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I am one of those privileged women who enjoyed freedom of speech and choice since childhood. I guess it made me a snob. But I know differently now.
I did feel bad for women in distress, but no sympathy. I looked at them with contempt. My sensibilities revolted hearing their stories.
As I grew up, became a wife and mother, my understanding of a woman’s situation widened. I had to take several decisions, compromise on things that I had a strong dislike for. I gained better understanding of a woman’s condition.
I still did not condone it. I always knew that the present situation is ephemeral. I knew I had to mould the circumstances according to me and not become a victim of circumstances. There have been various hiccups- disappointments, anxiety, depression, self-loathing- but no giving up. After years of hard work I found my peace in spirituality. Meditation and medication helped me overcome the demons that had been killing me and my initiative for a long time. I finally destroyed their cozy home in the deep recesses of my mind. From the debris of cynicism and negativity, the strength, within peeped out and bloomed. The peace, love, happiness buried deep under cynicism and lost hope finally breathed.
I finally grew up and learned to love myself and developed patience towards others.
I have recently associated myself with a platform for women with varied background. We share our personal experiences to motivate others, give and get advise for our problems.
I still tell women that we are responsible for what happens to us and only we can correct it. However since I have understood that it’s not days but years that bring change, so I have replaced chiding with guiding. I still get upset when Geeta tells me that she needs to take the permission of her in-laws for everything or when Uma says that women in their house are not allowed to work but I don’t jump at them like a wild cat for being weak and helpless. I know how it feels to be helplessness. I know that change starts with baby steps and that’s what I tell others.
It is heartening to see the women who felt they were good for nothing only a few months ago, are now expressing themselves through poetry about women and women empowerment. Besides this they also initiate discussions and debates on women empowerment.
The baby steps here have already become giant leaps.
However despite several emancipation drives many women are still living claustrophobic lives. Let’s find them and help them because ‘Now is OUR time’
Image source: shutterstock
Born a brought up in Delhi, a PG in English literature and a B.Ed degree I set out to conquer the world. Married to an army officer, had to move several places. Taught in read more...
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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