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Why do humans spend so much time and energy on procreation/reproduction when it isn't necessary for their survival?
When it comes to human life and its complex being, giving birth is considered one of the miracles mankind could witness. What exactly is birth? Birth is the emergence of a whole new individual from the physical body of a parent, precisely a female.
It is most certainly true that out of all the complex processes a human being goes through every day like digestion, immunity building, heart pumping, etc., ‘reproduction’ (giving birth in layman’s terms) is the only process that a human being is not required to perform to sustain himself/ herself. Despite being a multiplex process, humans don’t actually ‘need’ to reproduce and procreate to preserve themselves. Then why do almost all humans spend so much of their time, energy, and resources on a process which isn’t even needed by them for their survival?
One plausible explanation for this could be the existential need for carrying forward your genes and blood and preserving your legacy. Others suggest societal obligations to have a child and develop a family or simply future insurance for your senility. No matter what the need or reason is, procreation should always be a matter of choice and not a matter of obligations or carrying bloodlines.
A human being’s purpose is far more than giving birth to an individual. A human doesn’t have to be a father or a mother to be great or have a name in the world. A classic example of this theory is the honourable man, Mr. Ratan Tata, who didn’t stress on the fact that having his legacy is something that he requires for his sustainability and credibility. Despite having a huge business empire, which itself is a dream for many, Mr. Ratan Tata, didn’t emphasize the need to carry his genes, just to ensure his legacy in the empire continues, as he believes that a company is different from the individual carrying it.
Carrying the very same reasoning forward of having a choice to procreate, several individuals are judged in society for choosing to remain childless or even the individual whose body doesn’t allow them to become parents, even if they want to. Why is it so hard for people to understand that the entity of an individual is not just limited to giving birth and sustaining a child?
A human being is more than their physical capabilities. You can be an intellectually great person, with a high level of emotional intelligence and critical skills. You can be an excellent candidate for your job or even be an entrepreneur. It is not justified that happiness derived from the birth of a child should always be considered the only source of ultimate human happiness. Certainly, the happiness derived from the painful process of birth isn’t ‘not worthy’, it definitely would be, but treating it above all like it’s the only way of achieving it isn’t healthy either. Giving birth is pro-choice. No one should be obligated or judged into choosing to live a life differently.
Image Credits: Andre Hunter | Unsplash
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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.
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