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At the surface level, feminism may seem like it's a war; war against injustices, inhumanity, inequality...Yes, to some extent it is. But that isn't all it is.
This women’s day I am revisiting my evolution as a feminist. I thought I had been a feminist forever and knew all that I needed to know. But I realised there’s so much more beneath the surface. So I learnt. I grew. And I am still evolving.
I worked on questioning and dismantling my own biases, patterns of thoughts and behaviour. I realised in this process, that I had affected changes not just within me but around me; in my kids, my husband and maybe a few others. And they in turn started becoming more aware of their own patterns and biases.
At the surface level, feminism may seem like it’s a war; war against injustices, inhumanity, inequality…Yes, to some extent it is. It was/is needed. It’s imperative to jolt us all out of the vicious, regressive patriarchal drug-induced coma state.
But that’s not all.
I needed to move past the various stages – from resignation, helplessness, rage, anger, frustration, and then move towards exercising my individual power. Not waiting for that rosy future somewhere in the distant future but start living it Now!
We, in whatever capacity we are currently – as homemakers, salaried employees or anything else; In our role as parents, spouse, friend or relative. Start living from that empowered state of awareness and make changes Now! No more dreaming but living it.
It may be challenging, and even feel unsafe but that’s how we move forward.
We raged when needed, yes, but staying there, no. There is no power in victimhood. Doesn’t serve the purpose. Showing up as what we want the world to look like is where we are at.
May we individually and collectively reach a point where we take intuitive guidance from self than from external systems.
May we find our personal power, in our feminine and masculine. May that be how humanity moves forward leaving behind constructs that harm and don’t serve.
May we find joy in who we are and express it unabashedly devoid of gendered norms.
And by we, I mean both women and men!
We are all in this together.
I know I speak from a place of privilege but aren’t we all, who are using our voice in some form or another. If we as privileged can’t change our actions and behaviours on ground, then we can’t talk for those who cannot yet do it for themselves.
There’s been so much struggle and sacrifice by so many, for so long. It’s time we don’t let all that go to waste.
Be the change in small and big ways. Live the change now. Life is good and is getting better and better for all of us. Not only for our daughters and sons but for us too.
This women’s day, I want us to be optimistic. I want us to believe in our happily ever afters. And I want us to be happy in the now.
Happy women’s day!
Image source: LongShortFilms/ a still from Happy Birthday, Mummyji
A mother of two amazing kids and a teacher by profession, I have varied interests. Apart from being an avid reader, I dabble in gardening. My love for painting, cooking, travelling and jotting down my read more...
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If her MIL had accepted her with some affection, wouldn't they have built a mutually happier relationship by now?
The incident took place ten years ago.
Smita could visit her mother only in summers when her daughter had school holidays. Her daughter also enjoyed meeting her Nani, and both of them had done their reservations for a week. A month before their visit, her husband told her, “My mom is coming for 4-5 months!”
Smita shuddered. She knew the repercussions. She would have to hear sarcastic comments from her mother-in-law for visiting her mother. She may make these comments directly only a bit, but her servants would be flooded with the words, “How horrible she is! She leaves me and goes!”
Maybe Animal is going to make Ranbir the superstar he yearns to be, but is this the kind of legacy his grandfather and granduncles would wish for?
I have no intention of watching Animal. I have heard it’s acting like a small baby screaming and yelling for attention. However, I read some interesting reviews which gave away the original, brilliant and awe-inspiring plot (was that sarcastic enough?), and I don’t really need to go watch it to have an informed opinion.
A little boy craves for his father’s love but doesn’t get it so uses it as an excuse to kill a whole bunch of people when he grows up. Poor paapa (baby) what else could he do?
I was wondering; if any woman director gets inspired by this movie and replicates this with a female protagonist, what would happen?. Oh wait, that’s the story of so many women in this world. Forget about not giving them love, you have fathers who try to kill their daughters or sell them off or do other equally despicable things.
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