I am surprised to see media celebrating women in power. Even today’s Times of India, Bangalore edition has a full page article on “Women Bouncing Back”. Why is “Women Heading a Company” still a news? Is it not that we already accepted women in main stream. Did we not see many women already make it big? Are the days of “Kiran Bedi – the first IPS officer” not over? Why is “Pratibha Patil – Women president” needed to be a headline when we already accepted Indira Gandhi is one of the best politicians the world ever had? Why does media still make women feel that the world has condescended to help these women come to power. Its not that only few women (as in the headlines) who made it big but there are thousand others around us who are doing amazing effort in every field they are in. So then why this mockery that their are only a coveted or privileged few...we have them all around.
I am also surprised by the context of “World Women’s day”. Are Women not humans? Then why should one celebrate a women’s day? I know of dedicating days for relationships: Mom, Dad, Sister, Valentine. I know of dedicating days to species that are extinct or going to be extinct: World Sparrow day, World Tiger day. Under which category does a women’s day come in?
All through that day they were freebies for women. (yeah ... Meenu got a dessert n mocktail free at Rolls unlimited). There were special programs aired that day. Does that mean to distinguish women from “humans”? Are they not part of it? Does that mean women are to be celebrated and pampered only one day? Rest of the year is as usual “Adam dominating Eve”? Is this not creating a rift for women and encouraging disparity?
I don’t know what in general a lady's take on be, but I was sweetly surprised by two reactions for “World women’s day”. First is a blog article from Preeti who said “I want to be accepted as I am…I want to celebrate the idea that I am a Woman.” ( she has an interesting blog on the same http://preetidutta-onthewingsofadream.blogspot.com/2010/03/on-women-s-day.html). Second is from Madhurima. She writes: "Being special is a right reserved within us and demands chivalry from our end to accept it." (Another interesting blog: http://madhurimadas.blogspot.com/2010/03/from-skeptic-in-me-to-thinking-me.html). I should here accept that I have quoted them without permission, but i believe that should be fine.
Anyways, my two words for media... Stop celebrating a single lady’s success as a success of entire women folk. No they are individuals too (just like men) and each should be credited with their success. We are in a world where every woman is capable of achieving and those who achieved should be rewarded. Don’t ignore individual success in celebration of womanhood.
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touche subu! this forced distinction and celebration might have been needed in those days gone by when it was imperative to force open the eyes of the human race about equality of sexes, but it being done now just proves the point that nothing has changed! and its certainly not about glorifying one sex more than the other, its about equality! wonder if the message will ever get across without having all the wrong connotations being associated with it.
ReplyDelete@Tanima: Its good to see more and more girls think maturedly. No one minds if there are freebies for girls and all. (after all men can end up spending less!!) But it really pains when someone is stolen off their individual success and veneered in the name of success of women. I hope there is some hardtalk soon on this. And much better, if it comes from well educated people like you.
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