40% of Indian men are hardcore sexists: Study

[Tiger80]

MUMBAI: Around two in five men in India — nearly 40.7% — were found to hold 'rigid and discriminatory' gender views. This segment believes women to be inferior. Such men are very controlling. They tend to dictate whom the wives can meet and do not allow participation in decision-making. Further, men who hold the most rigid views of masculinity are three times more likely to physically abuse their partner and nearly four times likelier to want their wives to bear a son over a daughter. Such traits of rigid masculinity were, in preliminary findings, the highest in Uttar Pradesh (64%) and comparatively lower in Rajasthan (22%) and Maharashtra (25%). The preliminary findings, as of November 2013, are based on studies undertaken by the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) covering seven Indian states. The study relates traits of masculinity with son preference and violence against one's partner. Researchers point out that all men cannot be clubbed in one category as they hold a wide range of beliefs relating to gender equality. ICRW has classified them into various categories — equitable men, flexible behaviour men, flexible attitude men and, lastly, the rigidly masculine. Only one in four men (25.6%) fell in the equitable category. This segment strongly believes men and women are equal and such behaviour translates into sharing of household work and responsibility for contraception. They also do not feel they should control their wife's behaviour or that a woman is to be blamed for rape. The rest — around a third — fell somewhere between the two ends of the spectrum. Given the high ratio of 'rigidly masculine' men, it wasn't surprising that the ratio of violence against their partner was also high. Nearly 27% women, in aggregate across the states surveyed, reported violence in the past year. Nearly 49% of men in UP admitted to it (against an aggregate average of 34%). In UP, 44.6% women reported being subjected to violence. The other state where a large number of men admitted to it was Odisha. In terms of women's admitting to having suffered it, the aggregate prevalence was 31% and the highest at 59% was reported in Odisha. Survey results also showed that men who hold rigid masculinity views are four times more likely to want a son. At the aggregate level, 72% of them have a high son preference versus 19% of equitable men. Preference for a son can have severe health consequences for women and also result in a skewed population ratio. The child sex ratio (measuring birth to six years) has dropped from 927 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001 census to an all-time low of 914 according to Census 2011. The findings show that men with a secondary or higher education and urban men are more likely to be equitable. Economic stress also increases likelihood of rigid notions. ICRW researchers interviewed 9,205 men and 3,158 women aged 18-49 from Haryana, MP, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan and UP. A detailed report is yet to be formally issued by ICRW with the United Nation's Population Fund. The study reinforces steps must be taken to inculcate gender equality at an early stage-as in schools. Lata Narayan, professor, Centre for Life Long Learning at TISS, says, "In addition, it is also essential to bring about a mindset change in adults. Adult role models will play a crucial role in bringing about a change on a range of issues —be it dowry, inter-caste marriage to violence against women." 'Men must be part of the solution' "Transformation of men and women's empowerment cannot be mutually exclusive agendas. Men Against Violence & Abuse (MAVA) has been engaging men to change their traditional male-dominated outlook and be 'part of the solution'. "We primarily engage young men in schools, colleges and targeted communities in conversations around sexual health and preventing violence against women through leadership-driven training," says Harish Sadani, MAVA's founder. UNFPA-India is providing ongoing support for integration of life skills, which includes gender sensitivity in the secondary curriculum of National Institute of Open Schooling that enrols nearly 4 lakh students each year. Or ICRW-India in partnership with the Tata Institute for Social Sciences has developed and implemented a curriculum to engage students on issues related to inequitable gender norms and violence. 'GEMS' project as this is labelled has been implemented in public schools in Goa, Kota and Mumbai using different approaches. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/40-of-Indian-men-are-hardcore-sexists-Study/articleshow/26813310.cms

[Prakat]

For further proof, watch this thread.

[Stuge]

For further proof' date=' watch this thread. [/quote'] :hysterical::hysterical:

[Clarke]

If 60% of men believe in total gender equality, that'll be a quite an improvement over previous decades. Needless to say, long road ahead.

[Raghav_12]

If findings were any different how organizations like "International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW)" who sponsored this survey will justify their existence. :winky:

[Detonator]

For further proof' date=' watch this thread. [/quote'] :hmmm: so what's ur opinion on this topic?

[ganeshran]

For further proof' date=' watch this thread. [/quote'] :hysterical::hysterical: I am actually surprised that the number isn't higher.

[Detonator]

Thank God, they have banned the prenatal gender discerns using ultrasonography. Preference of male child still exists. My brother says that still people are trying to find out the sex of the fetus in his hospital and ready to pay extra money. Mostly by pregnant lady's in-laws, even parents in some cases. The sad part is, even the ladies prefer male child, and agree to abort. I mean wtf, now a days girls are the ones who care most for the parents and never try to give up on them, not the boys. I have seen many guys who never care for their parents, but very very few girls do that.

[beetle]

60% are not!:omg:

[Ram]

This figure is better represented across generations. The current generation (people in the 20-35 age group) are much more progressive. The previous generation is definitely more misogynistic and sexist, but you really cannot blame them entirely for that. The circumstances in which they grew up must have made it extremely difficult to have progressive, forward thinking views.

[Zanjeer]

Thank God, they have banned the prenatal gender discerns using ultrasonography. Preference of male child still exists. My brother says that still people are trying to find out the sex of the fetus in his hospital and ready to pay extra money. Mostly by pregnant lady's in-laws, even parents in some cases. The sad part is, even the ladies prefer male child, and agree to abort. I mean wtf, now a days girls are the ones who care most for the parents and never try to give up on them, not the boys. I have seen many guys who never care for their parents, but very very few girls do that.

isn't poverty the main reason behind girl child abortion?

[sachin34357]

How did they come to this conclusion? and if its only covering 7 sates then why do they label it as if its whole of India?

[GoldenSun]

This figure is better represented across generations. The current generation (people in the 20-35 age group) are much more progressive. The previous generation is definitely more misogynistic and sexist' date=' but you really cannot blame them entirely for that. The circumstances in which they grew up must have made it extremely difficult to have progressive, forward thinking views.[/quote'] good points :).

[Detonator]

isn't poverty the main reason behind girl child abortion?

Nah, even some rich people do that.. reason is the boy child is always considered their heir, whereas girl child would go to another house. They feel that their family name would be erased if they have only daughter.

[velu]

what is the % indian women who r sexists ?? :hmmm:

[Number]

what is the % indian women who r sexists ?? :hmmm:

99%.

[randomGuy]

isn't poverty the main reason behind girl child abortion?

No. Most prosperous states like delhi, punjab, haryana have one of the least sex ratios. In fact common practice in haryana villages, 2 brothers or more keep 1 girl from jharkhand etc as their common wife.

[DomainK]

Only 40%? I am impressed.

[Ghost Buster]

No. Most prosperous states like delhi' date=' punjab, haryana have one of the least sex ratios. In fact common practice in haryana villages, 2 brothers or more keep 1 girl from jharkhand etc as their common wife.[/quote'] :omg:

[CSK Fan]

If 60% of men believe in total gender equality' date=' that'll be a quite an improvement over previous decades. Needless to say, long road ahead.[/quote'] It doesn't say that others aren't. These 40% are hardcore ones, others would be in lesser degrees