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.
