By Spoorthi Pema:
It is that time of the year when tensions are high as the exams are around the corner. Though half of the country is boiling with anger over the countless rapes of women and little girls in the nation, our universities continue to follow their routine of examinations. I belong to one such university and the whole last week was spent in filling up forms and paying fees for the same.
Though the medieval practice of filling up paper forms and standing in queues for hours, when we belong to the age of internet, really frustrated me, what caused more anger was the fact that every form asked for my father’s name or in some cases my husband’s name. Somehow, the women of my life were considered either non-existent or maybe not fit enough to be identified with.
In a time when people are protesting against heinous crimes such as rape, my little complaint of not including a woman at an equal position in the administration, might seem menial. Then again, it is the little changes that lead to the biggest impact.
Even when the trend of corruption swallowed our nation, and everybody was filled with a zeal to fight corruption, the flame faded of soon. When in reality the real fighters of this cause are small actions taken by people every day. Little things, such as teaching your kids to value the right things in life and not run after wealth alone, or choosing to pay the fine for not wearing the helmet instead of bribing the traffic policeman.
Even with the cause of the equal treatment of women, the little things in our daily lives can bring the biggest impact. If we start genuinely considering women as equal, and include their names in places where only men stood before, wouldn’t equality of women come naturally in the country? Waiting for big changes at the level of parliament and supreme courts would mean nothing, if in our everyday lives, we still fail to see women as equal, and fail to see women as that half of the society that can not only have its own identity, but also give identity to their children and spouses.
Yousuf Bhai
It’s true women are the mothers and the wives. Arabic proverb says mothers are the school of children. Of course the best schools ever and can not be handled by men even the strongest men. It does not mean women responsibility to educate children. No. The two are responsible. Women and men are equal b’coz God has created human-beings without differentiating the two.
Discussing women-gender issue seems unending topic and both in diametrical side which can not understand each other. Men are Mars while women are Venus. If such unequal practices in society it does n’t mean tend to subordinate women. But, many often the standpoint we use to measure is different. For me filling form with putting father name is simply administrative manner to identify ourselves. I am sure, many women even in modern era are still happy or even proud to put their husband name particularly for those husband who have shaken their hearts and changed their lives for better life.
I think women also should keep fight to get their rights and aware that they have been exploited in the name of market needs. Women become icon to advertise any products, or why women always become potential market toward products-good and services. Or, why Bollywood movies now tend dominantly exposing sensuality? Or, one should be noted corruption done by men drove by their wives.
harish
@Yusuf Bhai
Dude , God did in fact create women and men as unequals. Please read the crap that is exposited in all the major religions of the world and you’ll see how different men and women are in those books
Neha Jha
Just yesterday, I was intrigued with this thing when while filling up form, I had to write an application stating why my father wasn’t present…as if mothers don’t matter…
Raj
Yeah that sucks. Hope it worked out OK for you