Challenges before Women's Movement in a Changing Context

Communalism, the actual and possible effects of economic reforms on women's position, and the rising violence in our society have become problematic issues for the womenâ??s movement. Many of these developments have roots in the past while some are new emanations. Feminist response to these issues has been more in the form of a generalised anxiety rather than clear analysis and understanding of the nature of our polity and changes therein; the nature of economic reforms and how they have been carried out; policy shifts in many areas and their impact on different sections of women; and importantly, where the movementâ??s energies should be spent. Past strategies have reached a dead end and recourse to legal remedies is not sufficient to bring about changes in the entrenched attitudes and values in society. Where does one go from here?