(a) Respect and equal treatment to women is necessary ingredients in a democratic society. Support the statement with examples.
(i) 'Respect and equal treatment to women are necessary ingredients in a democratic society'. We totally agree with this statement. A democracy adequately protects a woman's dignity since it forbids any form of gender discrimination under the law.
(ii) Women and men are treated equally in terms of respect and opportunities since they are equal before the law. To ensure equal treatment for women, in maximum democratic countries of the world, there are constitutional and legal arrangements.
(iii) For example, in India under the Constitutional law, women have equal rights as men so as to enable them to take part effectively in the administration of the country. This opens the autonomy and freedom of women. To combat social ills like assault, torture, and humiliation against women, democracy creates laws.
(iv) It promotes respect and makes it easier for women to receive equal treatment in society. It also supported women's demands for equal rights and opportunities. Most societies across the world were historically male dominated societies. Long struggles by women have created some sensitivity today that respect to and equal treatment of women are necessary ingredients of a democratic society.
(v) In a non-democratic set up, this unacceptability would not have legal basis because the principle of individual freedom and dignity would not have the legal and moral force there. But in democracy it is recognised.
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(b) 'Democracy transforms people from the status of a subject into that of a citizen.' Support the statement with examples.
(i) Democracy transforms people from their status as subjects to citizens. A subject as a citizen is subject to law which is arbitrary, but under democracy, rule of law ensures that all citizens are treated equally and they are treated according to norms of Constitution, no person is above the law.
(ii) Democracy is concerned with ensuring that people have the right to choose and control their rulers. Citizens should be able to participate in decision-making that affects them whenever possible and required.
(iii) Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual. The passion for respect and freedom are the basis of democracy.
(iv) Democracies provide equal status and equal opportunity to all the citizens of the country. The fact that people are complaining is itself a testimony to the success of democracy: it shows that people have developed awareness and the ability to expect and to look critically at power holders and the high and the mighty.
(v) A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of the democratic project: it transforms people from the status of a subject into that of a citizen. Most individuals today believe that their vote makes a difference to the way the government is run and to their own self-interest.