भारत में विवाह संस्था, जेंडर विवाहार्थी उपभोग और वस्तुकरण का केंद्र बनती जा रही है। सामाजिक समता और लैंगिक संबंधों पर इस व्यावसायीकरण के प्रभाव की परीक्षा कीजिए। (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में दीजिए) | The institution of marriage in India is increasingly becoming a site of conspicuous consumption and commodification. Critically examine the impact of this commercialisation on social equity and gender relations. (Answer in 250 words)

① Urban women limited to care work - glorified as house wife

② Safety challenges, misogynistic attitudes at workplace - Neg Me Too

③ Metropolitan areas → more patriarchal (eg sex ratio of chandigarh → 880)

④ Urban poor women face intersectionality issues → hygiene, health problems in slum

⑤ Digital harassment by Silli Baij women auction

⑥ Limited migration outside family, affected by marriage

⑦ Women as active growth contributor → welfare based rights based approach needed

⑧ Power empowerment within women with agency

Forms of Commercialisation:

① Wedding as luxury affairs (eg Ambani Wedding)

② Apps like [Calculate] baby etc for expense management

③ Culture of destination wedding as new status symbol

④ Both men and women commodified → marriage not based on qualities but on physical beauty and appearance

⑤ Devaluation based on skin tone, hair color

Impact on Social Equity:

① Increase inequality | SDG10

② Families spending life savings on marriage

③ Reduces autonomy of women → high class but low agency

④ Transactionalism → reduce time feeling → relations void pro quo (parents interaction with daughter in law)

⑤ Qualified idea of on qualities but centered on beauty

⑥ Devaluation based on physical appearance (skin tone, hair)

Impact on Gender Relations:

③ Relationship driven by commerce no depth

⑤ Gender roles internalized → internalized oppression (eg girls dying due to heavy starvation)

⑥ As men are breadwinners mostly → undue advantage

⑧ As based on consumption culture → no value to feelings, care work → ill-treatment of spouse

① Distrust → [alimony] → Polarization between men and women on such issues

⑩ Objectification → Gender relations built on commerce without morality

Impact on Social Equity (continuation):

③ Reduces autonomy of women → high class but low agency

④ Transactionalism → reduce time feeling → relations void pro quo (parents interaction with daughter in law)

⑤ Qualified idea focusing on physical qualities (beauty) rather than character

⑥ Devaluation based on physical appearance (skin tone, hair)

Impact on Gender Relations:

③ Relationship driven by commerce → no depth

⑤ Gender roles internalized → internalized oppression (eg girls facing pressure for physical appearance, starvation)

⑥ As men are breadwinners mostly → they gain undue advantage

⑧ As based on consumption culture → no value to feelings, care work → ill-treatment of spouse

① Distrust → dispute and alimony → Polarization between men and women on such issues

⑩ Objectification → Gender relations built on commerce without morality

— Akansh Dhull · AIR 3