This International Women’s Day, the society honors the enormous contributions by women worldwide to shape a more equivalent future amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. World witnessed effective leadership inputs by women during this rough patch. The crisis demonstrated not only the centrality of their efforts but also exposed the unequal pressures that women face.
This is a long-time trend that fathers would earn the daily bread for the family while mothers would foster and take care of the children in most of the societies. Old rules apply, only if we let them. In today’s globalized world where women have broken-down the restraints of home comforts, enabled themselves with more opportunities, has contributed to productivity. There is no skepticism about the power of education and employment. Thanks to those who battled for women years before, that we now enjoy the right to education in various fields that were conventionally considered inappropriate for women. Financial freedom through employment is as significant as the latter for any individual, ridding themselves financially off the clutches of patriarchy. Would these forms of empowerment alone suffice for a woman to live a dignified life in our society?
Today, many women in society are modern-day wives, not like the yesteryear housewives, but of a different kind who earns more or less the same as her husband would and share the financial burden of the family; yet fear the society till her last breath. Women balancing their professional and personal life, dodging the possibility of role conflict are winning at life. Revolution shall arrive but its pace has not been fixed yet. Many of us reading this today are privileged enough to have encouraging parents, supportive better half and siblings, a comfortable workplace, but that is not the same with every woman with whom you cross paths with.
As I pen down, I acknowledge that this not just happens with women, but with any gender at a place dominant by the other. To put an end to this, to attain gender equality, we need to work on social and psychological aspects of empowerment too, so that one need not worry or even think about gender discrepancies and gender roles in their own home, office and outside on the street. All that is considered normal for a man should be considered normal for all genders too.
The best gender equality intervention is to emphasis on talent and potential — and that only happens when we have gender-equal leadership. The channel for female leaders or others seems to be widening. While the gap between men and women in leadership roles is being bridged slowly, there still remains a huge disparity between them.
We are moving towards a roller-coaster time in history where the world accepts gender balance. Let us all empower ourselves individually and collectively to fight against all levels of patriarchy. Encourage yourself and others, and do not let the apparent detriments rule the day. Let the world not just notice your absence but celebrate your presence. Cheers to gender equality!
Author,
Bincy Varghese