Uniform Civil Code: A Solution to Religion Based Gender Discrimination? (Paper)
- Namita Raje, NUSRL Ranchi
- March 20, 2021
Content :
Patriarchal interpretations of religious belief have defined and shaped the social and cultural contexts of Indian women that has resulted into their disempowerment and somewhat second-class status. Passionate attempts of protection of multiculturalism through the provision of group rights, not only minorities’ rights what must not be ignored is the rights of women and consequently the goal of gender justice.
Recently, urban migration, female political participation, education and the activities of social reformers have all helped the public acceptance of new roles for women. As yet, only a tiny minority of women have benefited from the changes that have occurred. The religion based disparity continues and extends, but is not limited, to menstruation, purity, women’s role in religious leadership, patriarchal interpretation of religious texts, and women’s entry into various religious places.
The paper attempts to examine the rhetoric of a Uniform Civil Code in India as a response to religion based gender discrimination given the presence of centripetal forces in India in light of feminist literature and judicial precedents tracing the impact of patriarchal interpretations on the lives of womenand an examination of presence of parallel justice dispensing mechanisms and their role in maintaining gender Justice.
