Women Empowerment

“When we speak, we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.” Surely, these lines empower a woman!!

A woman being burnt by her abusive husband; a newly born girl being dumped in garbage; an adolescent girl being beaten and tormented by her own family members; a college going girl being caught by the dirty stares of vagabonds; an office going lady being harassed by her own colleagues... It is quite unfortunate that in spite of legal parity and harsher laws, the ‘fair sex’ still entertains age long prejudice, violence and harassment. They live in precarious conditions and for even stepping out of their houses; they have to give second thoughts. This is what the scene of 2014 is. Heaven knows what would life be like in the coming years? Will the outside environment be still vulnerable for the women? Or will the future in its store be carrying a drastic change in the mindsets of people?

Although, Lao Tzu said in the 6^th century B.C.,”Those who have knowledge don’t predict. Those who predict don’t have knowledge.” But still there is no such harm in fantasizing tomorrow. Well! Every woman fantasizes a future where they can be safe and independent. A world where they can move freely without having second thoughts; where they have opportunities to rise up to the highest levels of fame in the fields of politics, business and all other spheres of life as well; a world free from exploitation and maltreatment with them… Hence, they fantasize about the best place to live in!

In nutshell, empowerment means right to be independent, to be educated and to have choices in life. We are powerful when we acquire knowledge; when we are economically independent; when we have a say in all the decisions of our lives – be it buying clothes or choosing a husband or career!!

“I don’t mind if I have to sit on the floor at school. All I want is education. And I am afraid of no one,” quoted Malala Yousufzai. Undeterred determination and grit define this young girl who stood up and spoke for girls’ education in Pakistan.

Feminist, Roseanne Barr said, “The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just have to take it.” This statement has been lived by the Gulabi Gang in North India formed by Sampath Pal Devi. This is not a ‘gang’ in usual sense of the term; rather this is a gang which fights for justice. The members of this gang are generally suffered and tormented women who punish oppressive husbands, fathers, brothers and combat domestic violence.

Phoolan Devi, Kiran Bedi, Sonia Gandhi, Saina Nehwal and many more are the powerful women, who symbolize the ‘fair sex’ with inner strength. Rabindranath Tagore’s writings have always marked a feminist angle to them. Kamini Roy is known as the ‘champion’ of women’s rights. She symbolizes women with extensive courage and fortitude.

The meaning of the term EMPOWERMENT differs from person to person. For my cousin sister, hanging out with friends after 5 pm is empowerment; for my mum, removing the veil in front of the elders is empowerment; wearing western dresses, not only ‘salwaar-kameez’, is empowerment for my buddy; studying in a foreign university would be empowerment for me! The background of a person or the atmosphere in which s/he lives helps them to interpret the meaning of ‘empowerment’ in their own distinct way. Everybody decides it according to his/er needs and requirements.

“Talk softly, girls don’t chatter; boys don’t cry; don’t be sissy my boy; girls have long hair” - we all often come across these things in our homes, neighbourhoods and schools. This is gender role conditioning which begins at the grass root level (at birth) and it is instilled within us so powerfully that it keeps us away from discovering who we inherently are. When a child is born, the first question that is asked is –‘Is it a boy or a girl?’ Following this, the new born is treated or interacted accordingly. Why is pink preferred for girls and blue for boys? Why can’t a boy play with a doll and a girl with a toy gun? Haplessly! This stereotypical attitude towards boys and girls still exists in our society.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Girls! Have self-confidence. Unearth your latent power and don’t let anyone either disgrace you or weaken you. Learn to fight back!!