Naga Men are More ‘Equal’ than Naga Women

Several occasions are observed every year for women but not many for their male counterparts. India observed National Girl Child Day last week, coinciding with the government’s weeklong Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign with the theme “Empowering girls for a brighter tomorrow.” There are more such occasions in line including International Women’s Day, Widows’ Day, and Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Is this a manifestation of the world’s outpouring of love towards women? It may not be a case of outpouring love or being overgenerous towards the fairer sex: The gesture indicates that the world wants to do its bit for their wellbeing. It also indicates that they are not in the position they are supposed to be in, which is why the need for support arises. The need to fight for their rights arises because of the lack of it or that they have been denied all these while. Women have the right to live a life free of violence, discrimination and harassment. They have the right to earn equal wage, exercise adult franchise, avail education, own property, and all other that the men enjoy. But they have been denied many rights they are entitled to, often simply because of their gender and they must have to fight for it. Denial of rights and discrimination based on gender exists almost everywhere but it is so gross in India that giving birth to a girl child is often regarded as a curse for the family. The outcome of this bigotry is female foeticide and female infanticide, which have led to sex ratio imbalance: 943 females per 1000 males.

Cases of female foeticide and female infanticide are rarely heard of in Nagaland but the state’s sex ratio of 931 females per 1000 males (2011 census) is worrying. It needs to be addressed by finding the reasons behind the huge gap. The literacy rate of the female population in the state is 76.11%, which is higher than the national average of 65.46% (female) and even higher than the national average of 74.04% (both male and female) but much lesser than that of their male counterparts in the state (82.75%).

This is a clear indication that most parents prefer sons over daughters in education. Some may argue to invalidate this proposition. The fact is that the Nagas being a patriarchal society, most people send their son to school and not the daughter if there are no resources to meet educational expenses. The age-old customary laws and culture of the Nagas also hinder women from enjoying equal rights with the men. Naga women still do not have inheritance rights despite the general assumption that there is no gender discrimination in the Naga society. It’s time our society at least allow women to inherit parental property, even if not ancestral property, and give them decision-making powers by accepting them into social organisations like village councils. For now, Naga men are more ‘equal’ than Naga women.