Have we really done enough for woman empowerment?

God made man and woman and I don’t think he made one superior over another. But even in today’s age and time women are facing both injustice and abuse.

India ranks 133 out of 167 countries in women’s peace and safety index published by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) based on three indicators, which is inclusion, justice and security. India’s low performance in such indices can be ascribed to the facts of conspicuous discrimination against women, low sex ratio, reports of rapes, and share of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), to name a few. In a country like India, rich in its cultural and ethical spheres, it is appalling to see the rapidly increasing gender bias along with the simmering discontent of our fellow feminine community. These are few detractors which come in way to women empowerment. Not only in India but all over the world women are still seen as a weaker gender.

We, as a society have not focused on what we can do to mitigate the issue and bring in a change and reform. Instead, our attention has taken recourse to blaming the society as a whole.Truly speaking we have not given proper thought to achieve real women empowerment. As a society let us rethink the possibilities and actions needed to bring in a change. So here is a question: what are the challenges that are hampering this process of empowerment or rather when can we say that women are empowered?

Lack of Education

I strongly believe that education is the primary factor to empower the socio-political and economic status of women. Education will provide women a platform to learn, innovate build knowledge and experience

How does education help??

Well, education can enlighten children that ethics, morality and integrity are inextricable tranches of human character. If strong emphasis is laid on character building then the society would have better youth and a better society. Education imparts us knowledge, which furthers innovation. It inculcates creative and intellectual thinking.

Reach one and all

No child should be deprived the right to education, irrespective of gender. This is crucial to bring a striking change in the stature of women. Every educated girl is a boon to society, she grows up to judge the right from wrong and eventually guide the society and her offspring’s.

Changing perspective

Girls should be taught to condemn wrong and speak up in confidence when treated unjustly or discriminated. Similarly boys must be taught to treat a girl with respect. They should know not to look at girls and women as object but as a respectable human being. Boys and girls should be taught both are equal and must learn to co-exist by giving due respect to each other. This should also be practiced at home and society on the whole.

Rural reach

It is known fact that most women hailing from rural and tribal areas silently tolerate violence or abuse committed by their partner or their partner’s allies. These women are forced to be silent and suffer in grief. To impart courage and instill confidence in such rural and tribal women, they should be made aware of their rights which are guaranteed by the constitution. Government should impose strict rules in these areas to educate them and provide them help sessions to inform them.

NGO’s and Women welfare associations that embrace women’s cause for an equal stand must be encouraged. Government and women intelligentsia must conduct mass awareness campaigns to teach women of their rights, place and strengths.

Religious myths

It is true that in the name of religion women often face challenges like entering certain temples or not entering. Morality must supersede religion in this aspect and that should be propagated into the masses. Religion asks us to do things that are being told in the books regardless of what is right, morality teaches us to do what is right regardless of what is being told in the holy books. Those religious beliefs which are retrogressive must be discarded.

Stereotype

Discrimination between a girl and boy are sometimes supported by compassionate stipulations. Some common stipulations are ‘She is too weak to do that…’ or ‘our tradition won’t allow her to that…’ or ‘She won’t be accepted by our community if she marries someone from other caste’. This stereotype tendencies are a threat to gender equality. We must have the courage to disassociate ourselves from them before they become the enemy of our own cause. Stereotype mentality must change.

A women raped is asked to keep her mouth shut. She is compelled to believe that keeping shut is better for herself. The first is where the society is her enemy, in the second case she is her own enemy. We are imprisoning women in their own minds.

Epilogue

No one can love us unconditionally as a mother
No one can look after us as much as an elder sister
No one desires for our betterment as much as a wife

We have to let women think and do what they really want to do. We should teach them not to accept if their liberty is restricted. They have the freedom to choose just like any man would. There is no power we can give them, actually they are already powerful if we just let them be themselves!

I am reminded of the Lord Srikrishna’s words (Bhagavad Gita) when Bheeshma does nothing on seeing Draupadi being molested by Kaurav’s in a fully occupied court hall.

“సారపు ధర్మమున్ విమల సత్యముఁ బాపము చేత బొంకుచేఁ
బారము బొందలేక చెడబాఱినదైన యవస్థ దక్షులె
వ్వార లుపేక్ష చేసిరది వారల చేటు గాని ధర్మ ని
స్తారకమయ్యు సత్య శుభదాయక మయ్యును దైవ ముండెడున్.

Here is my literal translation for the above verses:

“Whenever there is an attack on Dharma and Truth by Adharma and Lies.
The capable should rise to the occasion and protect Dharma and the Truth.
If they remain silent, it will be a peril as Adharma and Lies will destroy them.
Dharma and Truth will always win and it will remain eternal.”

Do not stay idle whenever you witness violence against women or when their rights are being infringed upon. We the capable should raise our voices and protect them and do the rightful deed, or else we will have to face the same perils like Bheeshma did in the epochal battle of Kurukshetra.