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I come across a contest in a popular Bengali women’s magazine. Although it is about inspiring women on Women’s Day, the rules have left me crestfallen. In 2024, it presents such a contest!
Only working women, I mean office-going or businesswomen, can participate. Those who live within the four walls and are housewives aren’t entitled to this contest. Even if she is a writer or does nothing, she is not eligible to participate.
I am dumbfounded. First, every woman is working- whether they are homemakers or not. Secondly, the media house is aiming for Women’s Day! Is this how it will inspire and empower other women?
Who said to this magazine, that only ‘working’ women are encouraging? Boss, presentations, deadlines, meetings, and tours- are all these solely important? Why can’t an ordinary woman be uplifting? Doesn’t she face enough impediments on her way? She cannot change her employer. She cannot take a leave. Every moment is a deadline. Her master’s mercurial mood determines her day. Even then she must perform- dedicatedly and sincerely. Hardly anyone pats her and suggests that she be living for herself. Can anyone genuinely offer her help so that she can make a new beginning? No! That’s a grave sin; graver than murder.
Whether she is educated or not, smart and affable or not- how can these traits matter? They, too, have sombre tales in their hearts. For some, getting up from the bed is an achievement. However, it is because of such crassness that these stories never find a vent. Like them, their latent desires die a silent death.
Such contests could have provided women the perfect opportunity to break free of the vicious circles. They can nurture their talents, and can also get appreciated. In this way, they can build and grow themselves. However, the weird terms and conditions deliberately attached to the contests only aggravate the situation.
This again proves that Women’s Day is a mockery of all women. No feminism or empowerment can open the eyes. The diverting messages, actions, and behaviour by those in power and position are degrading. It is perhaps this reason that the crimes against women have become never-ending. The need of the hour, is, therefore, to enlighten everybody about becoming compassionate human beings. Intelligence, feminism, and empowerment can wait.
I have been a school teacher and a content writer. I am now a full time mother to a hyper active toddler. I try to relax myself by writing, reading, singing or listening to music. read more...
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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