25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
“Why are we treated as second class citizens or considered third rate human beings?” Today, many women are becoming vocal and assertive for their rights and shout out such queries.
All over the world, be it in highly educated countries or in semi literate communities, women appear to be at the receiving end.
Violce against them takes many forms. Denial of their rights to have good health and education or economic sufficiency, relegating them to the backyards of society when it comes to administrative responsibilities, decision making occasions or not treating them as equal partners, are forms of violence.
Even in so-called democratic countries, women are given less preferance to their male counterparts in political
leadership or in elected representation. These are social violence.
Physical violence through domestic torture, claims of dowry, divorce , forced abortion, rape, dumping elderly parents in old age homes, and such other treatments are forms of ill treatment of women. Even denial of property rights is a form of violence.
All these boil down to the prevalence of male domination, symptomatic of patriarchal mindset and social structure.
Male domination is observed in families, social field , public life or religious circles. Even in religions, which preach equality, one notices male roles in the performance of rites and rituals with their fundamentalist and patriarchal justification under cover of tradition.
Women form almost half of humanity. They are not just child bearing machines, nor are they to be treated as robots to move and act at the press of a male button. Nor are they ‘use and throw’ gadgets. When people realize this, a sea change will take place in their attitudes or in their perception.
There is another side to it. Many women get enslaved to male ideology or may tend to become willing victims of male domination.
Children in familes need to be treated equally without tagging them as ‘father’s boy’ and ‘mother’s daughter’. Some school children may come from certain families with snobbish mentality and look down on other children coming from some poor economic or different social background. Schools and colleges need to became centres of fellowship where we cultivate and nourish future national and international leaders.
Tribal communities need to encourage women participation in village decision making, social and political life. Today, quite many tribal women are making their male counterparts uneasy by claiming their right to property.
Let the world open up its doors and windows to let in fresh air and wholesome breeze in the form of women’s freedm and equality, freedom from torture, and freedom for enjoying life’s enchanting gifts.
