Women Empowerment - A Reality or Farce?

Women Empowerment - A Reality or Farce?

Last year our financial regulator had made it mandatory that each and every company should have a woman member in its Board of Directors. Do you think that really sends a message to our society and the entire country that we are on the path of women empowerment? I don’t think so. Still in 2015, women are humiliated, tortured and victimized even though around 190 years has passed to the abolishment of “Sati” system. It is not only happening in each and every home of our country but also in each and every school, college, office etc. Few politicians describe and also pass comments on the body parts of women politicians in very awkward manner even in the highest institutions of our country. It can’t be more despicable than this. A woman is exploited and disrespected before marriage and after marriage also. How does our society really look at them? We see them as toys of erotic pleasure and enjoyment, caretaker of household activities and family etc. None of us gives a mere thought to their self-esteem and dignity. The prevalence of the so called male chauvinistic society is still there. As on today’s date, parents don’t find their girl child safe even in schools because of the increase in molestation and rape incidents in schools. In colleges and universities, readers and professors show objectionable kind of behavior towards girl students and even demand for sexual favors to provide good grades. Girls are subjected to eve teasing in and outside of their educational institutions. They aren’t safe while commuting in buses, cabs and local trains. A girl goes through a tough questionnaire session during bride selection process by the boy’s family and relatives. Post marriage, whether the girl is working or non-working, she faces the heat to the maximum extent from her in-laws. Numerous brutalities are inflicted upon them which make them frightened of their lives. Because of all these, few of them commit suicide and few of them become mentally sick. She is expected to give birth to a male child so that the future generation of the family can move forward. Female foeticide is also quite high in our country. In each and every office, women are perceived to be less talented and most of the times are deprived of rising to higher positions. Take the case of our Hindi film industry, the biggest male superstars were envious when Deepika Padukone gave back-to-back 5 super-hit films in 2014. Even in sports arena, sportswomen feel unequal and disgraced. Often, the senior players and the coaches torture them physically as well as mentally. This speaks a lot of the rampant discrimination on the basis of sex. The question that comes to my mind is ‘are we not scavengers in the form of human beings’? Have we not been cruel and barbaric towards them? Of course, the answer would be yes. We maintain double standards, we pretend to be good towards them in front of others but our acts say something different. Our heads should be hung in shame. Women empowerment has become a buzzword since last few years. We say about providing equal opportunities in order to let them feel equal with men. But, that is on pen and paper only. The reality is million miles away. The women themselves can speak the bitter truth in a much candid manner. We have come to this planet only because of them as they have the enormous capability of bearing excruciating pain by keeping the child in their womb for 9 long months but still bring in happiness in everybody’s face. This is an age of Indra Nooyi, Sunita Williams, Ira Singhal, Saina Nehwal and Mary Kom and lots many. Our social stigmas are proving to be a major hurdle in their empowerment. A radical change is needed desperately in our thought process, demeanor and attitude to bring back the respect for our women which they deserve day in, day out everywhere. It is quite obvious that it’s a big challenge and a massive effort is needed towards this. But, it’s achievable. A small effort by everyone can reap in good results. Let’s pledge to extend our support so that the girl child gets the right education and later on achieves equality of status and opportunity in our society. Let’s join hands together to stop women becoming the newspaper headlines from the negative perspective. In addition to this, women themselves have to further strengthen their determination to move forward and try every attempt to reduce the atrocities against them. Mere reservation for them won’t help much unless the system allows room for more power and authority. New policies need to be formulated and existing policies has to be amended to provide greater opportunities and flexibilities for them. Don’t expect Aamir Khan coming in with a show like “Satyameva Jayate” every time and spreading the message of humility, dignity, mutual respect, culture and moral values amongst the masses. It’s our collective responsibility to value this monument of love and sacrifice called as “woman”. Hope in another 10 to 15 years down the lane, we would be in a society where they are duly respected and considered as equal with men. Then, we may be able to say women empowerment is not a farce but it’s a reality.