Difficulties and Problems Experienced by Rural Women due to Illiteracy in Contemporary World

Abstract

Literacy is one of the foremost indicators of development in a society. Women literacy is very important and plays an essential role for the progress of the society. Illiteracy is a stumbling block to women’s development and empowerment in all spheres of life. In the daily living situations, they experience several problems. The main objectives of the study to identify the difficulties/ problems faced due to illiteracy among rural women in Dindigul District. A qualitative study was adopted and interview schedule was used to elicit the information from the respondents. Majority of the rural women were in age group of 36-40 years. The observation implies that illiteracy among women in the age range of 36 to 55 years is rampant among the socially backward classes. Difficulty in reading the name board of a bus and allied difficulties while travelling alone outside the village were mentioned by most of the rural women. Nearly 81 per cent of the rural women stated these two problems. Two thirds of the respondents mentioned their difficulties in putting their signature. 58.8 per cent of the respondents expressed difficulties in operating television and mobile phones.The results indicate that the major problems cited by the respondents were those affecting their mobility. The researcher, educationist and policy makers initiate the efforts in the area of women literacy is the need of the hour and also in this modern world.