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Chivalry should not be considered outdated, only because it can inculcate real, practical respect for women in Indian boys and men.
There are a few things we need to understand about this fundamental behaviour. Yes. It is a ‘fundamental’ behaviour. And like all other fundamental behaviours, it was also defined by men. The only difference being, they took the responsibility of practicing it. Till women started feeling otherwise. And banished it with all the other practices to make room for ‘equality’. But, chivalry was never in contest with equality, was it?
It wasn’t. It isn’t. Simply because if a man is being chivalrous, he is just being respectful.
When he is leaving a seat on a public commute for a woman (pregnant or otherwise) or for an aged person, not because it is a mandate and he has to oblige.
When he is opening the door for a lady, ushering her to the restaurant table, pouring water for her, asking her to choose from the menu, or paying the bill, not because he has to impress her.
When he is cooking for the family as his wife will be late from work, helping her do the dishes, helping her fight her battles when nobody is…because he can. Because he understands. Because this comes naturally to him. Because he is chivalrous.
And that is the minimum men are expected to do. Then why not encourage them to practice it?
Especially for Indian men, who are brought up with the head-weight that ‘men are superior to women’. They lose it at the drop of a hat. Very few Indian men consider respecting the other gender IMPORTANT. They may grow up feeling a real man, but they don’t really behave like one. Because they weren’t taught to. They were not taught not to ogle at girls, not to pass rude comments, or not behave the way its suits them – because it is disrespectful.
They lose out in the larger scheme of things. When they get exposed to the world, they falter. They don’t think when they get involved in a crime against women. They have a justified reason for that. They paint a weak picture of India when they represent the country in a global context. Where we are a representative of our culture and not an individual.
And chivalry should be a part of Indian culture. It can’t be discarded as sophisticated men’s baggage. Or Western culture that Indians should not follow. It should be a part of every man from every walk of life.
We have a long way to go. And we have to go back in time for this.
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Copywriter by choice. Dreamer by birth. Observer of society. Views are personal. Volunteer at BYOB Bangalore Chapter. read more...
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Dear Women’s Web Community Member,
You may have wondered at our being on the quieter side during the last couple of months. Thank you for your patience, and we wanted to come back to you with a detailed note on what’s been happening at our end of things.
When we first began Women’s Web, as a blog from one woman’s desk along with a few like-minded souls, little could we have imagined the heights that it would soar to. Over the years, Women’s Web has published over 20000 stories (almost all by women), empowered countless women with the ideas, community and resources to chase their dreams, employed hundreds of women in core and project-based roles, and in the process, emerged as the OG women’s community in India. It has also inspired many others to build communities of a similar nature, all enabling women (and other-underrepresented groups) in their own ways.
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