To
be a woman, is to be vulnerable; and
to be an accomplished woman, is to be more vulnerable. It is often quashed out
plainly by many that successful women are not subjected to gender discrimination
or violence in public spaces and is also generalized that success in career
eliminates the prejudices which victimize the weaker sex in our society. Is
there any substantial truth in this or is the reality disguised in the garb of HER
success? The truth is that gender discrimination still persists at a different
level when women achieve success and become independent in the society, at least
in the economic terms.
Gender insensitivity is high in our society; and
sadly, the educated men are no exception to this insensitive mental framework. A
couple of weeks back, I was taken aback and mutely silenced to contemplation
when I listened to a conversation of my intellectual and esteemed colleagues. The talk was quite open (I
mean, I don’t want to be accused of eavesdropping into their private conversations)
and they did know I happened to be there when the discussion was on. My colleagues
went on to describe their school days; guessing as to what glued the attention
of the senior boys to television screens – quoting particular scenes from movies
and the depictions of the actresses in an appealing manner. They recollected
songs from the movie Bombay – where the heroine yearns earnestly to be with the
hero and is depicted to be running passionately towards him in a musical number.
There was yet another discussion where in the woman
was viewed as soft and easy targets for the men folk to talk about. The guys sarcastically
passed a comment that women ought to be conserved like animals as they are also
very appealing to the eye and tongue and there should be institutions to
protect the existence of women on the lines of PETA. Forms of injustice,
discrimination and violence mentioned in concealed undertones of casual speech
often remains unnoticed and ignored, but this kind of ill-mannered behavior is
sickening and irrefutably unacceptable in sheer sarcastic sense, as if it were for
mere metaphorical pun (intent less, unbelievable?).
It is often depressing to see my counterparts at
unease when there are debates on gender issues, on dowry-related matters and discussions
on this cause – to protect and secure the dignity of women in our society. Also
lately, I realized that dowry is the most invisible, leveling ground of all men
who perpetrate discrimination violently or silently. A large percentage of the
men demand dowry as if it is their birthright; and the few noble men who shun
giving or taking dowry on public platforms and who vouch better status of their
wives, also take dowry – to ensure financial security throughout the posterity.
Yes, dowry levels them all!
The male counterparts also take it for granted to
comment on women openly and to call them with names in their private chats. It
is below the dignity of educated men holding responsible positions (ill-educated
and irresponsible) to indulge in talks and gossips on – what a female should be
talking; what kind of clothes would suit best on the women around them; defining
and deciding on how much conservative or liberal the women should be; throwing
guesses at what ill-luck guys marrying accomplished girls would be inviting
upon themselves (sympathizing for their men folk), promoting the noble idea of
home-makers as being the only righteous women with rightful jobs – as if it is
unbecoming of women to get access into the workplaces and so on. Interestingly,
the men who shower praises for the women in their life, respect the working
women in their own household calling it empowerment, hold their mothers and
sisters in high esteem are the same men who stoop down to qualify other accomplished
women as ‘arrogant’, ‘shrewd’, ‘high-headed’, or ‘undeserving’, et cetera.
To protect the dignity of every individual is the
basic duty of everybody. This basic right cannot be denied to the majority of
our populace and disguised in any garb like success or empowerment. Asserting
the rights of the weaker sex and voicing the genuine concerns of the
contemporary woman, should not be underlined as Feminism or any other Ism and
quashed away lightly. The world continues to move on; and indisputably every
woman does have a preserving hope to see more considerate men around her who can
uphold law and secure her dignity at home and in the workplace assuredly.
