WOMAN : Issues and Empowerment!

"The question isn't who is going to let me,

It's who is going to stop me."   

- Ayn Rand

Few years ago, don't know why but when someone used to call me 'a lady' or 'a woman', I used to go furious. But with the passage of time everything has changed. Now when I get chance to observe this world, I do it more intensely and willingly, especially when it comes to the subject of women. Interestingly, now I can easily find the hidden meaning behind the word ''woman''.

 

Today at around 8 o'clock, while drinking coffee, was reading the newspaper. Usually I focus more on highlighted news, but today, something has caught my eyes and forced me to read it completely. It was a case about gang-rape of a 6 year old girl in Delhi!

We are proud to be a part of world's most popular democratic country, but at the same time it becomes shameful, because India is among the topmost countries where large number of incidents takes place against women.

According to data, about 86% women who experienced violence never sought help and 77% of the victims did not even mention the incident.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 has also increased violence against women. India, during the first four phases of the lockdown, received more reports of domestic violence than it had in the last ten years. Others indicated that many women were unable to report the violence, as they had less privacy and means to access help. In India, women are unsafe even at their homes.

Not only violence, but women and girls have also been facing a lot of discrimination at their homes, workplace or wherever they go.

After marriage, if husband is working in another city, then wife is forced to leave her job and reside with her husband. Why? Only because she is a woman? Does all the responsibilities belongs only to her? What if wife is kept on husband's place? Will he leave his job for the sake of their relationship? No, A BIG "NO"!

It becomes very easy for some people to dominate women, to play with their feelings, to hurt them in every possible way, to force them, to not let them live the life they want.

We all know that if a man cries, people utters - ''Stop crying like a girl'', ''why are you crying like a girl'', ''are you a girl?.....then why are you crying?'' These are the most popular dialogues we've been hearing since childhood. If a man loses a battle from woman, it becomes shameful for him. Here I am not criticising men, actually it's just a mindset built by this society and nothing else.

Am just trying to end this battle of superiority and inferiority by taking you all towards the reality. I heard somewhere - "Women aren't weak, they are made purposely weak". Also I agree with the point that men are physically more powerful than women, because it's a biological fact. But at the same time I'll say women is capable of going ahead in life if they get chance.

There are many examples in front of all of us about successful women.

Here are some points mentioned below on empowering them. 

Have a look,

~ I always say and believe, no job is as difficult as a soldier's and a housewife's. Afterall, it's a 24/7 work. So, Respect them, appreciate their work.

~ If you're a husband, help your wife in your household work. Also learn how to cook. Because even if women don't like to cook, still they have to. So it should be your duty too to learn if she is doing too.

~ Teach the next generation and learn from them. Point out the stereotypes that children constantly encounter, whether in the media, on the street, in the school and let them know it's okay to be different. Encourage a culture of acceptance.

~ Take a stand by calling it out when you see it : Catcalling, inappropriate sexual comments and sexist jokes are never okay. Create a safer environment for everyone by challenging your peers to reflect on their own behaviour and speaking up when someone crosses the line.

~ Never take them for granted. Whether she is your mother/ sister/ wife/ girlfriend.. anyone. Many people do this today, that's why it is important to highlight. 

~ You can empower a woman by contributing to her success and to her humility. Encourage her to speak her mind , show her voice and work.

~ Bring them into the conversation. Know about the difficulties they face, what they experience. Help and support them at every stage of life.

                           End unequality between both the gender by taking the steps mentioned above and any other step that you feel can help in empowering women and in changing the mindset of our society.

I'll be sharing some important tips on Create Your Own World in my next blog post. It is for both men and women, but will help women more.

Thanks a lot for reading the blog.

:)

- Anshika Chaturvedi