PATRIARCHY, WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WOMEN AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

Abstract

This article examined about the relationship between women and environment, their participation in the environmental movements for the preservation of the environment. The article reflected the contribution of women towards the fulfilment of sustainable development goal and highlighted how Patriarchal social system works as a barrier in the women’s decision-making process in both the private and public sphere of society. Patriarchy exists as an obstacle to achieving sustainable development goals. Women are the most crucial part of the society but in the patriarchal social system roles and responsibilities are not recognized. Their active role in the household activities, their involvement in the preservation of nature are denied by patriarchal social structure. From morning to evening women are the best collector and the preserver of environment. Various renewable and non-renewable sources of environment are managed by women during their household activities and they teach their children for the limited utilization of natural resources in their everyday activities which helps for the sustainable development of environment. In patriarchal system women are imposed to realize the feelings of powerlessness, limited self-esteem, limited self- confident which placed them in an inferior position to men. Women should realize themselves as a strong personality and with full confident they should actively participate in the social, environmental activities as well as decision making process to achieve the sustainable development goals.