Women in Kashmir: The Pillar of Dignity

Understanding women in Kashmir involves a vast range of backgrounds, experiences, goals, and history. In addition to a variety of socio-economic, historical, religious, and geopolitical factors insurgency, militancy, and the militarization have a significant impact on women’s life patterns in Kashmir. Even a cursory examination of modern-day Kashmir would reveal profound and pervasive effects on every aspect of society, but particularly on women. The patterns of Kashmir are constantly influenced by the experience and effects of trauma and conflict. In light of our experience, the first thing I want to stress is that there are gaps and the situation calls for a systematic and comprehensive response, especially in addressing the needs of women who have experienced trauma and violence.

The daily lives, safety, security, and movement of Kashmiri women are significantly influenced by environment factors. Lot of research has been done on Kashmir’s politics, history, philosophy, and religion, women’s struggles and obstacles during the conflict. The society focused more on the conflict and the militancy and linked everything to it only to ignore the presence of greater social issues viz. rape, molestation, domestic violence, gender inequality and more. A thorough analysis of gendered violations with respect to the social evils and issues in Kashmir is sought to understand plight of Kashmiri women. Before some years there had been various episodes of where a female was harassed, molested and even raped but could not file the complaints because of the untold pressure from the society; only to save a name accused and to save the victim from social boycott.

Now, huge number of people are coming forward to raise the complaints and ensure that the culprit is booked under relevant sections. It is to be mentioned that the crime and the social evil against women were always prevalent in the society but there was minimal reporting of these cases. Now people are moving out to raise hue and cry only to be sure the accused will be punished according to the law and justice delivered. Much importance has to be given to acknowledging the suffering of these women not only from a feminist point of view but as a matter of universal societal ethic.

In a patriarchal system of social relations, Kashmiri women are systematically excluded from positions of authority, receive lower wages, and are more likely to live in poverty and have uneven access to resources. Gender inequality between men and women is also ingrained in political, social, cultural, and economic institutions. The incidents of sexual exploitation in educational settings, physical, mental and sexual abuse at the work place, the domestic abuse and the violence against the women, all this needs a serious attention. The family of the victim at the first instance doesn’t even complaint and if they compliant there are societal pressures against that.

According to 2011 census, NCRB of India reported that in 2021, there are 6,400,000 women in J&K and the crime rate per 100,000 population stood at 61.6. The report said 315 cases of rape, 1414 incidents of an attempt to rape and 14 dowry deaths were lodged in 2021, and incidentally, 91.4% of the accused involved in rape were known to the victim. The report also mentioned that as many as 1851 cases were also registered in connection with assault on women with the intention to outrage their modesty. Out of these, 14 cases were reported from shelter homes for women and children, and five rape cases were reported in custody. There has to be strict implementation of laws for stopping the crime against women.

Even though people across the gender have moved the society in Kashmir, it needs more push morally, ethically and formally too. Women’s decisions are frequently highly influenced by familial pressure and society expectations, especially when it comes to marriage, work, and education. The path to dignity for Kashmiri women is still ongoing. The combination of political conflict, cultural traditions, and gender-based violence has led to specific obstacles that women in Kashmir confront every day. Nevertheless, through their activism, resilience, and resolve, Kashmiri women are gradually reclaiming their dignity. Whether it’s seeking justice for human rights violations, challenging patriarchal systems, or asserting their rights in public and political arenas, Kashmiri women are creating new avenues for empowerment, equality, and dignity.

Sadaf Gul, PhD Research Scholar / Research Associate