Women were often against each other due to different social positions, economic hierarchies, caste, religion and ethnicity. However, the reality on site presents another report – one of women who stand together, stand out norms and rewrite these narratives of the split.
From theory to practice
As a young woman with an academic background in sociology and a deep passion for working with, for and around women, the author began last year at the IPAS Development Foundation (IDF), a non -profit organization that is devoted to promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in India. The strong difference between theory and practice was confronted early on – studying social structures is one thing, but it is different to see their complexity up close.
The realization met that no foreign statistics were no longer analyzed, but the lived realities of women who navigated a complicated network of challenges, which urgently urgently urgently urgent than the last.
Field visits in various Indian countries have highlighted this considerably. The realization met that no foreign statistics were no longer analyzed, but the lived realities of women who navigated a complicated network of challenges, which urgently urgently urgently urgent than the last. Remember such an incident:
In a remote Assam village, the 16-year-old comal (name changed) stood a frightening crisis: pregnancy from marriage and intensive family pressure to cede, driven by crushing the social stigma. Komal felt trapped with her call in balance. But then Saswati Saswati, Saswati (name changed), a local Yuva Saathi (IDF mentored youth leader in certain Indian states).
Strengthened women strengthen women
Intersectionality, both in thoughts and in action, is a critical lens that cannot be overlooked, especially in this context. Women often wear double or triple loads and deeply influence their subjectivities and everyday experiences. Despite the legal framework that supports your rights, access to information and services in the field of SRH provides significant challenges due to systemic and socio-structural obstacles.
In these fights, however, inspiring stories about sisterhood, solidarity and support are observed. From youth leaders or Yuva Saathis to Ashas (accredited activists for social health), these women enable each other, create safe spaces and facilitate informed decisions about their body and life.
In A News articles Sukanya Roy, published in February 2024, became a WhatsApp group called “Friends Forever”, which was made up of young women from a different religious and box background, as a platform for the discussion of menstrual hygiene and the problems of the sanitary pad disposal.
Parvina wants to further raise awareness of the disposal and hygiene of menstrual waste (photo with friendly approval, Village Square)
As mentioned in the article “A few months ago, Parvina from the Barakara -dorf in Kulpi Block (West Bengal) and nine other young women with crucial demand to the Kamarchhak Gram Panchayat Pradhan – approached a disposal system for sanitary waste. Her efforts bore fruit in October 2023 when Panchayat boss Gobinda Mandal accepted her demand and RS 20 Lakh granted the budget to set up. ‘
Rakhi, a volunteer of the community, found the significant changes that have taken place. ‘But the learning curve has brought positive results. Take a look at these young women next to me, «she gestured. “A year ago, they would not have spoken confidently in the Gram Panchayat. But they have learned not to give up, ‘she said proudly.
Women convey their demands to the Kamarchak Gram Panchayat Pradhan at a meeting (photo with friendly approval, IPAS Development Foundation).
Young girls in the village of Dwariknagar (24 Parganas) reported more comfort and trust in the search for health care due to their interactions with Ashas. When a girl shared: “We often discuss our personal health problems with the Asha. She feels like a relative – we speak openly to her. It leads us to treatment, gives good advice, offers contraceptive methods and sometimes even accompanies us in the facility. ‘
These women ignite the way for each other and move together in cohesion and support.
These women ignite the way for each other and move together in cohesion and support. It is almost amusing to think about the narrative of female rivalry when we come across such inspiring stories about strength and camaraderie.
The snowball effect on women through women
The efforts of women have led far beyond the first expectations – the promotion of critical dialogue and discourse within these communities about urgent social problems such as children’s marriage, Eva and alcoholism, to name just a few:
In Mathurapur, West Bengalen, Yuva Sathi Shilpa (name changed) led a meeting with young girls over “Good Touch Bad Touch”. Initially, the girls finally hesitated cases of sexual harassment that they had hidden due to guilt and fear. Shilpa exhibited her how to react in such situations and how important it is to report incidents for trustworthy adults. She said, like Sakshi (name changed), a 13-year-old girl, trusted that a 41-year-old man tried to attack her, and Shilpa supported her in reporting on the incident of the police, who then intervened.
Source: Fii
Shilpa mentioned that during the support of Sakshi’s mother, she had confronted numerous obstacles of her own family members who questioned their help. Nevertheless, she continued to support support and said: “I will continue to support the young girls in my community to face injustices that were done to them.
Another incident had to do with children’s marriage, a tradition that is still widespread in various regions of India and is often justified by socio -cultural factors, but is fundamentally rooted in patriarchal norms. Daughters, often regarded as “Paraya Dhan” (the wealth of another), are married early and immortalize the cycle of early pregnancies. However, young women rise to challenge this status quo:
In the village of Gunjirpur, Yuva Saathi Priya (name changed) called in a meeting in which early marriage was identified as a significant obstacle to sexual and reproductive health. Meenal (name changed), 17, revealed that their parents were looking for freedom due to financial difficulties. Priya intervened and taught Meenals about the risks of early marriage and the importance of education. Despite the resistance, Priya secured the financial support of the Block Medical Officer for Meenal Education with the help of members of the self -help groups and the community mediator, delayed her marriage successfully and promoted education within the community.
Meeting with young girls in 24 Parganas, West Bengalen (photo with friendly approval, Ami Sauggal)
Women call back their rights and question control and dominance that are imposed on their bodies, sexuality and their lives. They close the “other”, which was conveyed to their own gender by social stratification. You can’t help but feel admiration when you take part in yourself and each other and take responsibility to tackle long -overlooked social injustices.
Men as allies of women: feminism in practice
The movement does not end here. As the cause and consequence of this wave of solidarity, we experience feminism in action when husbands and male partners actively work for decisions on the health of reproductive health through care, awareness and common responsibility:
Mukesh Bodra (name changed) from the village of Baihatu showed a supportive partnership while working as a migrant. When he learned that his wife Rani (21) extended menstruation for 12 days, he contacted the local male Yuva Saathi to get help. Together with a female counterpart, she advised Rani to visit the hospital. She hesitated to go alone when she received support when the female guide spoke to her family, and her sister -in -law agreed to accompany her. After Mukesh received treatment in the subdivision hospital, he thanked the youth leaders and demonstrated the important role of partner participation in access to sexual and reproductive health care.
And … it’s just the beginning.
The intensity is expected every time field visits are undertaken or the effects of effects are revised by the area. However, no preparation really captures the emotional weight of these encounters. It is never just an observation, but a billing – one that worries, strengthens determination and leaves a lasting impression.
Source: Fii
In the middle of this experience, a reality becomes clear: women in India are not divided. They are the strongest allies of the other, accelerate changes, break barriers and offer steadfast support in a way that contradicts conventional stories of division and struggle. This can be seen in Saswatis support for Komal, Shilpas help for Sakshi, Priya’s persistence for Meenal and Mukesh Bodra’s unshakable commitment to his wife.
This can be seen in Saswatis support for Komal, Shilpas help for Sakshi, Priya’s persistence for Meenal and Mukesh Bodra’s unshakable commitment to his wife.
This is not just authorization – it is a movement. And it only gets stronger.
*All stories and data come from Ipas Development Foundation.