Fairer sex at the vanguard of a revolution

HYDERABAD: There is a quiet revolution brewing within the Muslim community. One which could soon break conventions and stereotypes that , the dark roots of which run deep into gender inequality. And at the vanguard of this movement are women. Now holding out against the barrage of culturally-entrenched practices of patriarchy and misogyny, the fairer sex has been taking to educating themselves in a centuries-long struggle for equality.And as it turns out, their ranks are slowly but surely swelling.
As against a decade ago, the constitution of Muslim girls in classrooms of schools and colleges now has grown by leaps and bounds. A similar case is seen at the workplace where they are a part of the management, discharging duties diligently in various roles. They have a host of career options. Marriage and companionship can wait a little while longer. Economic independence, a secure future and contribution to society and are the immediate priorities. A realisation has seeped in: education is the only means to achieve this end.
The enrolment of Muslim girls in primary and high schools is slowly matching that of boys. There exists documented proof which clearly indicates that girls have outnumbered boys in availing government-sponsored educational scholarships. A case in point is that of the post-matric scholarships in the last fiscal which saw more than 50 percent scholarships being bagged by girls. The case was similar in 2012-2013. Again, girls availed around 60 percent of the total number of scholarships and the percentage stood higher the year before. The nudging of boys out of the way is continuing to this day. This is a trend seen in lower income groups as these scholarships are given to families with a specific income limit.
For girls, who out of family compulsions, are forced to give up their education, economic independence continues to remain paramount. Such women have increasingly taken up vocational courses which train them in a craft, thus, enabling them to earn an adequate sum working from within the confines of their homes. This would fetch them a sum that suits their immediate financial needs. Many women’s rights activists and beneficiaries swear by such vocational courses. It would be pertinent to point out that the pattern of women’s education observed in the middle classes shows more promise as the socio-economic conditions change. The access to educational institutions which offer higher standards of education and affordability is greater.
Interestingly, the number of Muslim boys from weaker sections dropping out from school is higher than that of girls from the same socio-economic group. Under pressure from parents to contribute to the household, the boy is taken out of school and put to work. Educationalists observe that phenomenon is seen usually with boys studying in class VII to class X.
This higher dropout rate among boys has created a peculiar problem. Qualified girls from the same socio-economic group are turning down alliances from them. After all, why would a young woman who is a graduate agree to enter wedlock with a school dropout, or one who has barely scraped through plus two, when she has the right to choose a more qualified, educated spouse? The decision making largely rests in her hands now – another step towards empowerment. While this may not the norm, it most certainly is not an exception. Further, observers have pointed out that the average age when educated women chose to marry has also increased in last half a decade.
But all is not rosy here as there is a pressing need for more women’s colleges. While a few across the city do exist, it is Muslim girls from the districts who are victims of this lack of educational infrastructure. For instance, the state’s minorities welfare department has been funding the construction of six schools in various parts of the state, including in cities of Medak, Warrangal, Wanaparthy and Zaheerabad, none of them are for girls. Another six are run by the department for school education. Further, the department neither runs nor funds an intermediate or degree college for girls. Though proposals for having a separate block for girl students have been floated to the government, a concrete decision is yet to be taken.