“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.”
― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
What do you mean when you say 'respect women'?
This question, when was asked to many people had distinct replies.
>> ' Respect for me is like ensuring that they don't feel bad of my presence and also thinking about their views and helping them out.'
>>' Not misinterpreting them and treating them as equals.'
>> ' It means nothing to me. I recognize each person equally irrespective of their gender.'
>>' Treating them for what they do for us and for what they deserve'
>>' Giving her dignity, freedom and a sense of safety'
>>' Respect women is to understand her emotionally, mentally in every other sense and to always be there for her as her self respect is nothing but her attitude towards life. '
>>' Respect a woman like she's your sister. Be virtuous.'
Expanding the horizons of thinking.
Well, people in the twenty first century tend to materialize women. For a selfish fiancé-family, a girl must be a method to earn free money in the form of dowry whereas for a someone she might be another piece of entertainment. The word respect is just ironically added to Women. This tag of ' respect women' is a casual method used by the politicians to gain sympathy votes and also win the elections. But, the question which arises is, how far are women actually respected in the society.
A woman is harassed at workplace and then her mouth is shut. Forget about respect, after all this do you even think that the women's self esteem is intact? She remains being scared and horrified about her dignity, job security and family reputation. Many times she is denied equal opportunities in jobs too.
Next is something which you can find in every nook and corner of the city- Eve teasing. Eve teasing is said to be a legally punishable offense, but how far is it implemented? Here is a small instance.
' A 13 year old girl was walking down the lane. A pair of motor bikers came and started rolling their bikes around her. She continued walking. Luckily, as she proceeded, she came across a police jeep. She called out for the police officer. One of the bikers went to the policemen, whispered something to him and the policemen quietly walked away.' This is not all, shouting names, pedestrians touching and walking away and stalking are some very common deeds which are ignored by the people with a blind eye.
Hundreds of guys stay unmarried in Haryana, why? Because of female infanticide. The killing of the girl child just as they are born or maybe even before they are born has led to an abrupt sex ratio. Household violence is also quite prevalent in the nation leading to massacres like ruthless deaths at times.
This was all about the extreme physical violence faced by women. Now let us glance at the mental torture.
Women are engulfed in the vicious taunts and criticism. People consider her to be a burden. They are neglected from any field of progress. Equal opportunities and status is declined to them. The Indian government itself doesn't comprise of 1/4th women candidates. This is enough to explain the margin at which women are segregated from the society.
This feminine gender is the creator of the world. She doesn't only give birth to generations, but also nourishes and brings them up as better citizens of the society. And here we tend to look down at them? How far is this correct.
Everyone says that we should Respect women, well now, let's go ahead and actually do it.
For, just as it is said-
"Women is not a liability to the world, the world is liable to women."
This article hasn't been written to attack the sentiments of a particular gender. Rather, this is just to have a Broadway look at the current scenario, even after the country is said to have progressed drastically. This is not even generalized to each and every group, rather just to create awareness about the anguish faced by many.
