The Origin of Feminism in India

Feminism is a movement that advocates for social, economic, and political equality between men and women. This equality can be attained when people start challenging the patriarchal society inherent in the Indian culture and are willing to reform the foundations of the existing structure.

How did Feminism start in India?

The feminist movement in India did not flood into the conscience of people at once. Rather, there were waves that brought out different aspects to the forefront, and as mentioned by Nehru in The Discovery of India, surprised the British as well as the Indian men folk.

The First Wave

The first wave of feminism started in India before independence. The social reformers were the educated elite imbibing cultural values from the West. They believed that unless women were educated, society would not progress, and so they began waning out sati and child marriage as they were obstacles to the progress of women.

Although a few women’s organizations had come up, these were unable to create a sustained impact because they did not question the patriarchy. Nor did they attempt to change the man-woman equation in society. Instead, they provided education meant to make women better at being housewives.

The Second Wave

The second wave saw all-women organizations being established. Women demonstrated their ability to mobilize en masse and defy British laws by participating in the Dandi March. The occurrence was possible for two reasons. Firstly, a lot of the men were in prison and removed from a position of power. Secondly, a household commodity restricted to the confines of the kitchen was now at the frontlines of the independence struggle. The impact of this phenomenon was profound. Women, who until then led sheltered lives, now assumed leadership roles and showed courage in standing up to not one, but two adversaries — the British and the patriarchy.

Since then, women have raised their voices against the restrictions imposed on them and secured various rights and freedoms. Still, India has a long way to go before the feminist movement can attempt to replace patriarchy with gender equality.