Why are men considered superior to women?

A Story by Om

Illustration of the stark contrast between a man's & woman's life/status in India

If a woman loses her husband through death, as a widow, she must wear only white plain apparel & restrict her dietary & social activities. However, in case of widowed men, they can do as they please...including getting remarried! Why is this not considered taboo in our country? Why are men who lose their wives sometimes even through their own fault as an honour or dowry related killing not considered "amangal" (ill-fated)...why are they not looked down upon?

A traditional Indian woman must wear sindoor to fill her "mang" (hair parting coloured red), wear a mangalsutra (matrimonial necklace), bangles, nose + toe ring & apply bindi on her forehead all just to indicate to the public world that she is married. Sadly, apart from his wedding band on the ring finger, nothing else burdensome is required of the man for the same. Why?

Women worship their husband by bowing or touching his feet but it would be considered outrageous if the wife demanded the same from her husband... Women typically walk behind, following their husband's footsteps instead of walking equally, side by side.

Here in India, any official document or introduction warrants father's or husband's name - are mothers & wives unimportant...? Ironically we call our land "Bharat Ma". Senseless...