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Women need to look out for other women instead of pulling them down. At work, find a mentor, or mentor someone. Help them. We need to lean in together.
“I believe that if more women lean in, we can change the power structure of our world & expand opportunities for all,” said Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and the author of the book ‘Lean In’.
It’s a thought that’s true to the very dot, but sadly that’s what it remains – just a thought, that we applaud, appreciate and at times quote. How many of us really take a step ahead and put it into action?
About time, you, me and everybody did because it is the need of the hour. We can’t just keep talking about feminism (equality of course I mean), fight the opposite gender to get things we have been deprived of, and argue incessantly on the need for equality today.
Take a step back and think, when the time came to help a fellow lady to either solve a crisis or guide to grow in a career, did you do it?
There are instances, when I have heard women professionals say, “Hire a guy for this job, it’s hard to work with girls, their crying and idleness!” or “She doesn’t deserve the promotion, she’ll soon be married.” Even times, when an HR professional (who are mostly women across companies) question a woman during an interview, “What are your future plans? Are you married?”
These questions are personal and all this should not matter while hiring someone – only their qualification and suitability at work. But the point is, we being women tend to drive such notions and perceptions about other women. If we cannot treat our fellow ladies better, how can we expect another gender to understand anything?
Yes I agree that not everyone would deserve your help or appreciation, but it’s the same for a lot of men in your work place too, right? Doesn’t mean you are talking about them too?
Well, this is the mindset that needs to be broken. We need to help each other grow in career, support each other to learn and most importantly mentor women in your team or subsequent teams to grow. Having or being a mentor, could help you learn, unlearn and discover a lot about yourself, giving you a clear picture of where you need to head ahead.
I have been lucky to have found a mentor, not early, but now – who guides me in making the right choices, giving a lending ear on the work and help me set my principles in place, always encouraging me to not move away from my ethics and beliefs. (Thank you Radhika.)
It’s time you find or be a mentor and grow together. Lean-in and be unashamed of loving to work, but at the same time be a light to another woman’s path as she finds her way to love work. Even doing simple things could do a great difference at work for women. Appreciate each other, share opinions, take feedbacks – work to grow and be better than trying to pull someone down to grow.
Lean-in ladies, if we don’t help each other, then who will?
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkOsH2KtW3o
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Feminist, Ecopreneur & a Zerowaste aspirant. Believes that my life purpose is to influence people to be ecofriendly and to help the girls/women of the future be more free - in who they are, what read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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