Crowds of angry Hindu devotees have prevented women from entering one of Hinduism’s holiest temples despite a historic Supreme Court ruling. Crowds of agitated protesters in Kerala attacked female devotees, many of whom turned back as a result. Several people including an old woman were injured as crowds threw stones at vehicles and attacked police officers.The Sabarimala temple has historically been closed to women of “menstruating age”. Hinduism regards menstruating women as unclean and bars them from participating in religious rituals. But while most Hindu temples allow women to enter as long as they are not menstruating, the Sabarimala temple was unusual in that it was one of the few that do not allow women in a broad age group to enter at all.
The people of India are still in a time of oppressing women. The government is trying to make a change, starting with opening up the temples that strictly men were only aloud into since the temples came to be, to women who are have their menstrual cycle. Women were trying to practice their religion by entering the temple, but they were berated by angry men and even women. Cars were damaged by angry protesters, women were attacked physically and verbally. This goes to show that tradition means everything to most of these people. Women are taught to obey and clean for their husband’s and family bringing out the patricaial traditional society. However, there are women and men who want equal rights for women, but Indian culture seems to be holding them back from making progressive progress. It is startling to see the amount of women who are against women rights. This most likely has to do with their upbringing. If a women is taught, since childhood, that she is less than a man and she believes that than she will most likely become an anti-feminist. It is difficult to change someone who believes a certain way, who’s beliefs have been implemented in their minds since they were children. Many Indian women were taught as children that they were a liability and learned that they were inferior to men. The reasons for this could be that men believe women cannot make enough money to support their families. Another reason is religion, some men believe they are entitled to a wife and can treat their wives however they please. This means that men are turned a blind eye to, by society for hitting their wives. There are some solutions to the oppression of women in India, the chief resolution would be education. Women in India do have access to an education till they’re 14 years old, but many families think it’s more fit for their daughter to be at home learning domesticated duties, therefore many girls don’t have access to a full education. If women were to gain an education, by the government enforcing the law to go to school than they are more likely able to create endless possibilities for themselves, thus defining their individuality.