In the times of abuse against women on the streets, workplaces, public spaces and at homes, soon will be seen a day that is going to be publicly celebrated day that seeks to support women. A day across nations, where it is commemorated with numerous seminars, rallies and talks. Educational institutions, charities, corporates, government bodies and the media celebrate the day with great fanfare.
International women’s day since 1911, intends to make society respect women and appreciate her worth amidst the human society. This time the theme as established by the United Nations is titled “Equality for women is progress for all”. As celebrated by the official organization of International women’s day, the theme is titled ‘Inspiring change’.
Far fetched from the declaring statement, women do realize that it is a long path before she gets to feel equal in a male dominating society. However may be the time has come, when we need make those around us understand that women cannot be taken for granted forever.
Women do not want to be stereotyped, burdened with unnecessary societal pressures and does not necessarily want to be a feminist. She wants to be treated as a normal human being who loves her freedom like any other man.
The very first episode of ‘satyamev jayate’ season 2, hosted by actor Aamir Khan brought upfront on the issue of rapes and abuse in our society. With fighters of abuse venting their feelings out and horrific stories being remembered, the show made an interesting point that women need to stand up now as there is no more room for testing the waters. A woman rightly remarked on the show that since the unfortunate and barbaric December 12th 2012, Delhi gang rape case, women are standing in the zero-tolerance-zone and they will go to any length to fight for their rights.
Says Malini Chakraborthy, a homemaker and a mother to a seven-year-old, “The truth is that while on international women’s day, we actually celebrate women having much more freedom, there is the darker side too. Regarding marriage, education, childbirth or her career choices, a woman may have her point, yet she fears for her own safety constantly generally outside her home and sometimes within her home too.
With the number of shameful incidents on women across ages and little girls, it is time to wake up and minimize any kind of violation on women. Hopefully we will be able to eradicate this kind of abuse with constant campaigns and awareness. Since the last two years I keep talking to my daughter how she needs to be safe and what wrong touch is and so on. I am not sure if my little one understands me or she simply nods her head. I remember until I was fourteen years old my mother never brought about these topics. With progression we have also nurtured regressive mindset of people who feel they can get away with any thing when it comes to a woman” she rues.
While women across the country fear for their daughters, sisters and themselves, there is the need to be vocal about any abuse and be aware of one’s own rights. Inspiring change theme seeks to campaign for greater awareness of women’s equality, for more women in senior leadership roles, for equal recognition of women in the arts, growth of women owned businesses, for increased financial independence of women, for more women in science, engineering and technology and for fairer recognition of women in sport.
Rightly there is a possibility that collectively if the better financially independent, progressive women can act now it can have the required impact on women as a community.
March 8th may be yet another regular day for millions of women. For some, it will be a day to be seen in women seminars, upload photographs on social networks, talk and participate in rallies; however for a large number, it is going to another day of struggle to preserve her identity and safety.
As put up on the International Women’s Day website the mantra seems to be – ‘Make a difference, think globally and act locally. Make everyday International Women’s day’.
The following year will prove how much of that can be achieved by women