If you want to understand how to become better allies to people with disabilities, then join us at Embracing All Abilities: Including People with Disabilities at Work.
I want to be first the woman that I am...free, independent and self-reliant and then willingly take up the roles I choose and give them as much as everybody else in the loop does
Well, I don’t agree with having a “Women’s Day” designated to celebrate our existence. We exist and we do undeniably. In fact, the whole man(?)kind exists because we do.
Women have let themselves be eulogized as daughters, sisters, wives and mothers and so have let their own self-worth go to the dogs. Before a woman is any of these she is herself; a beautiful creation of the Almighty who has her own needs, her own preferences, her own desires, her own views and most importantly her own life.
Yes, we exist; like ourselves, for ourselves and then for others. It is an added responsibility, to be someone’s daughter, sister, mother, wife or girlfriend. In some cases, the role is natural and in some cases, we take it on. Ironically every such role has criteria laid out by men and thus it is for their satisfaction and fulfilment of only their needs. They have succeeded in controlling us, overpowering us and bringing us to this point that we have to assert the mere fact that we exist. We have allowed our maternal and lovers instinct to overflow and never realized that we are not asserting ourselves and losing ground.
Even on Women’s Day we are letting men praise us for being great sisters, daughters etc. and then women. I protest. I want to be first the woman that I am…free, independent and self-reliant and then willingly take up the roles I choose and give them as much as everybody else in the loop does. Why am I expected to give more? I don’t want to be the self-effacing, self-depriving ‘ideal woman”. Whose ideals are they anyway? Who are men to postulate these ideals? Who gave them this right? Why do they make the rules for us? The answer is because we have let them.
In return of protection from the sexual atrocities that they ‘think’ they can perpetrate on us. They think that because we have let ourselves be vulnerable and weak. A man can walk in his underwear on national television but a woman in a bikini is not tolerated even on a beach. A penis doesn’t have to be a virgin but a vagina has to be. A man who beds many women is a stud but such a woman is a slut. In both cases two consenting adults mate with each other for sexual satisfaction, neither uses the other so why attach such labels.
I refuse to be called the weaker sex or the other (better or worse) half. I am a complete entity, comprising a microcosm in myself. Some simple self-defence techniques, a sound education, a belief in our own worth as ourselves, pride in our sexuality and demystifying virginity is what we need to assert ourselves.
I too want to celebrate Women’s Day but I want to celebrate the spirit of self-worth first as an individual, not overshadowed by gender. I want to celebrate my love for myself. I stand for me being a human being first, and as equal as any other human being on this earth. I stand for someone who is her own self first. Women don’t need a day dedicated to them, they need to catch every day by its horns and make the most of it.
Every day is our day.
Image via Pixabay
read more...
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!
'Sania denied fairy-tale ending: suffers loss in AUS open final' says a news headline. Is this the best we can do? Is it a fitting tribute to one of the finest athletes we have in our country?
Sania Mirza bid an emotional and tearful farewell to her Grand Slam journey as a runner up in the mixed doubles final. Headlines read –
“Sania Mirza breaks down in tears while recalling glorious career after defeat in Grand Slam’
“Sania denied fairy-tale ending: suffers loss in AUS open final”
Yuvaraj Shele, a small-time worker from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, did battle many odds and arranged for his mother Ratna’s wedding a few weeks ago. The main point that he put forth was that he felt his mother was lonely and saw the need for her to live happily.
A myth that goes without saying is that only a woman can understand another woman better. What happens when a man does understand what a woman goes through? Especially when the woman is his mother, that too when she is a widow?
This scene does remind of a few movies/web series where the daughter/son do realize their mother’s emotions and towards the end, they approve of their new relationship.
Please enter your email address