Get Inspired, Be Empowered Forums Sexism & Patriarchy Why is it that only women are expected to display their marital status?

9 replies, 8 voices Last updated by Aditi Sahu 2 years ago
  • Mayuravarshini Mohana
    Participant
    @mayura
    #32503

    Adornments and formal titles such as ‘Ms’ and ‘Mrs’ are used to indicate if or if not a woman is married. Why is it that only women are expected to display their marital status?

    nehachitroda
    Participant
    @nehachitroda
    #32544
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    WHY IS IT THAT ONLY WOMEN ARE EXPECTED TO DISPLAY THEIR MARITAL STATUS?
    Women are termed as Miss, Ms., Mrs. According to their status whether married or unmarried. But men are not termed as differently and common word has been applied as Mr., only young male is called as Master but apart from that all adults are categorized or known as Mr. So why women have to display their status by adornments and titles as to whether married or not?
    Married women are told to put on adornments such as ‘sindoor’ or ‘toe ring’ or ‘bangles’ as wearing this will identify women as married. And as per this, they are titled as Mrs. And so, after being in each area of activity or work they have to introduce themselves as Mrs. Young girls are referred to as Miss. And the ones who are older and not married are titled as Ms. So, from these titles we can say that women are mostly expected to display their status because it old-time tradition or rule which still continues and as always there are some patriarchal thinking behind this too.
    By this practice one thing observed is differentiation among women’s and it is accepted by them because there is no other option or way out to display their status. But if titles are not given, then adornments are compulsory for each married woman and are taught to wear them because they are married and it will differentiate them from others, it should be done according to traditions and social beliefs which makes women do so whether she likes or doesn’t.
    It still exists because it was made in the old times and so once rule made applies to a long time until and unless someone makes an effort or brings a change in society.

    VIPASHA .
    Participant
    @vipasha
    #32551
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    We all aware about the fact that , Boundations implemented on women’s only . Women expected to work according to the norms of the society this boundation have its presence in the professional field also .
    If a woman is ask about her relationship status during the joining process or the interview process. There are many companies who doesn’t allow a married woman in the company. But is this rule is right ? Why should a woman is always asked about her marital status ? Why don’t company interview asked in men , did her wife will allow to let him work ? Yes this is a expected question in every interview a married woman faces . Once I seen a UPSC interview, and that the senior faculty asking that women will Your family allow you to pursue your career in this field ? I don’t think this is relevant question ? Why should a woman choose her dream according to the Will of the family. It’s her career , it’s her life she has all right to choose her path .
    Asking question about marital status , specially from women is very relevant and this is creating discrimination and a sense of inequality among the society and the people of the society. In married women is always asked to wear mangalsutra and apply sindoor and if she is newly wedded she should wear chudha.
    Using the honorifics Miss, Ms., or Mrs. used to be a common way to address women in a formal or business setting. Traditionally, people addressed young girls as “Miss.” They also addressed an unmarried woman as “Miss,” but then “Ms.” Became more acceptable . The term “Mrs.” originated to refer specifically to married women, but some women prefer to keep the “Mrs.” in their names even after divorce and particularly if they’re widowed.
    All these practices are totally wrong and we should try to avoid all the things. Budgies talking about gender equality and justice is not enough we should take stand for that . And the relevant practices which still exist in the society we should try to you and all this.

    simran arora
    Participant
    @simran
    #32584
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    Society expects women to display their marital status to regulate their behavior in the community. For example, an unmarried woman should not be holding contraception or a pregnancy kit. Such behaviors only suit married women. The orthodox is present in all the cultures, but more commonly in the Indian society, irrespective of the religion.

    Irrespective of earning money equally to any other individual in the community, marital society still outbounds the hierarchy. Anyone who identifies as a woman will always have to confirm her marital status when going for an interview or doctor’s appointment.

    Society creates no difference for a man with his marital status. Lately, an amendment approved that unmarried women can use the same status as Miss (Ms.). However, some regions do not approve of this and still have a barrier to this.

    A woman’s life change as per her current marital status in this country. The never-married woman is not in the race of empowerment as society judges them with a different perspective. The same goes for women who are divorced. The woman who got married or widowed may or may not have much say in their marital status.

    If you are a woman living in India, then society will question your every decision. For example, if you are out for hours alone, then your decency will be questioned. However, if you are out with your husband, no one will think ill of you. The situations change according to your marital status. Thereby, women have always be adjourned to the patriarchy in our country. That is why only women are expected to display their marital status, whereas men could live any way they want.

    DISHA SAPKALE
    Participant
    @42disha
    #33306
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    In today’s world, Society only excepts from women to display their marital status. why? Always women are excepted to show the signs of marital status like using Mrs. after marriage, they should wear mangalsutra, they should apply sindoor and what not. At interviews also women’s are asked about their marital status and it may also gets affect to their job opportunities according to their marital status because women’s marital status are mostly matters at many companies. After marriage women need to follow many marital adornments that makes difficult for women to manage with it like wearing bangles and saree just because to show their marital status in society. There are types of marital status like single, married, divorced, widowed, separated. In our society, women are already going with lots of gender inequality, gender discrimination and what not but in that also women has to compromise and sacrifice lots of things after marriage and society except that women are only need to display their marital status without knowing her choice and not giving freedom to make choices for herself. When women are single they use Ms. And after marriage they has to use Mrs. just to display her marital status. From old times it has the thinking that women are the one who need to show that they are married through following marriage adornments and showing marital status by using Mrs. Because of this thinking people are following norms and rituals without thinking about women’s equality.

    Semantee Chattopadhyay
    Participant
    @semantee03
    #33308
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    It is the expectation of society that women wear a wedding ring if they are married and that they should not be wearing this ring if they are not married. I argue that this expectation of women to wear a ring or any kind of marital adornments is unfair and should be revoked.

    The history of the tradition

    The tradition of women wearing a wedding ring has been around for centuries. In the Middle Ages and medieval times, marriage was only about property, as the right to a piece of property was given to the husband. If the wife was married to a man, she was considered to be his property. A woman could not own property and neither could her husband. In the Middle Ages, women were not allowed to work and were considered to be the property of their husbands.

    In the 1600s, the idea of a woman wearing a ring was created. It was thought that by wearing a ring, the woman would be more attractive to the man. In the 1800s, the tradition was formalized.

    The expectations of women
    Women were expected to be submissive and to be married. More than just being married, women were expected to be ‘good’ wives. This expectation of good wives was that they should be obedient to their husbands and should not question anything. For example, a woman should not ask her husband when they were going to have children. This expectation of obedience to husbands was not only in the household but also in society. It was expected that women should not be seen out of their homes unless accompanied by their husbands.

    The expectations of men
    Men were expected to support their families financially. They were expected to be the breadwinners. If a man did not support his family, he was considered to be a bad man. If a man did not support his family, he was considered to be a bad man. For example, a man who did not provide for his family would be punished. If a man was in a relationship with a woman, he was expected to provide for her. If a man was in a relationship with a woman, he was expected to provide for her.

    Manpreet Singh
    Participant
    @manpreet
    #33311
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    Women are empowered through the third Millennium Development Goal. The empowerment of women has been behind the target rate despite strong efforts. Marital status responsibility cannot be contested because it plays a significant function in the life of Indian women. Marriage is seen as a major social event in India and is to be transmitted across generations of traditional beliefs. In Orthodox society, therefore, lone women (unmarried/widowed/divorced/separated) are disrespectful in anticipation of rebellion. In this kind of society again, the majority of Indian women are dissuaded from choosing work, hence marriage is the only choice. The lives of Indian women are therefore expected to rotate around their married status, which can have some effect on their empowerment levels. This study assesses the impact of marital status on women’s empowerment, investigates potential explanations, if any, for differences in empowerment, and proposes a solution to eradicate this gap. With the exception of married women, all lonely women show a painfully poor capacity and cannot participate in family decisions, while they are entitled to keep the money for themselves and to freedom of mobility. Thus the marriage in India, especially for women to live a meaningful life, is considered one of the compelling social events. For every woman marriage has traditionally become virtually fundamental; consequently, in Indian society, lonely women1 are less widely welcomed. Therefore, they are subjected more or less to social insolence. In the culture, the most unwanted sect is among lone women, divorced or separated, for according to Hindu ideology, marriage is a holy union that is fashionable for only procreation and continuation of the family lines. It cannot be dissolved for personal reasons by divorce or by any other method. Lone women are often less respected and subjected to physical and emotional abuse in society. Often they lack the confidence to push them back from the mainstream development process as a result of this suppression. In neo-liberal India, economic progress and social development is a national objective, especially for equality between men and women. In order to eliminate gender inequalities, the Indian Government has taken numerous initiatives aimed at boosting women’s status and improving their position. To some extent, these initiatives succeed in changing the attitude of society to women, but not in overcoming the effects of married status. Positive campaigns can persuade or contribute to a transformation of society’s perspective of lonely women (unmarried, widowed, divorced, and separated). If this problem is addressed root-based when establishing policies and programs for women, only because mainstream gender policies are seldom reached in households will it be able to reach the Third Millennium target? Therefore, the concerns of lonely women and married women should be addressed instead of seeing women as a separate category. The empowerment of single women together with married women can aid the growth of women in general (staying with their husbands).

    PALAK KASHIV
    Participant
    @palak
    #33327
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    Women are expected to display marital status because they should get fit in traditional society, which validates women marital status that they should show they are married by wearing mangal sutra, sindoor and chuda and also put Mrs before her name all the marital adornment which society expects also many do this because it is followed from years and it is culture if women do not display their marital status than society thinks she is disrespecting her husband and also their marriage relationship. When women are married everybody questions about their career Does their family allows them it’s her life marriage is not the end of a women’s career that people need to understand sometimes married women cannot display their marital status every time. In Indian traditional society, if a woman is part of this, they will question every decision that she makes after getting married most of the decisions would not get valued.in the case of men everything they live as they wish to. I think we should give women the right to decide whether she wants show marital status or not because she is not committing a crime by not displaying her marital status. Behind this all-patriarchal system, which is continuing till now women need to face it, even some community people in any social gathering they call married women not by their name but by Mrs. from their husband surname. Change the mindset of the people if any women are not comfortable, they should just get validation from the society.

    PALAK KASHIV
    Participant
    @palak
    #33329
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    Women are expected to display marital status because they should get fit in traditional society, which validates women marital status that they should show they are married by wearing mangal sutra, sindoor and chuda and also put Mrs before her name all the marital adornment which society expects also many do this because it is followed from years and it is culture if women do not display their marital status than society thinks she is disrespecting her husband and also their marriage relationship. When a woman is married everybody questions about her career Does their family allows them it’s her life marriage is not the end of a women’s career that people need to understand sometimes married women cannot display their marital status every time. In Indian traditional society, if a woman is part of this, they will question every decision that she makes after getting married most of the decisions would not get valued.in the case of men everything they live as they wish to. I think we should give women the right to decide whether she wants show marital status or not because she is not committing a crime by not displaying her marital status. Behind this all-patriarchal system, which is continuing till now women need to face it, even some community people in any social gathering they call married women not by their name but by Mrs. from their husband surname. Change the mindset of the people if any women are not comfortable, they should just get validation from the society.

    Aditi Sahu
    Participant
    @aditi
    #34302
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    There’s a very simple answer to this question, and it’s patriarchy. The patriarchy has still made sure that the society keep treating women as objects owned by men. By making them display their marital status on every document, the patriarchy just keeps on persisting the notion that women are nothing by themselves, they can only be seen in relation with men. If such was not the case, it would have been completely common for the men to be expected to display their marital status too. Instead it’s just the women who have been expected from the time unknown to display their marital status, be it in the title they use or their ornaments.

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