Monday, November 28, 2005

EQUALITY??

Well thats what i keep hearing.But if that happens to be a reality then i surely am blind.No offense meant- this is purely my opinion.Blame Google for giving me this space to voice my opinion in case you are rubbed the wrong side by this.
Starting from the scratch.There were few articles in the Hindu magazine on Sunday which seemed to voice a similar opinion.I was very agitated reading those.The issues brought out in those were of utmost importance.Everybody preaches about the equanimity of girls and boys.But if there be heart-speak,i would not agree upon that.I don't find that anywhere.Not in those homes where there are boys and girls.Not at school.Not in the universities not after marriage.Beyond that the vicious circle continues.
In the words of Shirley Chisholm,"The emotional,sexual and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says: 'It's a girl.' "Its true that both a boy and girl are same in the eyes of parents,yet there persists discrimination in few innocuous ways.Especially from the older generations of the family.This i could personally see in few of the so-called modern families too.The girl child is not allowed the free usage of net or the phone like the boy.One can say its for her own safety,but that, i feel ,should not come in the way of her socializing.
That being the situation at home,the school is no different.It is generally not acceptable to have a girl as the topper.The professors themselves,few ladies even,find difficulty in accepting the situation.The boys are made to cultivate the opinion that a girl is not supposed to dominate them.Is this not completely off the beam?Where the children are supposed to accept the others and learn to accept differences with equanimity,they are being given the exact opposite idea.
This being rooted deep down in them,they turn out even more domineering and chauvinist.Girls face the continual harassment from many guys.Many times it becomes so embarrassing and inconvenient for them to even venture out .This is justified by the rising number of eve-teasing cases.Personally i feel a very complex and basic issue has been smothered and made quite unimportant and of no consequence by naming it so.The problem needs immediate addressal and awareness needs to be spread.I cant help wondering how the guys would take to being vulnerable.
At workplace too females are not spared.To be successful a woman has to be much better at the job than a man.Added to that is the lack of co-operation and recognition.Well ultimate subjugation starts after marriage.The female is denied the freedom of expression too in some cases.The papers are so full of such cases.This being the situation in urban areas then the condition in rural areas needs no mention.
Is this what we call equality?The situation needs immediate addressal and improvement.Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick.Those days are over.They are as good, if not better, than men in any thing they do.Their mettle has been proved innumerable times in various situations-be it in the workplace ,in research or in space exploration.Its high time women are given the recognition that is due to them.Harmony and co-operation should prevail for any further improvement in the situation.
If you want to make beautiful music,you must play the black and the white notes together.