Discuss how gender-based violence in India is a manifestation of patriarchal values. To what extent has modernisation in law served as an instrument of women's empowerment in this regard?

India faces a strange situation of 'Devi Dichotomy' : coexistence of

Naari as Devi vs. Increased violence against women (NCRB) (womb to tomb)

| Patriarchy → Gender Based Violence |

1. Female Infanticide is an outcome of 'son-meta preference'

2. Increased dropouts of female child during schools (esp. Secondary) is a grave assault on physical & mental health.

3. Lack of safe sanitation & WASH facilities during Adolescence.

4. Forced pregnancy; child marriage (Early & repeated) (India has world's highest)

⑤ Dowry Violence ('groom price')

⑥ Domestic violence emerges out of extreme social expectations from women

⑦ workplace → Pink collarization → Glass cliff → Sticky floor → glass ceiling

⑧ Lack of safe mass transport, etc

⑨ motherhood penalty (job losses) Ex: Foxconn controversy (Refused to hire married women).

modernization of laws ⇒ women Empowerment

In favour

① Increased Awareness, Filing of cases

② Social ostracization → 'Haq kiladai' 'Insaf' (changed attitude)

③ Broken window Theory → Early assaults are minimized..

In Against

Thus, merely legal sanction is not enough by itself to ensure women Empowerment. Legal measures themselves are not implemented in their Truest sense..