Read the following passage carefully.
1. Women have become more assertive in today’s modern world. They are shouldering family responsibilities and are on par with men in taking care of themselves socially and economically. They are successfully earning their livelihood and are striving hard to become economically independent.
2. In present changing scenario, it is important for women to be economically independent. She has to carve a niche for herself in this male dominated society and unless and until she is financially independent, she cannot overcome male prejudices. A woman of conviction and courage is the image she has to create. Why is the urgency for a woman to be economically independent?
3. Women have been subservient to men for generations and are now realizing that they need to make avail of opportunities that men generally take advantage of. Educationally, they are progressing well, and even in the developing countries women are better educated than before. With better education, women are also asserting themselves and want to be in position where they can sustain themselves economically.
4. Internationally, much concern has been expressed about equipping women financially. In the UN, resolutions have often been passed expressing economic independence of women. Women social activists have fought for this cause. They have always supported women who are financially independent. Discussions have been held at international forums highlighting the condition of women in socially and economically backward countries. In these countries women are struggling to meet both ends. They are financially very poor.
5. Modem lifestyles have forced women to take on employment. Inflation has necessitated women to supplement the family income. Both the husband and wife run the household together. In some cases, the women are forced to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of their families. Her husband for some reason may not be a contributor to the family income, and she has to earn to sustain her husband and children. Economic pressures compel her to earn.
6. Single women also have to be financially independent. In fact, these days many women are not marrying and pursuing careers. They are earning well and even take on the responsibility of adopting a child. They are able to sustain a family of their own sans marriage. Widows also have to financially support themselves. In the poorer countries, many widows are not financially independent.
7. In order to assert themselves vis-a-vis men, women have to be economically independent. In personal relationships, they can have their way if thtey are also earning. They have a job to fall back upon, if the husband is very unreasonable and makes too many demands. In the developing countries women are often hesitant to live in a joint family arrangement and since they can sustain themselves financially they have the option to choose a nuclear family system.
8. Many illiterate women face economic hardships. They live off what the Government provides and that is not sufficient in these days of economic hardships. Opportunities are there to earn more and women need to take advantage of them. Adequate awareness campaigns have been organized to familiarize women with the economic options that are available to them. Sufficient information is available through the media about economic empowerment of women.
I. Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option:
(a) Financial independence will lead women to:
1. overcome male prejudice.
2. avail opportunities.
3. educate themselves.
4. become modern.
(b) Women have to take up employment these days as:
1. inflation has risen.
2. family income needs to be supplemented.
3. both (1) and (2).
4. women need to assert themselves.
II. Answer the following questions as briefly as possible.
(a) Give an example to show that women have become more assertive and independent today.
(b) What is the stand of the UN about women’s independence?
(c) What is the condition of women in socially backward countries?
(d) How are single women asserting themselves?
(e) How does financial independence help women in personal relations?
(f) How can women be educated about financial empowerment?
III. Find words from the passage which are similar in meaning to the following
(a) place, role (para 2)
(b) declaration (para 4)
