Women should be restricted to work connected with the home

and children. They should not engage in politics, commerce or

industry'. How far do you agree with this statement ?
Men and women have similar faculties and capacities. The
difference of sex may asset itself in family relationship, but there is
no reason at all for it to assert itself in emotional, cultural, political
or commercial matters. The very idea of restricting women to work
connected with the home is motivated by a desire to bring
increased freedom to the male population. It has its roots in the
perpetual clash between liberty and equality. Men have enjoyed
freedom over the ages simply because women were denied it.
The Greek city states did not bestow any rights on women or on
slaves. In both Eastern and Western societies, for centuries, the
belief that woman's place is in the home has been perpetuated.
The myth of the fair sex or the weaker sex has proved a convenient
peg on which to hang all kinds of inequality. Women had no
independence or rights. In certain countries daughters could not
inherit the property of their fathers, only male heirs were in direct
line of succession and widows who had no sons had no right on
ancestral property.
There have been a few cases of brave women who have
struggled for their rights; but a full-fledged movement only began
towards the close of the nineteenth century. It is only now, after
years of struggle, that women in some parts of the world have left
the confines of the house. They are coming forward to participate
in the task of bread-winning and even in the defence of the
country. There are woman scientists, administrators, executives,
engineers, doctors, lawyers, judges and politicians. Though their
numbers are still limited, their work has won them recognition. They
now join the police not only as constables but also as officers. Even
postal services employ women.

There are patches of matriarchal families in some societies and it is

true that the greatest equality is enjoyed in those societies where
the matriarchal system has prevailed. There is no possible reason
for denying women these possible avenues of development. They
have proven their merit and worth in almost all spheres of work. It is
true that long working hours may interfere with their house-keeping
and rearing of children; but advanced societies have begun to
cater to this requirement. Many women give up their jobs for a few
years to attend to these important functions. When the children
are a little older, they come back to work With increased facilities
and better gadgets at their disposal, housework has become less
time-consuming than before.

Participation in the business of life is very important if we are to

have a better society, a healthy home and men and women who
are not frustrated and discontented. It would be an attempt to put
the clock back if we were to differentiate between the sexes. It is
impossible to make non-persons out of persons. In some ways
women are even better workers than men. We have no right to
discriminate against women.