Like every year, its 8th of March and like every year we are still fighting for the gender equality, women rights and safety of women. Everyone is going about discussing of the assaults women face, the discrimination they come across and the pain of intimidation they suffer from. But hold on, I am not gonna discuss about it. Its a beautiful day and trust me, for the whole day there would be only two kinds of activities:
Happy Celebration of Women’s day.
Celebration full of struggle for women rights.
Today let me just turn it other way
Can we
Indians imagine a husband parenting and nursing his child at home, doing all
the housework and the wife dedicating her full time to a well paid job, and on
returning home, dictating her husband on what to do?
Aren’t
we confused at this role reversal? We start scratching our heads as to why this
reversal seems so out of order………Why can’t we accept women dictating men, and
men taking the complete responsibility of child care and household work, but
accept the other way round?
This is
because of the stereotypes we have been seeing and experiencing in this
male-dominated society we are living in. A close look would reveal that such
differences among men and women are not linked to any biological differences
but because of different roles assigned by the society.
The discrimination faced by women begins from their birth
itself. As soon as a child is born families and society begin the process
of gendering. The birth of the son is celebrated with great pomp and happiness
while the birth of a girl child becomes a source of grief. The son, is seen as
the bearer of the family name is seen as the future source of income, as a type
of insurance. The girl is looked down upon as a burden to the family. "May
you be the mother of a hundred sons" is a common Hindu wedding blessing.
This is the reason why there are many cases of female infanticide or female
foeticide mainly in many rural areas and even in some urban areas
in India.
Similarly boys experience preferential treatment when it comes
to education and other facilities, since the Indian mentality has an opinion
that the resources used for the male child is like an investment. However girls
are either left uneducated or not given higher education because of the
mentality that the resources used for girls would go waste as one day she would
be married off. Moreover they see education as a reason for high dowry, a real
root of many problems in India. A girl’s identity is forged as soon
as her family and society limit her opportunities and declare her to be second-rate.
In India, gender-biased societal setup is the main cause
for gender inequality. In a patriarchal society as in India, the male is
always the head of the family, and the centre of power and authority because of
the role of family earning assigned to him. Though women play an important role
in the survival and maintenance of household, their position in household
decision making is always secondary, as the role of household labour assigned
to them is unpaid, and treated as unproductive labour.
Even in the economic sphere, women are paid less than men for
the same work. Also, for jobs, promotion, undertakings, men are always
preferred over women. Also women are mostly employed in the unorganised sector
and their participation in organised, high paid jobs is still very less.
Whether women work outside their homes or not, the household responsibility
always vests with them!
Gender inequality has adverse impact on development goals as
reduces economic growth. It hampers the overall well being because blocking
women from participation in social, political and economic activities can
adversely affect the whole society. Moreover it takes away basic rights
entitled to all humans irrespective of their differences.
Education is the tool that can help break the pattern of gender
discrimination and bring lasting change for women in developing countries.
Women who have had some schooling are more likely to get married later, survive
childbirth, have fewer and healthier children, and make sure their own children
are educated. They also understand hygiene and nutrition better and are more
likely to prevent disease by visiting health care facilities. Girls' education
also means comprehensive change for a society. As women get the opportunity to
go to school and obtain higher-level jobs, they gain status in their
communities. Status transforms into the power to influence their families and
societies.
Also equally necessary is the importance of the family members
in supporting education for the girl child and acquaintance with ideas of
liberalism, and social change. Women have proved themselves whenever they have
been given a chance, in all spheres, be it social, economic or political. Hence
it is the most important to give women the chance they deserve, as equal
humans.
And today on woman’s day the ex UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
said, "Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition
for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable
development and building good governance."
Well my advise for all girls and woman out there is ::
You have to do what is right for yourself, nobody else is walking in your shoes. Be the boss of your life. You just can’t depend upon others, when the whole day is all about you.
Dream! Achieve! Earn the Respect – Not for others but for your own happiness.! What if they discourage you or disrespect you- this world stops those who are capable of creating a history. And if there is no opposition, whats the fun in reaching to a position. Nobody can support you but may be everybody can. But why do you need them?
Your Life! Your Decision! Your Aim! Your Recognition!
You can be the Chief Executive Officer or The Chief Technical Officer or The Chief Legal Officer. It depends upon you and only on you. You have the choice – Either listen to what the world says or Follow what your heart says. Don’t be the one in a million kind of a girl. Be the once in a lifetime kind of woman.
Believe in yourself. Be Good. Do Great!
Happy Women’s Day.!
