Present status of women in India Indian families are undergoing swift changes due to the increased rapidity of urbanization and modernization. Indian women belonging to all classes have entered into occupations. At the present time, Indian women's revelation to educational opportunities is considerably higher than it was some decades ago, especially in the urban scenario. This has opened new outlooks, increased awareness and raised hopes of personal growth. This, along with economic pressure, has been instrumental in influencing women's decision to enter the work force. Most studies of employed married women in India have reported economic need as being the primary reason for employment. (sri) Women have been playing vital roles in households
Women’s participation refers to their exclusive involvement in the economic, health care and/or any other household affairs which requires a decision. Women’s household decision making power is a complex phenomenon, but its importance is well established and acknowledged in many studies. Active participation of women in household decision making is one of the most important indicators and the main theme of women empowerment, especially in the case of domestic determinants of women empowerment which has been revealed in many studies. Household decision making also have strong consequences on women empowerment in case of allocation of resources, distribution of income, fertility decisions and purchase of goods. In still to develop countries, eg. Bangladesh, men have more authority and power in household decision making for only being men by nature and the ‘head’ of the family. As a household authority all domestic decisions are controlled by men and women are excluded to make any independent decision regarding to control their earnings, health care and freedom to go outside. The traditional power hierarchy and the socio-cultural authority give the opportunity for men to take advantage of
Participation in decision-making process in household matters considers that a female is accounted for in the family. In all societies, the issue of women’s participation and the way they participate economically, socially and culturally is considered to be important. Family decision-making has changed over the last several decades. Changing roles of women, increasing women’s education, and increasing participation of women in the labor force are important keys for family decision-making changes. In nearly all developing countries, women are more likely to be illiterates and usually have less power than men even within the family. Although the level and rate of taking part in all societies are not the same, today in Iran with the increase in women’s education, change in occupation status and residential style which results in living in cities and new regions, the decision maker in a family can be completely different from the past because the status of women’s family participations has changed compared to the past. The recognition of effective factors on women’s involvement in family is among the important debates in family studies.