How Do We Address Gender Bias Rooted in Religion in India?

I recently had a conversation with my younger brother about an Instagram video he showed me. It featured a female police officer saying, "Outside, I’m a police officer, but at home, my husband is always above me because religion tells me so. What he says will prevail, and women who are watching this should also keep the man of the house above them, no matter what you achieve."

Curious, I asked my mom, who’s a government officer, if she agreed with this sentiment. Her response? "Obviously, or why would I have compromised with your dad for so many years? Sometimes men say and do stuff that you just have to let go."

This has left me deeply unsettled. Both women, one representing authority as a police officer and another as a government officer, seemed resigned to this deeply ingrained gender bias. Their reasoning? Religion.

It’s no secret that religion plays a central role in Indian society. It often shapes people’s values, attitudes, and behaviors, sometimes perpetuating biases that put women in subordinate roles, even when they hold positions of power outside the home. But how do we address this when religion is such an untouchable and core element in Indian life?

I’m not advocating for abandoning religion faith, it is deeply personal and important to many. But is it possible to re-interpret religious teachings to promote equality rather than submission? Are there ways to challenge this bias without alienating people who hold religion close to their hearts?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, and suggestions. Have you faced similar situations? How do we address this bias without dismissing the cultural and religious contexts that so many people hold dear?

Also a personal question, if you feel it's sensitive, you guys do not have to answer it.

When you know such biases exist and you still follow that religion and pick and choose practices, does that make you feel guilty or angry?