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Recognizing the achievements of one woman does not undermine what other women have achieved before her; rather, inclusivity lies in celebrating every woman.
A quote from Ruth Bader Ginsburg meticulously summarizes a truth that builds the edifice of gender equality. An ardent advocate for women’s rights, she had said, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”
Yes, the possibilities are infinite, and women have the capability to make their mark in all fields.
Every year, the world is all geared up to observe International Women’s Day on March 8. It’s a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in social, economic, cultural, and political spheres. So what could be a better occasion than this to share my thoughts and reflections, even though it is just behind us?
There’s a story behind every woman. The simple village woman striving to feed her family and the unrecognized single mother who works hard to make ends meet are as invaluable as the newsmakers making it to the headlines. All women need to be treated equally without their achievements being measured against an index.
As they say, “Charity begins at home.” To break the pillars of gender inequality, the first step needs to be taken by women themselves. They have to treat each other with dignity and respect. A tolerant mindset needs to be nurtured to look beyond differences of any kind and to accept each other as belonging to a unified entity.
When women come together, they garner strength to accomplish greater milestones. It is therefore imperative to give a listening ear to one another. Not just in our personal lives, but even in the professional sphere, women can be mentors and powerful allies for their co-workers.
Founded by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, LeanIn.Org is a global community that strives to help women achieve their ambitions and work to create an equal world. “Together Woman Can” is a campaign launched to celebrate the power of women supporting each other.
Sandberg strongly believes that women do support each other all the time, and it’s just a myth out there that they don’t.
In a brilliant interview with Lena Dunham, she cited her grandmother Rosalind Einhorn when asked who taught her that it was fine “to reach out to other women and ask for support, rather than hide behind false confidence and a sense of needing to be the perfect professional.” She shared how her grandma, who was poor and diagnosed with breast cancer in her thirties, had turned her focus to helping other women with the disease and raised money for breast cancer screenings.
We need to look much beyond our inner circles and think outside the radius when we talk about gender equality and women empowerment. It is necessary that we acknowledge and appreciate the accomplishments of women from a global perspective.
Image source: Gerd Altmann via Pixabay
I came across unfavorable and rather disparaging comments on social media in response to posts that honored Kamala Harris after she became Vice President of the USA. Sadly, some of these criticisms came from women themselves. It was pointed out that India much earlier has had a female Prime Minister and a President, and Harris reaching that position was no extraordinary feat to rave about. Such responses only hint at a parochial attitude.
My point here is that recognizing the achievements of one woman does not undermine what other women have achieved before her. Rather we are celebrating everybody, and this is what inclusivity means. Harris being the first woman to ascend to the vice presidency has created history in America, and we cannot choose to ignore it.
#ChooseToChallenge is a beautiful theme chosen for International Women’s Day this year. Unless we question the unfairness that is rampant, we cannot dream to achieve the goal by just being a silent spectator.
Very often, we get frustrated with what is happening around us. Rarely does it cross our mind that we are very much a part of that society. To change the system, we first need to be responsible for our own thoughts and actions. Each of us has a moral and ethical responsibility to identify the right from the wrong.
We have to lend our voices to speak out against bias and unfairness. No individual can do this alone, but every action counts. Collectively, we can go a long way in dismantling barriers and building an inclusive world.
It’s not just about having events and rallies, giving trophies, and showering praise on women achievers. No pun intended, the “march” to facilitate progress and cast off the shackles of inequality needs to be an ongoing process and not just limited to a certain day of March when women are acknowledged.
First published here.
Rashmi Bora Das is a freelance writer settled in the suburbs of Atlanta. She has a master’s degree in English from India, and a second master’s in Public Administration from the University of read more...
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Menopause is a reality in women's lives, so Indian workplaces need to gear up and address women's menopausal needs.
Picture this: A seasoned executive at the peak of her career suddenly grapples with hot flashes and sleep disturbances during important meetings. She also battles mood swings and cognitive changes, affecting her productivity and confidence. Eventually, she resigns from her job.
Fiction? Not really. The scenario above is a reality many women face as they navigate menopause while meeting their work responsibilities.
Menopause is the time when a woman stops menstruating. This natural condition marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. The transition brings unique physical, emotional, and psychological changes for women.
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