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October 11 is #InternationalDayoftheGirlChild. A day to remind ourselves that there is so much more to be done before the Girl Child can be safe. A collection of stories that are almost universal.
Trigger Warning: This deals with graphic description of violence against women, including sexual abuse, and may be triggering for survivors.
A collection of stories, from millions of girl children who still don’t have a voice, a choice, the right to just be.
The cold steel blades advance towards her. Merciless. “I don’t want to die”, she screams. Her shrieks echo off the walls of the womb.
Firm hands grip her head, and ease her out. Gently. The touch changes. “It’s a girl”, A voice snarls, dropping her in disgust.
She wakes up from the dark. Something soft Pressed against her. “I can’t breathe”, She thinks before slipping back into the black.
Dizzy with hunger, her eyes are fixed on the bread. One piece. She wants just one piece. Her brother grabs it. She will sleep hungry again tonight.
Chocolate. She hates chocolate. Chocolates are secret. ‘Uncle shouldn’t tell mother what she did.’ She takes the chocolate. Good girls always smile.
She smiles. Her clothes are itchy. She smiles. Yesterday, she was going to school. Today she is married. “It is for your own good”, she’s been told.
She married him in a temple; one he can enter. They ran away. Started life together. Her brother found them. Raised his sword. She shut her eyes.
Pain. Excruciating pain. Flashes of faces. Men entering. Leaving. Laughter. Kerosene. Pain. Through the flames, her last thought-
“Was this how it was meant to be?”
Image source: Comstock from Photo Images Free for Canva Pro
Natasha works in the development sector, where most of her experience has been in Education and Livelihoods. She is passionate about working towards gender equity, sustainability and positive climate action. And avid reader and occasional read more...
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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.
It is shameful that in today's world too, women are abused and even killed for giving birth to a girl, and the infant's life is also of no value.
Trigger Warning: This deals with domestic violence, suicide, and violence against women, and may be triggering to survivors.
I am so glad that the esteemed courts are now giving the much-required verdicts regarding certain ideologies that were not at all entertained earlier. I mean we all have studied this much biology at our school level and it is our duty (our generation) to educate our elders about it.
Why someone have to lose a life to bring such awareness to the society. Delhi High Court gave this judgement concerning a case that filed by the deceased daughter’s parents against her in-laws. She committed suicide as she was harassed and tortured for dowry and giving birth to two daughters.
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