Reasons for Inequalities of Women's Health Care in India
India- An overview of the Country
India, a country in South East Asia, has the world 's second highest population. Out of the one billion people residing in the nation, 120 million of its women live in poverty. The male to female birth ratio is 1.05 males to 1 female. The life expectancy of the average person is sixty-four years of age. They have a literacy rate (people over the age of fifteen that can read and write) of 59.5 percent, with 70.2 percent of males being literate and 48.3 percent of females that are able to read and write (cia.gov). India 's economy is based mainly on traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of support services. It is a patriarchal society, which means that men are the head of societal and familial matters. Women are not thought of as equal to their male counter parts and are expected to be obedient of males. Because of the large, unfavorable shift of power, women face injustices and inequalities in almost every aspect of their lives. A main issue that has always been present and continues to be problematic is the inequalities women must deal with when it comes to health care.
What types of services are available to women when they are pregnant and what types of conditions result from these limited services? The common belief when it comes to pregnancy is that it is an ordinary part of every woman 's life. Even though child birth is an extremely exciting and happy moment for a family, "the mother and child are considered `impure ' and `polluting '" (Hussain, 2001). When a woman is pregnant, she is given special treatment in her family, often not expected to do housework and is fed much better, but only if the expected child will be a son. Often, if it is known that the woman will have a daughter, she will still be expected to perform all of her domestic duties, no matter how dangerous it may be for the fetus. Prenatal and post-natal health care are
India, a country in South East Asia, has the world 's second highest population. Out of the one billion people residing in the nation, 120 million of its women live in poverty. The male to female birth ratio is 1.05 males to 1 female. The life expectancy of the average person is sixty-four years of age. They have a literacy rate (people over the age of fifteen that can read and write) of 59.5 percent, with 70.2 percent of males being literate and 48.3 percent of females that are able to read and write (cia.gov). India 's economy is based mainly on traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of support services. It is a patriarchal society, which means that men are the head of societal and familial matters. Women are not thought of as equal to their male counter parts and are expected to be obedient of males. Because of the large, unfavorable shift of power, women face injustices and inequalities in almost every aspect of their lives. A main issue that has always been present and continues to be problematic is the inequalities women must deal with when it comes to health care.
What types of services are available to women when they are pregnant and what types of conditions result from these limited services? The common belief when it comes to pregnancy is that it is an ordinary part of every woman 's life. Even though child birth is an extremely exciting and happy moment for a family, "the mother and child are considered `impure ' and `polluting '" (Hussain, 2001). When a woman is pregnant, she is given special treatment in her family, often not expected to do housework and is fed much better, but only if the expected child will be a son. Often, if it is known that the woman will have a daughter, she will still be expected to perform all of her domestic duties, no matter how dangerous it may be for the fetus. Prenatal and post-natal health care are
References: Coonrod, Carol. (1998). Chronic Hunger and the Status of Women in India. Retrieved October 28, 2004, from www.thp.org Douglas, Carol Anne. (1980). Feminism in India. Off Our Backs Washington: Vol. 10, Iss.5, p.2. Retrieved October 28, 2004 from ProQuest database. Improving Women 's Health in India. Retrieved October 28, 2004, from www.worldbank.org Johnson, Katherine 4, p. 9. Retrieved October 28, 2004 from ProQuest database. Slugget, Catherine. (Apr 30, 1999). Women for Women in India: Two Unique Projects Catering to Women in India. Trikone Magazine San Jose: Vol. 14, Iss. 2, p. 11 Retrieved October 28, 2004 from ProQuest database. Women and Health. Win News Lexington: Autumn 1992. Vol. 18, Iss. 4, p. 21. Retrieved October 28, 2004 from ProQuest database. India.(2004). World Fact book. Retrieved November 2, 2004, from www.cia.gov. Zucker, Jessica. (2001). A Snapshot of Women 's Reproductive health in India. Global Reproductive Health.