Theoretical frameworks that have shaped public policy and governance discourse have historically been developed through a largely patriarchal lens. In the Indian context, young women, especially from marginalized castes, religions, or socio-economic backgrounds, are increasingly encouraged to engage in leadership and policy-making roles.
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are voluntary associations that aim to improve the economic conditions of rural communities. Participants from various rural/local communities, including women, are involved in these groups, restricted to twenty participants by legal frameworks (Jose, 2023). They are associated with rural banks and can exist with or without registration (Gupta, 2020).
The public health narrative on mental health care access in India revolves around infrastructure, implementation challenges, cultural stigma and resources. This record misses the capture of a deeper issue, the gendered influence on mental health care access.
Across many parts of the world, especially in marginalized communities, menstruation is surrounded by silence, shame, and misinformation. Girls are often taught to stay quiet about their periods. Some miss school. Communities are beginning to lead the conversation around menstrual health, pushing back against deeply rooted taboos with education, empathy, and empowerment.
In India's classrooms, young women are leading the way. They lead merit lists, claim
competitive scholarships, and enter fields once dominated by men. Almost half of the nation's students in higher education are now women. A startling jump from a generation past.
The words of the police officer still echo: "Madam, why don't you just close the curtain to avoid such incidents?" This was his response after I, a lawyer, a woman dealing with the raw trauma of an incident, came to the police station for help. His words, dripping with patriarchal assumption, perfectly encapsulate the systemic and societal barriers women face.
Her struggle as a mother to pursue the certificate for her differently-abled son, for the reason of availing better education, gave me the urge to read more about the Disability laws and furthermore reason to understand the process of availing the birth certificate for this boy, as it was his birthright.