By: Klinza Kurien ( Bureau Chief-ICN Kerala )
Tomorrow is the most pioneering of all the days for a woman. Out of all the three hundred and sixty five days of the year there is one good day devoted to the woman- the maker and creator of life. When God first created woman, he made her in order to be in the same image and likeness of her better half, the man. From the word ‘man’ itself springs ‘woman’ which means they are both alike. Woman was to give company to man, be his comforter, reliever, the partaker of all pain and pleasure.
Then why does society deem women to be condemned and accord her a secondary position?
This beautiful being, the woman, literally spends every day in agony and misery. From fulfilling home bound responsibilities, to taking care of kids, nurturing them, then again being a career person, all this takes a lot of stamina and psychic energy to manage. Even after managing all this, once she steps out of the house, there are any number of miscreants ready to snatch her chain, rape her, eve-tease her and pass lewd comments on her. All this can go on for how long? Can women forever continue to live under the blanket of doubt, suspicion, insecurity, fear?
She-Teams are appointed to guard her from untoward incidents, female cab drivers are taking the roads by storm and almost every occupation is woman-oriented. But all this seems to be from the economic point of view, not from the social one.
Does this mean to say that women alone are the protectors of women? Is she an inferior being? Is it only for her that responsibilities are written and carved, be it in the domestic sphere or at the professional front? We almost hate it when men impose themselves on us. The world only runs through our contribution. If there is no woman, can there be cooked food? Can there be a population? Can there be successful children? Can there be a nurturer?
Why do men stare at women if they dress well? Don’t they have the right to feel good? It is not necessary to confront her in a sexual manner when she looks good.
Women get paid less as managers in the professional sphere, because she is a woman. At home too there are a variety of dishes being cooked, yet she is never appreciated. Why? Men only feel it is women’s duty to do so, hence they should fulfill it. How difficult it is to cut vegetables, cook them, serve them and finally wash all the utensils clean? On the contrary if there is any tension on the domestic front, she is blamed. Even if on a single day there is no food being cooked, the other family members do not dare to contribute. She is not even given the right to fall ill. Though she does fall ill, she has to care of herself. Men feel embarrassed to take care of her. They feel that she has to manage it herself.
On the flip side, if a male member of the house is unwell and if the woman does not serve her, then they say “what a woman she is”? But do we say the same for a man?
We women, have no set boundaries or borders like men too. Human Beings were never created to be perfect. We do not appreciate it if men exhault us on March 8th and condemn us on all the r three hundred and sixty four days.
Hence on this Women’s Day, it is an ardent and a fervent plea to all the men to GIVE US OUR DUE RESPECT. This is the only thing we crave for.
Wishing all the women around the world, a very Happy Women’s Day.
