Ans :- Socio-religious reform movements of 19th century questioned discriminatory practices like Sati , child marriage, the lack of women's education, etc .
Major issues and debates concerning women in the 19th century :-
1. Child marriage :- There were debates on right age of marriage for women as early marriage was permitted in Manusmriti. But many health impacts were recognized on young brides . So reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Rai and Keshab Chandra Sen did efforts to increase the marriageable age for girls .
2. Education of women : — Due to atrocities on women in the medieval period, education was denied to them . So there was debate about women’s education and the opening of girls' schools .eg. Bethune school was opened by JED Bethune in 1849
3. Abolition of Sati :- The practice of widow self-immolation at her husband’s funeral was challenged by reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Rai . He argued that sati is immoral from a religious as well as women’s rights perspective.
4. Widow Remarriage:- orthodox Hindu religious groups opposed widow remarriage as it was prohibited under Hindu scriptures . But reformers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar opposed it and made efforts to legalize widow remarriage under the Act of 1856 .
5. Legal Rights for women :- The lack of legal rights for women in matters like property , inheritance and marriage were also challenged by reformers .
6. Polygamy and Purdah System :- The purdah system restricted women’s mobility as well as their education right . The practice of polygamy also violated women’s rights . So reformers like Savitri Bai Phule advocated for monogamy and women’s rights .
7. *Female infanticide *:- Son meta preference of society resulted in another question related to women, as girl infants were killed just after birth . Social reformers advocated for equality and justice for girls' children .
8. Overall status of women :- There were debates around issues like age of consent , women’s political and economic participation and overall upliftment of women’s status . e.g. Age of consent Act 1891 raised the age of consent for girls .
So ,19th century socio-religious reform movements challenged orthodox customary practices and paved the way for women’s rights movements of the 20th century and afterward.