8. Conclusion

Looking back at the last four decades we can say with a fair amount of certainty that women’s position in Indian society has changed. This change has been to women’s advantage. There has no doubt been a wider recognition of women’s rights, several steps taken towards equality among genders, a greater sensitivity towards gender discrimination, etc. The women’s movement comprising of autonomous women’s organisations, other women’s groups, women’s studies centres, etc., has played no small role in the bringing about of this change. We can, therefore, say without hesitation that, over the last 40 years, the women’s movement has affected the socio-political environment in India. However, this change has been at a gradual pace and has even affected certain sections more than others leaving yet much to be desired.

Despite the current fragmentation, women’s groups have come together with one concerted voice on certain issues such as violence, health, employment conditions including wages, legal rights and law reform. The issues today are sexual harassment at the work place, the violence of development, caste and communal violence, lobbying for increased political participation of women in the highest levels of decision-making, etc.

The list will go on as long as there is a women’s movement. Many scholars have illustrated how the women’s movement has not been static but has been compelled to respond to changing political, social, economic and other national realities and not exclusively influenced by women- specific issues and problems.