Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
Since my childhood I have been struggling to understand the exact meaning of "survival of the fittest". What is your understanding of the term?
Since my childhood I have been struggling to understand the exact meaning of “survival of the fittest”. What is your understanding of the term?
While in school I read about how in the wild, the predator hunting their prey is the fittest which is why they survive. When I grew up, I could see in relationships, people using their selfish motives to win arguments, leaving behind those who did the most to sustain the respect of their relationship with full integrity.
As I moved in the corporate world, I faced multiple situations where inspite of having shown great results I was badly appraised, left out, not acknowledged for my work as compared to those who were actively involved in ego massages, sycophancy, and were not good performers. Every time there was a lesson to learn and I did learn something from each situation but I still came across similar situations which means that there was still something to learn which I couldn’t unearth.
Remembering the science lessons in school, looking at the experiences in relationships and corporates, my understanding of survival of the fittest was becoming stronger.
My value system somehow never appreciated this understanding or definition because I was never of the opinion to harm someone in order to have my share of happiness or victory. So “survival of the fittest” was a territory which I never wanted to get into because it was something which was totally opposite to my personality. I kept on facing some harsh realities in my professional arena, I could learn something every time but the trend seemed to follow. I started feeling that I was not “FIT” but on the contrary I always knew I was good and very much desired at various roles/ functions in the organisation and I could easily accomplish these roles…so, where was I going wrong?
Few days back, my dad and my nephew were getting ready for the evening walk when suddenly my dad announced the plan for the next day. My 5 year old nephew got excited to hear that next early morning, my dad and my nephew would have a football match. This small kid was so excited that his excitement added a lot of energy to the environment. To add to his excitement, my dad happily said to my nephew “I will do your goal” and the immediate response from a 5 year old kid was “I will defend my goal”. He could have reacted in many different ways but the response he gave was mind boggling.
All laughed at such a cute and enthusiastic conversation but I seriously contemplated about this response. I wondered why this never came to my mind. I was amazed to understand that even a small kid knows what his priority is to survive a match, then what took me so long to understand the simple meaning of “survival of the fittest”?
This small incidence erased all my doubts and made me feel lighter on one side but felt heavy emotionally of having wasted so much of my crucial time in succumbing to the situation where I could have just been a defender.
What I understood was that my values, my upbringing may not allow me to hurt someone or attack anyone to establish my strength in society or at my work place but I can at least have a priority set to protect myself first and not let anyone harm me.
I understood that I had never established a protection around myself which enabled anyone to enter my zone and gave them an opportunity to harm me. I had learnt so many lessons but what I was failing to learn was to set a priority of not letting anyone attack me. Keeping yourself safe and surviving is stronger than those who attack in anticipation and declare themselves as strongest.
A big lesson from a small mouth.
I am sure many of the readers would contemplate on this thought and would be able to relate to what “survival of the fittest” actually meant for them.
I am still a learner and loved this incident which happened to be a ray of sunshine that cleared the dark clouds from my sky.
Image via Pexels
Ruchi is a new person who has dared to break all walls of monotony in life, a dreamer, a learner and likes to derive inspiration in all situations she is into. Recently plunged into a read more...
This post has published with none or minimal editorial intervention. Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
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.
Please enter your email address