What is Gender Equality? Is it just a hot topic for discussion or an issue we talk about in school debates and then forget? Gender equality in my opinion is the basic structure of a society. It does not only mean equal rights. It means equal opportunities, equal freedoms and equal responsibilities for the three genders.
Let’s talk about the first gender- the males. A gender treated as historically superior and more powerful. I honestly feel this forced power and superiority is choking the men around us who are expected to be strong, both physically and mentally. An ‘ideal man’ protects his family. An ‘ideal man does not cry’. When you take away the basic emotions of fear and despair from a person, you choke him, you confine him, you destroy him. Do you know Ms. World 2017?
Yes, Manushi Chillar. Do you know Mr. World 2016? I guess not. Rohit Khandelwal it is. Pageantry, dance, and so many professions are considered as feminine and hence any man taking part in such activities is labelled as a girl. When men face issues like domestic violence, rape, molestation etc. it is laughed off. Why cannot men be considered as victims of these crimes?
Now, the 2nd gender- Females- A gender whose voice and wishes have been historically suppressed. Why? Because a strong woman with an even stronger opinion is a hazard to the society according to our chauvinists. A woman walking on a street is treated in inappropriate ways and sometimes in worser situations, raped. This in fact is regardless of age, clothing, mannerisms, relationship status, societal status and so on. But how can our lovely chauvinists not put the blame on women in any way whatsoever. For example, by stating short clothes as a reason. Marital rape is not even treated as a crime.
It is included in domestic violence in our constitution. Crimes against women have other forms such as domestic violence, dowry and so on. An ‘ideal woman’ is submissive. An ideal woman is ‘motherly”. We girls are expected to pour love left, right and centre. The struggle for women rights is all over the world. It might be for political rights, financial rights, educational rights and sometimes only for ‘living rights. Women with opinions, with independence, with strength, with a good career and even with short hair are laughed off. Some of our progressive men like the fact that women excel in their careers but dislike the fact that sometimes they excel more than them. This statement only applies for a certain section of men and not for all.
Wives and mothers with a stable career are frowned upon and thought of as bad and irresponsible wives and mothers. Those who are housewives are thought of as good-for-nothing. Women working in the army, playing sports and who practice occupations considered as ‘male occupations’ are belittled as well.
The third gender-the transgenders- a gender historically ill-treated and discriminated. People belonging to this particular gender are stereotyped and humiliated in horrible ways, tough to imagine. They don’t get basic rights. They are stopped from working in well-paid and respectable occupations and denied a normal life. I don’t know how I will feel if I walk on a street facing disgusting and prejudiced looks or how will I feel if my right to a normal life is taken away from me? I feel this aspect of gender equality is often not addressed properly. Gender equality means equality within the three genders in order to promote peace, happiness and harmony.
So much time we take in finding ways to discriminate between ourselves. Why don’t we use this time to find ways to promote the ideals of justice and equality? Why don’t we consider providing a platform to each person irrespective of gender to come forward and showcase their talent and present their opinions? Why do we humans spread hate and prejudice that too on the basis of gender rather than spreading love?
Look at our cinema which does impact us in a large way. Our male leads are hulks, female leads are submissive love interests and transgenders are made fun of and stereotyped. Now we do have legal arrangements which do mostly promote equality but there are some cases where they can be improved, for example in the case of marital rape. But in order for us to reach the epitome of gender equality, we in partnership with the government must find a solution. Lead from the front. Let’s build schools for the children denied education. Let’s talk about these issues in public
platforms like this. Let’s not be hypocritical. Let’s remove our prejudice and then the prejudice of others. Let’s change this prejudiced world we live in.
(1 votes, average: 8.00 out of 5)
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