National Girl Child Day’ is one of the numerous days being celebrated, wherein I stumbled upon a campaign by a magazine. The article targeted at boy’s parents with the content about how boys should be raised so that the girls feel secure in the society. Appreciate the concept. But then a thought struck my mind. Is it only the male population which makes the other half feel insecure or less worthy?
Never have I witnessed an engagement or marriage where the widows are also a part of any ritual which involves the couple. Nor have I seen any baby showers or naming ceremonies where a child-less women is an equal part of the ritual. If you are a Mumbai resident then it’s a well-known fact that the women’s coach in the local trains is defamed for being the least supportive as compared to that of men’s. A study into the identity of trolls conducted by UK based Demos reported that, social media trollers had higher percentage of females than males.
Women shaming women on basis of physical appearances, divorces or for being single parents isn’t uncommon. Recently when a former Miss World and now an international celebrity opted for surrogacy to embrace motherhood, the criticism was awful.
It’s a matter of pride for some women to boast if their husbands stepped at least once in the kitchen. A peek into the lives of the world’s famous chefs or classical dancers would reveal that the greatest opposition they faced, for choosing the uncommon professions, were from their own people.
No, am not expecting any immediate cultural breakthroughs nor debating about slashing the norms of patriarchal society. But being and behaving a little human.
Let’s teach our boys and girls that cooking and earning are not gender-based responsibilities, instead they are the survival skills which every individual should be versed with. That clothes do not form the measure of judging anyone’s character and masculinity doesn’t mean hiding one’s tears.
Respect can’t be “taught” to children. They are influenced by what they see. A gossiping, critical and shaming mother cannot build a respectful generation.
An empathetic approach to other’s situations would make a world of difference. Let’s make the society more peaceful and comfortable for women without questioning their decisions or criticizing their choices. Empowering and supporting each other going beyond the barriers of physical appearances, marital or socio-economic statuses.
After all the real queen is the one who fixes another woman’s crown, without telling the world it was crooked!
Written by : Ritu Parelkar
Author’s bio:
An Electronics Engineer by profession having decade of work experience in IT field. Visiting faculty in Colleges in Mumbai. Enthusiast about writing, travelling, reading and trying out new recipes. Above all, a mother to a always-on-the-go toddler who inspires me with her infectious energy
