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Women today - are we really considered equal?
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India :
Yesterday was International Women’s Day. Wikipedia says it’s ‘a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.’ Women have come a long way from 1909 when the first IWD was celebrated. Women presidents, scientists, Nobel Prize recipients – we’ve done it all.
In India, we pride ourselves with saying that women hold an equal place as men, doing everything they do and being treated fairly in the home, workplace and society. As I left the house last night to go celebrate with some friends, cocktails and jazz music my aunt advised me to wear a shawl over my outfit so that I wouldn’t draw attention to myself.
That moment made me recall a recent train experience from Bhopal to Bangalore. Suddenly I found myself questioning whether we are really in a position to can say a woman is treated as equal to a man.
It was early morning when I boarded the train in Bhopal. In the compartment with me were all men, much older – probably in their 50’s and 60’s - around the age of my father. We made some general conversation about where I was going and all. It was all normal till then.
As I was reading, I noticed that my fellow travelers were beginning to get too inquisitive…what are you reading, where are you from, are you alone? Now this was getting uncomfortable. I didn’t want to get rude, at the same time didn’t want to give out too many personal details. So I put on my headphones to let them I know I don’t want to be disturbed. They stop talking, but start gawking at me completely unabashed. Here I was squirming in my seat, trying not to pay attention to it.
When we reach Nagpur, two youngsters get on the train. After I while, I go over and we make general conversation. We ended up sitting together the whole time enjoying each others company. After a while we notice that older men in the compartment are leaning over their seats to look at me. It didn’t stop there; men in other compartments and even railway employees didn’t hesitate to gawk at me without a rest.
After hours of ignoring and shuttling seats and trying to get away from the piercing glares, I finally felt compelled to put my jacket over my conservative long sleeve shirt even though it was really hot. All this in the hopes of not feeling uncomfortable with the looks I was getting.
Now, how is it that we talk about women’s liberation, when I, a young Indian woman cannot travel in a train alone without having the eyes of older men on me watching my every move. I understand that in most parts of the world men look at women, and there’s nothing wrong with it. But shoving and pushing to see, and leaning over each other and staring open-mouthed. That’s enough to make any woman uncomfortable.
So, I ask you the reader… is a woman really considered equal to a man? Or are we pretending that we don’t see the reality as it exists…
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RSS 
Women in Argentina have no such problems, women do not get discriminated against, they have rights just like men, equally and differently in some way.
But yes, lecherous men dont leave any opportunity to target women. Just because there are these bastards around, should women stop socializing, living their normal lives?
No.
Sll women need to stand up and take a stand.
But yes, lecherous men dont leave any opportunity to target women. Just because there are these bastards around, should women stop socializing, living their normal lives?
No.
Sll women need to stand up and take a stand.
(Global Perspectives)
A very well written article Varsha.
And Happy Women’s day to everyone.
And Happy Women’s day to everyone.
(Local Perspectives)
)
File Type: ImageWomen gather in front of the metropolitan Cathedral to celebrate the Women’s Day in Santiago yesterday.
(Global Perspectives)
Varsha, you shared your experience that is almost similar with my experience. I think every girl in India faces such horrible experience. Physically we not above than men but in mental toughness and skill-level we are scoring over men and the male-dominant society would never accept this so where is the question of equality. Its all in discussion only.
(Local Perspectives)
Women are more than equal with men in every department except physical strength. You people are enjoying every rights, what else do you want? What you experienced in train is completely unacceptable and I condemn this.
(Local Perspectives)
It’s a day of worldwide celebration for the achievements women have made, recognition of the difficulties and challenges women still face daily, and recommitment to fighting gender-based discrimination through the promotion of women’s substantive equality.
But there is still much to be done to further women’s equality.
Aboriginal women still don’t have equality in their communities in terms of property rights and representation in the governance of their communities, and are at a highly disproportionate risk of becoming victims of domestic and sexual assault.
Women are still being sold into slavery in the form of trafficked persons. 80% of all trafficked persons are women, who are forced into domestic and/or sexual exploitation.
Lesbian women are still suffering widespread discrimination, and face legal barriers to being able to care for their partners during end-of-life situations and inheriting property from their partners - even homes that they have been living in for decades.
There are different problems affecting women in other parts of the world. Women are raped en masse as part of genocidal wars in Congo. Girl children as young as 8 are married off in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Girls as young as 4 are subject to female genital cutting in northern Africa. Women are displaced in the Sudan. Women and girls are not permitted to go to school in Afghanistan. Women aren’t even allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. Girl children are abandoned in China. Women are forcibly sterilized in Tibet. Women are being denied access to contraception worldwide through USAID and PEPFAR, and have no way to prevent unwanted pregnancies, even when they know they risk transmitting HIV to their fetuses.
It’s pretty obvious that there is still much work to be done.
But there is still much to be done to further women’s equality.
Aboriginal women still don’t have equality in their communities in terms of property rights and representation in the governance of their communities, and are at a highly disproportionate risk of becoming victims of domestic and sexual assault.
Women are still being sold into slavery in the form of trafficked persons. 80% of all trafficked persons are women, who are forced into domestic and/or sexual exploitation.
Lesbian women are still suffering widespread discrimination, and face legal barriers to being able to care for their partners during end-of-life situations and inheriting property from their partners - even homes that they have been living in for decades.
There are different problems affecting women in other parts of the world. Women are raped en masse as part of genocidal wars in Congo. Girl children as young as 8 are married off in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Girls as young as 4 are subject to female genital cutting in northern Africa. Women are displaced in the Sudan. Women and girls are not permitted to go to school in Afghanistan. Women aren’t even allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. Girl children are abandoned in China. Women are forcibly sterilized in Tibet. Women are being denied access to contraception worldwide through USAID and PEPFAR, and have no way to prevent unwanted pregnancies, even when they know they risk transmitting HIV to their fetuses.
It’s pretty obvious that there is still much work to be done.
(Global Perspectives)
@Lalit you are not well-informed about women's right I think. Women continue enjoying fewer rights, getting less education and poor in health status, earning less income and being victim of harassments in offices and homes, They have less access to resources and decision-making authority than male counterparts. Women aren't getting enough role in food production, income generation, management of natural resources, community organization and domestic responsibilities. Don't you think we should get these rights.
(Local Perspectives)
Ayushi is absolutely correct, Women can't get the same opportunities what boys get for education, to make good careers, to become powerful political personality, and to work for economic development of the country. there is another problem too. when women and men perform the same work, women often get less pay and fewer benefits than men. It happens in developed countries too.
(Local Perspectives)
Whatever work women do, they must do it twice as well as men do to be thought half as good as men.
(Global Perspectives)
No, we are not equal, have a look here and decide yourself-
A> More than 80% of the 35 million refugees across the world are women and children.
B> More than 110 million of the children population in the world (of which 2/3rd are girls) are not in school.
C> more than 30% of woman population in the world are survivor of some form of gender-based violence, generally exploited by her own family member.
D> Women get less than 10% representation on average in national parliaments.
E> In sub-Saharan African region, 58% of the total persons infected with HIV/AIDS are women.
A> More than 80% of the 35 million refugees across the world are women and children.
B> More than 110 million of the children population in the world (of which 2/3rd are girls) are not in school.
C> more than 30% of woman population in the world are survivor of some form of gender-based violence, generally exploited by her own family member.
D> Women get less than 10% representation on average in national parliaments.
E> In sub-Saharan African region, 58% of the total persons infected with HIV/AIDS are women.
(Global Perspectives)
let me ask one question here - Do Women misuse their rights or not? On Aug 26, 2007 (August 26 is Women’s Equality Day), hundreds of harassed men, including graduates of IITs and IIMs, engineers, doctors, lawyers and NRIs, gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to protest against false charges of dowry/sexual harassments against them by their wives. They were also agitating against the recent included domestic violence laws. A woman simply file charges of dowry harassment or sexual abuse/domestic violence against male members of the family and everyone she names go behind bars without any evidence, investigation or witness. What would you say about such incidences?
(Local Perspectives)
In India, women belong to low castes, and tribal women are more at risk of being sexually assaulted because they live their life on the mercy of men. They don't even know what kind of rights they have, to protect themselves. In rural areas, things are worse and you can imagine when a girl living in metro faces such situation, what happens to girls living in rural areas.
(Local Perspectives)
These days law enforcing agencies are forcing 'rapist' to marry the 'victim' and calling it justice. It is happening in smaller cities and towns. This is absolutely unacceptable and mockery of honour of the woman who is victim. It will give such men free hand, they will have the option to rape a girl first and then marry her to skip the punishment. Can you call it justice to the victim?
(Local Perspectives)
Feminists should work hard to stop the misuse of laws and rights given to women because misusing the rights and laws is more than a crime. In case of false charges made by women to put weight in her case, they lose their voice in her fight against the crime. The police record shows that IPC 498A is being heavily misused and government has no provision to stop misuse of the law. This is being said as 'legal terrorism' now. For such women, sending husband and other male members in family to jail has become as simple as ordering pizza or burger for women living in metro cities. They are even extorting money also. Who is there to control it?
(Local Perspectives)
Jawaharlal Nehru had said that the condition of a country can be defined by looking at the status of its women.
(Local Perspectives)
We can see six major areas where women face discrimination in India-
1. Malnutrition- Indian old tradition says women eat last and least throughout their lives, it doesn't matter if she is pregnant or lactating. Malnourished women give birth to malnourished children too.
2. Poor Health- Women worry less about their health. Working conditions and problem in home impairs women's health.
3. No education- Still in 21st century, several families in India do not send girls to schools or pull them out of school after 5th or 6th grade. It mostly happens due to fear of sexual assault or to help out at home.
4. Overwork: Women work for longer hours but it goes unrecognized. Men generally consider that women, like children, eat and do nothing.
5. Mistreatment- The cases of atrocities against women, like rapes, assaults and dowry-related murders, is increasing day-by-day. Female infanticide and sex-selective abortions are also reflecting the decreasing value of Indian society.
6. Powerlessness- majority of women in India are unaware about the rights constitution has granted to them and the laws there to protect them.
1. Malnutrition- Indian old tradition says women eat last and least throughout their lives, it doesn't matter if she is pregnant or lactating. Malnourished women give birth to malnourished children too.
2. Poor Health- Women worry less about their health. Working conditions and problem in home impairs women's health.
3. No education- Still in 21st century, several families in India do not send girls to schools or pull them out of school after 5th or 6th grade. It mostly happens due to fear of sexual assault or to help out at home.
4. Overwork: Women work for longer hours but it goes unrecognized. Men generally consider that women, like children, eat and do nothing.
5. Mistreatment- The cases of atrocities against women, like rapes, assaults and dowry-related murders, is increasing day-by-day. Female infanticide and sex-selective abortions are also reflecting the decreasing value of Indian society.
6. Powerlessness- majority of women in India are unaware about the rights constitution has granted to them and the laws there to protect them.
(Local Perspectives)
YOU are not treated equal!! Why? Because of your own folly. Why do you project yourself as weakling and demand preference in certain areas when you really want to get the EQUAL status! Reserved seats for ladies in buses and trains show that women enjoy being considered as the weaker sex.
I agree that women power is the latest example of kinetic energy, but where does that power go when you are offered preferential treatment in certain charts of life? For instance, long queues. You continue accepting the preferential treatment, and you are destined to be looked upon as an inferior breed.
I’ll be happy as hell when the women of today will reject all these preferential treatment and say in a loud voice ” No! we are equal to men, we don’t want to be considered as the weaker sex.”
As for your unfortunate experience, Varsha, I, as a man, feel really ashamed sometimes because of such jerks! They are a mentally sick lot who misrepresent the whole male society.
I agree that women power is the latest example of kinetic energy, but where does that power go when you are offered preferential treatment in certain charts of life? For instance, long queues. You continue accepting the preferential treatment, and you are destined to be looked upon as an inferior breed.
I’ll be happy as hell when the women of today will reject all these preferential treatment and say in a loud voice ” No! we are equal to men, we don’t want to be considered as the weaker sex.”
As for your unfortunate experience, Varsha, I, as a man, feel really ashamed sometimes because of such jerks! They are a mentally sick lot who misrepresent the whole male society.
(Local Perspectives)
Aneez, may I ask what folly you are pointing at? It is a woman who becomes a mother..so even if we have some seats reserved for a woman in a public transport ( supposedly a pregnant woman is travelling in a bus) what is the harm in this? Whatever Varsha has pointed out is glaring truth, and for your kind information, the ”jerks” whom you think misrepersent the male bastion, actually comprises majority of them. Kudos Varsha, excellent article.
(Local Perspectives)
well done varsha.......
real truth of life that you discussed......
real truth of life that you discussed......
(Local Perspectives)
@Reshmi
I totally sympathisize with you, and other unfortunate women like you, because I think, till now, you have only been surrounded by the ’jerky’ types of males ( as is clear from your hypothecation about the male society), and I pray that God give you some opportunity to see the noble side of the male society, so that you can see the actual truth.
As far as your clarification of the reserved seats go, well, I’m not talking about pregnant woman or ailing human (whether man or woman), because its a duty of every human to take care of such people. I am talking about the normal woman, who sometimes surprise you by their act even in such situations, WHEN A PREGNANT WOMAN ENTERS IN A BUS ...AND THE RESERVED SEATS ARE ALREADY OCCUPIED, by the ladies of course, ...THEY DON’T BOTHER TO VACATE THEIR SEAT...AND SHOUT AT OTHER MALES ” DON’T YOU SEE, SHE’S PREGNANT?... STAND UP AND LET HER SIT”.
Anything more?
I totally sympathisize with you, and other unfortunate women like you, because I think, till now, you have only been surrounded by the ’jerky’ types of males ( as is clear from your hypothecation about the male society), and I pray that God give you some opportunity to see the noble side of the male society, so that you can see the actual truth.
As far as your clarification of the reserved seats go, well, I’m not talking about pregnant woman or ailing human (whether man or woman), because its a duty of every human to take care of such people. I am talking about the normal woman, who sometimes surprise you by their act even in such situations, WHEN A PREGNANT WOMAN ENTERS IN A BUS ...AND THE RESERVED SEATS ARE ALREADY OCCUPIED, by the ladies of course, ...THEY DON’T BOTHER TO VACATE THEIR SEAT...AND SHOUT AT OTHER MALES ” DON’T YOU SEE, SHE’S PREGNANT?... STAND UP AND LET HER SIT”.
Anything more?
(Local Perspectives)
@ Aneez, Hey, chill man...don’t take the stance of Mr. Know it all.. sympathesizing with the hapless women folks like me for being surrounded by ”jerks”...thankfully I never faced any such grim situation in real life till date like Varsha..but as a woman can very well feel her discomfort and what she wants to point at. You also know it for sure that what she has written here happens in any public place all over India everyday...women are constantly subjected to lecherous comments, lewd remarks, stares et all.
As regards to your clarification regarding reserved seats, I can only say that the chivalrous male who gallantly offers his seat to an ailing lady( pregnant or whatsoever)is only a handful. Most of the times its another girl who gets up and gives the seat to her. The same applies for all human( as pointed by you)...I myself have seen an aged person being offered a seat by umpteen number of girls...when guys seem to be busy discussing some cricket controversy looking the other way, pretending not to have seen the aged person’s plight.
Take a chill pill...I have never condemned the entire male society...I know ’n’ number of guys who are very decent, helpful and amicable. I objected at your pointing finger at women saying that they take preferential treatment calling themselves weakling! In every sphere of life women are giving stiff competition to men...so instead of praying to God for showing the ’noble’ side of males..its better you pray for your peers...after all they belong to the same species...What say???
As regards to your clarification regarding reserved seats, I can only say that the chivalrous male who gallantly offers his seat to an ailing lady( pregnant or whatsoever)is only a handful. Most of the times its another girl who gets up and gives the seat to her. The same applies for all human( as pointed by you)...I myself have seen an aged person being offered a seat by umpteen number of girls...when guys seem to be busy discussing some cricket controversy looking the other way, pretending not to have seen the aged person’s plight.
Take a chill pill...I have never condemned the entire male society...I know ’n’ number of guys who are very decent, helpful and amicable. I objected at your pointing finger at women saying that they take preferential treatment calling themselves weakling! In every sphere of life women are giving stiff competition to men...so instead of praying to God for showing the ’noble’ side of males..its better you pray for your peers...after all they belong to the same species...What say???
(Local Perspectives)
@Reshmi aka Contradiction & Confusion Inc.
Please go thru this -
”Whatever Varsha has pointed out is glaring truth, and for your kind information, the ”jerks” whom you think misrepersent the male bastion, actually comprises majority of them.”
And this -
”thankfully I never faced any such grim situation in real life till date like Varsha..but as a woman can very well feel her discomfort and what she wants to point at”
And this -
”I know ’n’ number of guys who are very decent, helpful and amicable.”
And this -
”so instead of praying to God for showing the ’noble’ side of males..its better you pray for your peers...after all they belong to the same species...”
The above mentioned are excerpts from YOUR comments. If you pay attention to your comments, you are nothing but a bundle of confusion and contradictions. Please be clear what you want to say. Or do you want to assert that only those males who are from your family n friends circle and those who are known to you are the ’good’ ones; and rest of them are ’jerks’?
Now go thru this -
”In every sphere of life women are giving stiff competition to men”
And this -
”It is a woman who becomes a mother..so even if we have some seats reserved for a woman in a public transport ( supposedly a pregnant woman is travelling in a bus) what is the harm in this?”
Now, Haven’t I cleared this point in my first comment? Take it again ”I’m not talking about pregnant woman or ailing human (whether man or woman), because its a duty of every human to take care of such people.”
So, what exactly do you want to say? Well, if the sole purpose of your confusion-filled comments is to make me realize that a woman doesn’t accept defeat easily, then I think you are wasting your time, and mine too! Because I already know this! If you go through my comments, I have never raised any doubts regarding women’s ability.
Please go thru this -
”Whatever Varsha has pointed out is glaring truth, and for your kind information, the ”jerks” whom you think misrepersent the male bastion, actually comprises majority of them.”
And this -
”thankfully I never faced any such grim situation in real life till date like Varsha..but as a woman can very well feel her discomfort and what she wants to point at”
And this -
”I know ’n’ number of guys who are very decent, helpful and amicable.”
And this -
”so instead of praying to God for showing the ’noble’ side of males..its better you pray for your peers...after all they belong to the same species...”
The above mentioned are excerpts from YOUR comments. If you pay attention to your comments, you are nothing but a bundle of confusion and contradictions. Please be clear what you want to say. Or do you want to assert that only those males who are from your family n friends circle and those who are known to you are the ’good’ ones; and rest of them are ’jerks’?
Now go thru this -
”In every sphere of life women are giving stiff competition to men”
And this -
”It is a woman who becomes a mother..so even if we have some seats reserved for a woman in a public transport ( supposedly a pregnant woman is travelling in a bus) what is the harm in this?”
Now, Haven’t I cleared this point in my first comment? Take it again ”I’m not talking about pregnant woman or ailing human (whether man or woman), because its a duty of every human to take care of such people.”
So, what exactly do you want to say? Well, if the sole purpose of your confusion-filled comments is to make me realize that a woman doesn’t accept defeat easily, then I think you are wasting your time, and mine too! Because I already know this! If you go through my comments, I have never raised any doubts regarding women’s ability.
(Local Perspectives)
@ Aneez alias the stout defender of the males!
I am really amazed at your capacity of making literary innuendoes...its really laudable the way you have taken out few of my lines and tried to position them in such a way that they look incohesive and out of context. But I have said clearly that I had objected to your calling the entire womenfolk weakling... you have just kept quiet on that. The way you have generalised, I had also generalised..point taken??
And I had posted this comment not to give vent to any personal prejudice of mine, that is the reason I said I know many guys who are very friendly, well mannered et all. What gives you the idea that I am talking about only my near and dear ones?
Anyways, this verbal altercation can go on and on, so I’m only putting an end to it, bcz as you have yourself said that you already know women do not give up easily. I am very clear of my stand, so the question of confusion or self contradiction doesn’t arise at all.
Next time onwards, atleast grudgingly appreciate the efforts of people like Varsha, who have tried to raise a pertinent question regarding the present day scenario about Women’s equality, instead of hoarsely crying about preferential treatment.
I am really amazed at your capacity of making literary innuendoes...its really laudable the way you have taken out few of my lines and tried to position them in such a way that they look incohesive and out of context. But I have said clearly that I had objected to your calling the entire womenfolk weakling... you have just kept quiet on that. The way you have generalised, I had also generalised..point taken??
And I had posted this comment not to give vent to any personal prejudice of mine, that is the reason I said I know many guys who are very friendly, well mannered et all. What gives you the idea that I am talking about only my near and dear ones?
Anyways, this verbal altercation can go on and on, so I’m only putting an end to it, bcz as you have yourself said that you already know women do not give up easily. I am very clear of my stand, so the question of confusion or self contradiction doesn’t arise at all.
Next time onwards, atleast grudgingly appreciate the efforts of people like Varsha, who have tried to raise a pertinent question regarding the present day scenario about Women’s equality, instead of hoarsely crying about preferential treatment.
(Local Perspectives)
Varsha such incidents happen, but you were lucky becoz more than this happens with a lonely girl. You have to face this much only and they were trying to know more about you and were trying have your glimpse from different angles , mostly males( iam not talking of all, few exceptions exist everywhere) consider female as a commodity.
Beside having so many constitutional rights we never treated equally in comparision to our male counterparts, this is hard but a real fact of our society.
It’s a praiseworthy effort and you come up with that, lot of woman keep their mouths shut on such incidents.
Beside having so many constitutional rights we never treated equally in comparision to our male counterparts, this is hard but a real fact of our society.
It’s a praiseworthy effort and you come up with that, lot of woman keep their mouths shut on such incidents.
(Local Perspectives)
EQUAL is a huge word. We have to fully grasp and imbibe all that it means. We should be ready for whatever happens when we get it. In other words, be careful what we ask for!
(Global Perspectives)
Add your Comment
After all she plays great part in the progress of any country as the mental and physical contact of women with life is much more lasting and comprehensive than of men.
Women are still payed less money than their male co-workers. This hypocrisy infuriates me! I can’t imagine working the exact same job as any of my other male co-workers, doing the exact same job for the same amount of time and still getting paid less. That is not fair. It is not right.
In the Movie ”G.I Jane” Lt. O’Neil, the only female lieutenant in training asks, ”Just treat me the same. No better, no worse.”
The movie stirred up a lot of controversy. Is it true? Are women not as capable of fighting a war as a man? Are woman as valuable in combat, or do they just create more problems?