Gender Misuse

Women-centric legislation in India and its misuse

Crimes against women are common in India. They are neither safe nor protected, whether at home, in public, or at work. Given the prevalence of crimes against women, certain laws aimed specifically at women have been enacted in India to protect them.

The following are a few legislations enlisted for the protection of women’s rights in India:

1. Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005: It is a critical statute that seeks to protect Indian women from various types of domestic violence. It protects women who are in a relationship and are constantly subjected to physical, mental, sexual, verbal, and emotional violence.

2. The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: It forbids the wanting to give or trying to take dowry from women before, during, or after their marriage. The taking or giving of dowry to the bride or bridegroom and their families at the time of marriage is prohibited by this act.

3. The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986: It aims to prevent improper representation of women in advertisements or publications, writings, paintings, figures, or in any other manner.

4. The Sexual Harassment of Women in the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013: To ensure women’s safety in the workplace, this Act seeks to protect them from sexual harassment at their place of work. It ensures that there is no sexual harassment against women in the workplace, both in the public and private sectors. Sexual harassment at the workplace also includes the use of language with sexual overtones, invasion of private space with a male colleague hovering too close for comfort, subtle touches, and innuendos.

5. Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956: It ensures in protecting women from trafficking for prostitution as an organized means of living.

6. Remuneration Act, 1976: It ensures that men and women workers are paid equally for doing the same or similar work. There will be no gender inequality in the context of recruitment or service conditions. Its goal is to prevent discrimination against women in matters of employment.  

7. Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994: This act will prevent sex selection before or after a woman conceives. It will reduce unwanted and illegal abortions in the country.

8. Maternity Benefit Act, 1961: This act regulates the employment of women and maternity benefits mandated by law. It states that a woman employee who has worked in an organization for a period of at least 80 days during the 12 months preceding the date of her expected delivery is entitled to receive maternity benefits, which include maternity leave, nursing breaks, medical allowance, etc.

Recently a incident happened at Lucknow where a girl misuses her gender.

Here's report of full incidence:-

LUCKNOW: A day after penalizing three youth in a road rage incident on July 31 in which a girl was seen slapping one of the accused, police have registered a case against the girl too.

The incident took place at the Awadh crossing in Lucknow.

A case under charges of committing or attempting to commit robbery, causing hurt and loss has been filed against her.

Earlier, she had alleged that the man was driving the car at a high speed, and she had narrowly escaped being run over.

Additional deputy commissioner of police, central zone, Chiranjeev Nath Sinha said, "A case has been registered against the girl for attempting to commit robbery, voluntarily causes hurt and committing mischief and thereby causes loss or damage to the amount of fifty rupees or upwards."

The girl was identified as Priyadarshini of Kesari Kheda in Krishna Nagar.

Sinha said the case was lodged on the complaint of Shahadat Ali of Wazirganj.

Shahadat and his friends identified as Inayat Ali and Dawood Ali, both residents of Wazirganj, were booked for breach of peace.

The action came after the police came under heavy criticism and faced backlash from social media users for not taking action against the woman who was seen slapping Shahdat umpteen times in full public view, breaking his mobile phone, catching him by his collar.

The bystanders remained busy filming the incident and daring not to intervene while the police remained a mute spectator during the entire incident.

In his complaint to the police, Shahadat alleged that the girl slapped her for none of his faults, snatched and broke his mobile phone and looted Rs 600 which he had put in the dashboard of the car.

Earlier, the girl had alleged that the man was driving the car at a high speed scaring her and she narrowly escaped from being run over.

In the video, a traffic cop was also seen coming to the scene but he seemed helpless.

Some of the social activists praised the girl for her bravery while others condemned her act.