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.
Blue for boys, pink for girls; Comic books for boys, Fairy tales for girls; Toy cars for boys, Barbie Dolls for girls and the rule of division goes on and on.
“Mamma let us donate my all the fairy tales’ books to poor children box”, declared my son on his way back from school.
All of a sudden my hand trembled on steering wheel and I pinched myself to make sure that I am not dozing off and dreaming. My little cheapskate never allows anybody to touch his story books or his toys, even the broken ones. Not even me!
In fact he always suspects that in his absence, I throw out his old toys and torn books. Now he is talking about donation, that too his much-loved fairy tale books! So my greater aim behind enrolling him into a Missionary School is finally successful, I thought and smiled to myself.
My thoughts were interrupted with his next announcement “Today I have received my library card and we were taken to the library for a book reading session”. I looked back at him with a broad smile “It’s too good, so which book you have read today?”
No answer.
Two tiny sad eyes looking out through the window pane. I sensed something was wrong but continued to focus on the road.
Back home after the refreshment he asked me, “Mamma, is Oliver Twist also a fairy tale or boys can read it? If so, in the next library session, I will ask for that”.
I was totally confused with this question. For the first time I came to know that there exists a division of literature for boys and girls. When he was in the library, one of his friends who is a girl was reading a fairy tale book. Out of curiosity, he asked her about that book and she laughed at him saying “Are you a girl that you want to see this book?”
All other friends started laughing too. He grew up with bed time stories of Cinderella, Pinocchio Thumbelina, Hansel and Gretel, Tom Thumb etc. Both of us enjoyed together these wonderful literary creations, never knowing that there is gender-wise segregation of literature. Now my eight year old boy is reluctant to read his most favorite books because he was mocked in school by friends of his own age. It was shocking for him.
But I wonder how that little girl knew those books are only for girls? And it seems many other children of his class are also aware of it. Is it their parents who told them or the teachers? It is definitely not the fault of these young ones that they are victim to our biased social value.
Blue for boys, pink for girls; Comic books for boys, Fairy tales for girls; Toy cars for boys, Barbie Dolls for girls and the rule of division goes on and on. If a child does not follow this rule, he or she will be teased by friends. This way from early childhood we are pushing gender discrimination into these little heads. And, it is very unfortunate that the seeds are being planted by us… the well-educated, well placed modern age parents.
A version of this was first published here.
Image via Pexels
A Freelance writer Tweeter: Priyamrita [email protected] 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!
What I loved was how there is so much in the movie of the SRK we have known, and also a totally new star. The gestures, the smile, the wit and the charisma are all too familiar, but you also witness a rawness, an edginess.
When a movie that got the entire nation in a twist – for the right and wrong reasons – hits the theatres, there is bound to be noise. From ‘I am going to watch it – first day first show’ to ‘Boycott the movie and make it a flop’, social media has been a furore of posts.
Let me get one thing straight here – I did not watch Pathaan to make a statement or to simply rebel as people would put it. I went to watch it for the sheer pleasure of witnessing my favourite superstar in all his glory being what he is best at being – his magnificent self. Because when it comes to screen presence, he burns it, melts it and then resurrects it as well like no other. Because when it comes to style and passion, he owns it like a boss. Because SRK is, in a way, my last connecting point to the girl that I once was. Though I have evolved into so many more things over the years, I don’t think I am ready to let go of that girl fully yet.
There is no elephant in the room really here because it’s a fact that Bollywood has a lot of cleaning up to do. Calling out on all the problematic aspects of the industry is important and in doing that, maintaining objectivity is also equally imperative. I went for Pathaan for entertainment and got more than I had hoped for. It is a clever, slick, witty, brilliantly packaged action movie that delivers what it promises to. Logic definitely goes flying out of the window at times and some scenes will make you go ‘kuch bhi’ , but the screenplay clearly reminds you that you knew all along what you were in for. The action sequences are lavish and someone like me who is not exactly a fan of this genre was also mind blown.
Recent footage of her coming out of an airport had comments preaching karma and its cruel ways, that Samantha "deserved her illness" because she filed for divorce.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu fell from being the public’s sweetheart to a villain overnight because she filed for divorce. The actress was struck with myositis post divorce, much to the joy of certain groups (read sexist) in our society.
A troll responded to Samantha’s tweet, “Women Rising!!” by adding to it “just to fall”. She replied, “Getting back up makes it all the more sweeter, my friend.”
Here’s another insensitive tweet by BuzZ Basket showing fake concern for her autoimmune disease. “Feeling sad for Samantha, she lost all her charm and glow. When everyone thought she came out of divorce strongly and her professional life was seeing heights, myositis hit her badly, making her weak again.” Samantha responded, “I pray you never have to go through months of treatment and medication like I did. And here’s some love from me to add to your glow.”
Please enter your email address