Impact of socialization on the status of women in India and need for remedial measures in the form of positive psychology

Pages: 272-274
Rakhi Mehta (K. C. College, Mumbai)

The status of women in India in comparison to women worldwide is suppressed on account of the quality of socialization which is influenced by the patriarcichal society existing in India. This impacts the personality of Indian women which in turn effects their behaviour, attitudes and the quality of life which they lead which is filled with anxiety, ,introversion, subjugation, dependence etc to name a few. Therefore, the present research investigates the relationship between quality of socialization and its impact on the personality of Indian women in terms of the big five factors and its impact on life satisfaction and suggests positive psychology as a remedial measure for the betterment of life of Indian women.The study was conducted in Mumbai on women in the age group of 18 upwards, three questionnaires namely a self formulated socialization scale, NEO-FFI personality scale (Costa & Mc Crae, 1992) & life satisfaction scale (Ed Diener et al., 1985) were administered. Results found in the socialization scale women rated dependence, emphasis on outer appearance, obedience, self sacrifice in terms of one’s time & career, protection of family honour, following religious rituals as the top features of their socialization process. In the personality scale women were found to be high on neuroticism, agreeableness, and moderate in extraversion, conscientiousness and low on openness. The rating for life satisfaction was also found to be low. A correlation study found a high and significant negative correlation between dependence and the openness trait & significant positive correlation between dependence and agreeableness trait, outer appearance & neuroticism trait and protection of family honour and neuroticism trait. As regarding life satisfaction it was found to have a significant negative correlation with outer appearance, protection of family honour and self sacrifice. Therefore there seems to be a definite impact of socialization on status of women and the need of the hour is application of positive health psychology for their upliftment.