In India, of 10billion women are in their 30’s and 40’s. Now in the 21st-century marriage is no longer a necessity but rather an option, and many women choose to remain single. Even in these days girls less than age 16 are getting married in villages and bearing a child by 18. There is an immediate need for the government to introduce 21 as the legal age for girls gender equality.
Like the majority of people, women dreams of becoming a good wife and wise mother as a child. If she thought she had to get married and form a family when she was younger making them dependent on men. Yet, there is not enough social security for them, creating a blind spot of the structural system. This means 50% of the workforce is sitting idle. This means we are 100 years behind innovation. I am glad that women perspective has changed a lot. "They gained a genuine passion and desire for my career in my early 20’s." The drastic jump largely resulted from women’s increased labor force participation thanks to IT industry. India has genuinely put brilliant efforts in service sector. Thus bringing educated and upper middle class women to work. But uneducated women are left behind.
Also, India remains a patriarchal society. "Marriage is not only a union of two lovers but of families, which I found very burdensome. I wasn’t sure if I could take care of all the things that occur in my husband’s family while pursuing my career." Currently, 70% of female workers have irregular jobs and earn about US$80 per month on average. Indeed, low income has a negative influence on housing stability.
"The majority of single women live alone, and their residential environments vary depending on economic status. Naturally, there are concerns about women being targets of sexual assault and other crimes, especially for those living in poorer areas, as it is clear that the number of violent crimes against women has been increasing recently." Also, 81.2% of them answered that they were unable to prepare for their later years because they couldn’t afford to do so. But there’s barely any government support for them.
More than anything, the biggest fear comes from the fact that there are many basic limits if they suffer from any diseases. "If I need medical surgery, only my direct family members are eligible to sign the consent form. I currently live with my friend, who is single as well, but she would not be eligible to sign the application form even if my life depended on it. The best thing about this gathering is that they have good neighbors to rely on in times of emergency, who also have the same interest and concerns. "There are certain worries we experience because we chose to remain unmarried. We share those things, relate to one another and get healed along the way. "
Outside the welfare system, single women have to find their means to secure their futures, and they are calling on a change in the family-centered social behaviors. "Because the tax system, welfare policies, and even the medical insurance system are designed for families, they alienate unmarried women and single-person households. Therefore, our society needs to find ways to embrace and support them rather than merely trying to treat the symptoms." For a marriage to be truly an option for both genders, the general attitude towards singles should be transformed along with new practical policies to meet their needs.