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Can a woman do everything that a man can? Do we have to? Can we not accept that we are different and thus, celebrate the diversity?
I always believed that there is no difference between what men and women can achieve, but at this point in my life I have realized that maybe there are different areas that women and men are good at and putting them together in one space might not bring out equal results. If I need to give an example from my life I would turn to sports. I have always been a a good athlete, but whatever sport I played I realized that if I was competing with a guy of equal skills, he would mostly beat me at it. Was it because he was physically stronger than me or because it was inbuilt in his genes? I do not really know. However, now I know there is a reason why women and men compete in the same sport, but not against each other.
Why is it that I thought I could do what any male could do? Maybe it’s because I was surrounded by strong women – my mother and my grandmother. They have never let me feel that a woman can’t achieve what a man can. But let’s face it; today’s world is a man’s world. Government, politics, global organizations, families (to a large extent) and wars are all governed by men. One can count the number of women in commanding positions on their fingertips. Does that mean that one can’t make a difference being a woman? I have tried to explore the answer to this question that existed since time immemorial.
The answer, after a lot of pondering, was right in front of me. Of course women can make a difference – my mom and grandmother did in their own little ways. Women like Kiran Bedi, who is one of my many idols, show how women can not only lead through compassion, but also be righteous and aggressive when need be. Christina Amanpour, another idol of mine, does the same by her daring and sincere reporting of news. But why are women underrepresented in most of the professions?
In the U.S, which is considered one of the most developed countries in the world, there has not been a single woman president till now. If I wanted to join the U.S senate, I would be part of an 18.7 percent women-population in the senate. In business, if I wanted to become the CEO, I would be part of an anaemic 5.4 percent of the women-CEO brigade of the Fortune 500 companies.
Even in India, though we have had a woman president and a few women chief ministers, the condition of majority of women is downright pathetic. Two rapes are reported every hour with the unofficial figure being even higher. According to statistics taken in 2011, women employees in central, state and local governments in the country are just 17.47 percent of the total employee strength, while women in organized sector constitute only 0.54 percent of all employees.
So, how do we change the current scenario to uplift women and bring them at par with the decision makers of today? I don’t have immediate answers to the question, but we first have to accept the fact that this change is not going to happen overnight. It has taken centuries for women to come out of their homes and start voicing their opinions and it might take a long time for them to stand at par with men.
I think we can definitely start with the below listed steps.
These are some of my thoughts. Empowering women would make world a better place. The last century was the bloodiest in human history, and so far, this one has been a tale of war, terrorism, religious extremism, abject poverty, and disease. It’s not that it’s all men’s fault, but as mentioned above they have largely been in-charge and it doesn’t seem like we are any close to finding answers to these profound and vexing problems. So, if women stood shoulder-to-shoulder with men, I think, conversations would take place, though long (considering women are involved), but conversations nonetheless and not mindless wars. Politics would be more collegial, businesses would be more productive and communities would be healthier. The world will probably be a more peaceful place if men and women together make the decisions in every sphere of life. On a lighter note, I think one would see a lot of pink in the world and shopping would be considered an aerobic activity.
And I rest my case by reiterating: BLUE (men) + PINK (women) = WHITE (peace)
Image of a man and woman shaking hand via Shutterstock
I am a marketing professional and love looking for new ideas and creative implementation techniques. But it is WORDS that are my passion - I think I have the ability to see patterns and express that read more...
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Menopause is a reality in women's lives, so Indian workplaces need to gear up and address women's menopausal needs.
Picture this: A seasoned executive at the peak of her career suddenly grapples with hot flashes and sleep disturbances during important meetings. She also battles mood swings and cognitive changes, affecting her productivity and confidence. Eventually, she resigns from her job.
Fiction? Not really. The scenario above is a reality many women face as they navigate menopause while meeting their work responsibilities.
Menopause is the time when a woman stops menstruating. This natural condition marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. The transition brings unique physical, emotional, and psychological changes for women.
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