning

Role/

tasks

•Relegating

•Banning

Behaviour•Encouraging

•Banning

Assets

Decision

• Access• No control

• Absence • No decision making

PATRIARCHy

The reality is however complex in India: The ‘I’ within the ‘Other’

Though the “Other” in her relationship with husband or in laws, an upper caste and class woman can shift to being the subject “I” in her relationship with women and men from oppressed community and slip into ‘I-Other’ relationship (other as ‘it’).

The reality is however complex in India: The ‘Other’ within the ‘I’

• Though the “I” in his relationship with wife, a man can shift to being the object “Other” (as it) in his relationship more privileged or powerful individuals or groups

• Thus there is a constantly shifting ‘I-Other’ relationship based on context, age etc.

Efforts to address gender disparity: Looking through a philosophical lens

Post 1980 onwards

Strengthening the ‘Other’-in some sectors total neglect of ‘I’

Independence movement

??

Social Reform

“One for the Other”-Levinas

No program with men –resistance

Economic reforms- diff.

amongst women

New approaches required

• Not Welfare:

Not a moral ‘the one for the other’ or subject-object ‘I-it’ relationship

• But Empowering:

I Thou relationships which is a subject –subject relationship; awareness of unity of beings

At another level

Sex differences few

Gender differences many can be changed

Break gender differences, equally value sex differences- move towards unity

Applies to caste, class and other inequalities

Institutions where I thou relations need to be integrated

Marriage

Family

Education

MarketsReligious

Media

State

Thank you