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The tweets in social media about ending ‘Female foeticide’ proves that a woman’s existence has to be justified in some way, even today!
The past week we witnessed history. P V Sindhu, Sakshi Malik and several other Indian women made us proud with their outstanding performance in the Olympics. Social media was flooded with articles and tweets.
“Sakshi Malik a reminder of what can happen if you don’t kill a girl child ...”
‘Beti bachao, Medal Ghar Lao!”
“There would have been many Sakshi Maliks bringing laurels to our country and Haryana, if they were not killed in their mother’s womb or denied opportunities just because they were girls. It is 2016, we cannot miss any potential Sakshi Malik, Geeta Phogat or Vinesh Phogat and we have to end female foeticide and provide every single opportunity to girls.”
I know that the intention of all these posts is to send out a meaningful message – to value women because they are capable of being great achievers. But to say that we have to end female foeticide because these women have brought laurels to our country is an insult to human life. A girl deserves the right to live, with dignity and with opportunities because she is a human being, not because she can become successful one day. The thought that a woman’s life has to be justified by something as competitive as winning a medal in the Olympics is highly disturbing.
I thought to myself:
“I will never win anything in Olympics. I am not a mother and not even married. I am neither an achiever nor have I contributed to the planet by my fundamental purpose of carrying and raising a child. How is my existence validated?”
I am a second daughter. My parents have cherished my sister and me. They celebrated our birth out of love, not out of high expectations that we might accomplish something some day. Our contribution to society is immaterial. We are loving, caring daughters and that is enough for them.
Isn’t having a child about unconditional love? Does a male child guarantee anything? Should we keep looking for some benefit in having a girl child?
Save daughters, because they are human beings. Because every life is precious. Raise them well because they are your family, not because they can create a family someday. She need not be anybody’s wife or daughter-in-law or mother to make her life meaningful. Give her opportunities because she deserves it. She may not become a Sakshi Malik. But she will surely be the apple of your eye.
Image Source: Youtube
I like to write about the problems that have plagued the Indian society. I feel that the concept of gender equality is still alien , and that has been the focus of my articles and posts. 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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