This is a million-dollar question! Women in today’s world have to face the challenges of the patriarchal society both as individuals and collectively.
Many women are increasingly empowered as individuals in the sense we are able to get educated, become economically independent and voice our opinions. But we have to think beyond ourselves, and of women collectively: how are we helping those women who are not able to get these things yet?
In India, caste, religion and patriarchy work together to ensure most of its women cannot dream of living in an egalitarian society. Men in positions of power do not think much of women’s fundamental rights and frequently make statements that justify the oppression of women.
No solution or problem cannot be unidirectional and simple, as we always assume, given the intersection of caste, religion and patriarchy in India. We should realize that currently, most progress for women is only for the privileged few, not for the lower strata of society. Our country is not progressive enough to respect every woman’s right and justice equally. This is shameful. All women who have these privileges must constantly remember, and understand, that millions of Indian women still face many hurdles to basic individual, social and economic freedoms. – Kutti Revathi, Poet, Feminist, Activist and Doctor
I’m starting to notice a change in my life. I find I no longer have to defend my right to a profession, to an income, to security. Nor do I have to defend my unmarried status. We seem to be gaining self-respect and dignity. I think if we respect ourselves, truly, and realise that we are capable of anything and everything – then we will find no longer have to impose our needs and expectations on men – husbands, lovers, fathers, sons and brothers. I think if we do this, we may find that we have set both men and women free of the expectations and needs we impose on each other. – Samhita Arni, Author of Sita’s Ramayana and The Missing Queen
There was a time when a woman was considered to be, ‘The force behind a successful man’. The adage, in my vocabulary, has changed to ‘A woman is a force in herself, for herself’. Definitely today, women have carved a place for themselves. We have established names from Hilary Clinton (politics) to Christiane Amanpour (journalism) to Nita Kumar (education) to Naina Lal Kidwai (banking). Young women like Malala Yousafzai are emerging, intent on making a difference. In the 21st century, women are ambitious, supported by society, given an education, marching ahead, their heads held high to show the world their gender holds meaning beyond the hearth. However, it is also true that in several parts of the world, women are prisoners to outdated, draconian views, given no voice, tormented, and considered born only to serve the male. They have no time, nor pleasures to call their own. Atrocities like female genital mutilation exist. Women are beaten to death in the name of family honour. Innocent women are raped. Domestic violence is present. But women are speaking, protesting, rebelling to create awareness and initiate collective change. I would like to believe the world is a better place for women today because we have a voice and we will be heard. – Abha Iyengar, Author, ‘The Gourd Seller and Other Stories, Many Fish to Fry, www.abhaiyengar.com
As much as we may talk about feminism, women being equal to men, women stepping out, women holding positions and women being sexually free, the woman of today is still confused because she has no models to look up to, no paradigms. Essentially, the woman of today is struggling to define the woman of today. Approximately 81% of the Indian population live in nuclear families and women have both work and family to handle. Even though both the husband and wife return from a ten-hour shift, it’s the woman who has to enter the kitchen and also focus on the family. So today’s woman is not in such a great position because the man is not as progressive as he wants her to be. It’s a tough phase ahead. Yes, we are redefining boundaries but it is going to take a while. – Raksha Bharadia, Co-Author of Indian Chicken Soup Series titles, Founder of www.bonobology.com, an online portal on long-term man-woman relationship in urban India
I watch them walking down the road beneath a high moon. Sometimes the street lights don’t work. Their backpacks slung low over hips snug against skinny jeans, sometimes knit-cloth churidars. They walk briskly. With confidence. Even when it is late in the night. They are returning home. Or they are going to work. They have downloaded safety apps into their mobiles. Some of them know martial arts. Some carry pepper spray. They all know the way to the nearest police station. Brave women? Foolhardy and adventuress? No. Just ordinary ones. Going about their business in today’s world. Single women, wives and mothers too. Balancing office and home. Women who refuse to run away from the hard reality of what it means to be one in 21st century India. – RK Biswas, Author, Culling Mynahs & Crows, Breasts & Other Afflictions of Women, http://biswasrk.wordpress.com
Women in today’s world are warriors and healers. Teachers and visionaries. Women understand that current systems based on fear and scarcity are broken. Women are leading us in creating an interconnected world inspired by principles of love and compassion, equality and justice. Our time has come. – Mallika Dutt, President & CEO, Breakthrough
Compiled by Anupama Krishnakumar & Vani Viswanathan
