Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Women in Male-Dominated Fields

There was a time in India when being born a woman meant having a personal list of "Not Alloweds" handed to you. Want to enter a temple? Not allowed. Want to serve in the army? Too fragile. Want to go to a Sainik school? Beta, dreams are free, but not uniforms. Want to say “triple talaq” back? Haha, nice try.

But thankfully, we’re in an era of some long-awaited UNO Reverse moments.

Let’s take a look at some bans that have been lifted and how they’re not just policy changes, but full-blown mic drops by the women of India.

Girls in Sainik Schools: Marching Past Gender Roles

For decades, Sainik Schools were strictly “No Girls Allowed” zones as if leadership and discipline were Y-chromosome exclusive. But in 2021, the doors opened, the boots hit the ground, and history was made.

Girls in Sainik Schools isn’t just about uniforms and parades, it’s about early leadership grooming, breaking toxic masculinity, and (finally) sending the message that "hamari chori choro se kam hai ke."

Fun Fact: Sainik Schools are the pipelines to NDA. So, we’re not just talking classrooms, we’re talking cockpits, ranks, and strategy rooms.

Women in Combat Roles: Fighter Pilots, Not Just Flight Attendants

Once upon a time, the only time women were seen in the cockpit was in Bollywood movies or emergencies. But India has now commissioned women as fighter pilots, zooming past outdated notions of physical weakness and emotional instability.

In 2016, three badass ladies — Bhawana Kanth, Avani Chaturvedi, and Mohana Singh — flew straight into history. Now, dozens more have followed suit.

Because clearly, PMS doesn’t affect precision bombing, thank you very much.

Must Read- How Common is PMS: Myths vs Facts

Triple Talaq: Ctrl+Alt+Delete on Instant Divorce

“Triple talaq” is where a Muslim man could divorce his wife by saying "talaq" three times (yes, even via WhatsApp!) was declared unconstitutional in 2019.

This was a huge win for Muslim women who had been fighting against this arbitrary and discriminatory practice for decades. It gave them legal recourse, dignity, and the power to not be left on "read" and "divorced" at the same time.

Behind this judgment were thousands of stories of women who stood up, filed petitions, and said: “We are not disposable.”

It wasn’t just legal reform. It was a clapback.

Two-Finger Test: Science, Please Enter the Chat

Until recently, rape survivors in India were subjected to the invasive and humiliating two-finger test, where doctors would check the “laxity of the vagina” to determine “habituation to sex.”

Translation: they were basically checking if the woman had had sex before as if that has any bearing on whether she was raped.

In 2022, the Supreme Court banned this test, calling it “patriarchal and regressive.” (About time, honestly.)

Because consent isn’t a muscle that stretches, it’s a right that can’t be violated.

Also read - Breaking the Chains of Silence: Let's Stop Domestic Violence. 

Abortion Rights: Because It's Her Body

In 2022, India made a progressive leap by extending abortion rights to all women married or unmarried up to 24 weeks in certain cases.

Before this, only married women could access abortions easily, leaving single women stuck in red tape or worse unsafe conditions.

This law was much more than medical care. It was a statement: Your uterus doesn’t need a marriage certificate to get healthcare.

Also, can we take a second to note that India is now more progressive than some states in the US when it comes to abortion rights! Go off, desi queens.

Other Wins That Deserve a Loud Cheer

• Women in the Navy & Permanent Commission in Army: Women now have the right (not just “optional courtesy”) to permanent commission and command positions in India’s armed forces.
  

• Women in IITs & IIMs: Reservation and increased enrollment have changed the game for women in premier institutions once dominated by men. Because who said girls can’t be geeks and CEOs?
  

• Workplace Harassment Laws: The POSH Act (2013) might not be recent, but its awareness and implementation are seeing a second wave especially post #MeToo.
  

• Criminalization of Marital Rape (Work In Progress): While marital rape is still not a crime in India (yes, we know, shame), the courts are now actively debating it. The push from civil society, activists, and survivors is strong and growing.
  

The Real Banning Ceremony: Silencing Patriarchy

Every time a ban is lifted, the applause isn’t just for the Supreme Court or a political party. It’s for the unknown women who:

• Filed that PIL.
  

• Refused to back down.
  

• Marched, spoke up, and fought trolls (online and offline)
  

These bans weren’t lifted because patriarchy had a change of heart. They were lifted because women wouldn’t shut up. And thank goddess for that.

So What’s Still Banned?

• Equal pay? Still a myth in many sectors.
  

• Safe public transport at night? Ask any woman.
  

• Respect for choice? Often conditional.
  

• Family members not asking “shaadi kab?” every five minutes? LOL, keep dreaming.
  

But hey, bans are breaking. Voices are rising. And the list of “Not Allowed” is getting shorter by the day.

In Conclusion: From Permission to Power

India still has miles to go, but we’ve come a long way from the days when a woman needed society’s permission to simply exist on her own terms.

Now, she’s not asking. She’s walking in, boots first, and saying:

“Main aayi hoon. Aur main rukne waali nahi hoon.”