Is a Woman a Commodity or a Human Being with Rights and Dignity?

 

By Advocate Neha Tandon

A woman is among the most profound and beautiful creations of the Almighty — a being endowed with intellect, strength, compassion, and resilience. Yet, across centuries and societies, she has been marginalized, objectified, and treated as inferior. The question, “Is a woman a commodity or an object of leisure and pleasure?” remains disturbingly relevant, even in an age that claims progress and equality.

Gender Inequality Begins at Birth

 The denial of a woman’s dignity begins from the very moment of her birth. The birth of a girl child is still, in many homes, met with disappointment rather than celebration. This initial rejection reflects a deeply rooted patriarchal mindset that values sons as assets and daughters as liabilities.

If that newborn girl could comprehend the sighs of regret surrounding her arrival, she might question why her existence is seen as a burden — a violation of her right to equality from the moment she enters the world.

 Social Conditioning and the Devaluation of the Girl Child

 In her own home, where she should feel most secure, a girl is often subjected to subtle and overt forms of discrimination. She is socialized to accept restrictions — on her freedom, voice, and dreams — while her male counterparts are encouraged to lead, explore, and decide.

This systemic inequality erodes her self-worth and violates the principles enshrined in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

 Marriage and the Continuation of Subordination

 Marriage, which should ideally be a partnership of mutual respect and equality, too often becomes another institution that reinforces patriarchal control. A woman’s role as a wife, daughter-in-law, or mother is celebrated — yet her individuality is frequently ignored.

When she is expected to sacrifice her ambitions, tolerate domestic abuse, or surrender her voice for the sake of “family honor,” her fundamental human rights are denied. Such treatment transforms her from a human being into a mere instrument of service — a “puppet” or an “object of pleasure” in her own home.

 

Human Rights Framework and Legal Obligations

 

The degradation of women in private and public life stands in direct violation of international and national human rights law.

 

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) obliges states to eliminate gender-based discrimination in all spheres of life.

 

The Indian Constitution, under Articles 14, 15, and 21, guarantees equality before the law, prohibits discrimination based on sex, and protects the right to life and dignity.

 

However, these legal guarantees often remain confined to paper. The lived realities of women — from domestic violence to economic marginalization — demonstrate a persistent gap between law and practice.

 

The Way Forward: From Victimhood to Empowerment

 

Empowerment begins with awareness — the understanding that women are not passive victims but active agents of change. Society must shift from a culture of tolerance for injustice to one of accountability and equality.

Education, equal opportunity, and representation are not favors to women; they are rights owed to every human being.

 

Women must reclaim their voices, their choices, and their destinies — transforming from “objects of leisure” into leaders of change. The true measure of a just society lies not in how loudly it praises women, but in how firmly it protects and promotes their rights.

 

Conclusion

 

A woman is not a commodity, not an accessory to a man’s identity, and certainly not an object of pleasure. She is a person — equal in rights, intelligence, and humanity.

To honor her is not an act of generosity; it is an obligation of justice.

Let every woman rise — not as a symbol of sacrifice, but as a sovereign individual, a warrior, and a queen of her own destiny.

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