Many of us, especially men think that feminism is an overrated topic. It is so because we only talk about feminism while we still continue to strengthen the roots of our patriarchal society. Even in the 21st century, our backward mindset is ready to question a woman everytime she chooses to live life on her own terms. But young boys and men are never questioned about their whereabouts. A girl, on the other hand, needs to go through a set of questions to step out. Why are we questioned a lot? We were told that it’s because of our security. Is this what we call equality in today’s fast-paced world?
Girls taking up engineering as a career are mocked by their male colleagues as they are thought to be less capable than them. If someone is driving a car in an improper manner people, don’t even take a minute before uttering the words, “pakka ladki hi hogi.” A girl taking interest in technology always has to hear “yeah sab chohd chula choka sekh age chal ke tere kaam aega”. Even after marriage, many women are expected to leave their job for the sake of household responsibilities while men continue to live their lives just like before. Women end up being treated just like a full-time maid who need not be paid. She is also treated with suspicion.
I recently had an experience where I got a call from a woman (who I didn’t know that well) who begged me to clarify to her husband that she was talking to me ten minutes ago and I was her old school friend. But the truth was that she was talking to her old friend who happened to be a man. As her husband doubted her a lot and inquired about the same, she nervously gave him my number.
Women who get married in a rich family are thought of as gold diggers. A woman is held accountable for each and every mishappening which makes her the soft target for exploiters. From politics to our movies – every place lacks equal representation between men and women. Recently Nazudin Siddiqui was accused of retrieving his wife’s call details without her consent which is an invasion of her privacy. Many places still continue to pay women less than men. This frustrates me a lot.
Why is it so? When will this change? These questions are needed to be answered by our leaders, lawyers and the society-at-large. This feeling must be inculcated in the minds of the young generation by treating our girls and boys equally and giving them the same opportunities.
It’s time to take strict action to ensure a better and brighter future for women all over the world.