“Yeh kya ladkiyo jaise rota hai, mard ho aap, mard !”
Bhaisahab pehle insaan ban na toh seekh jaaye!!!
India, being a country with its unique tradition, ethics, morals and diversified culture have failed, again and again in saving its daughters.
In fact, we all have failed as citizens of this nation.
We live in a country where a woman is taught not to step inside the temple while she’s on her periods, but we have instances of women being raped inside the said holy places. This makes me feel ashamed.
Rape is one of the most serious and common crimes against women in India, and a large number of rapes go unreported because of the one question that haunts all of our minds–“Log kya kahenge?”
I sometimes wonder, where do all of our slogans, hashtags, interviews and news go?
Every incident fills me with fresh remorse. But, the only thing that can’t be seen is – justice.
Do you remember the December 2012 gangrape case? According to the National Crime Records Bureau, a total of 24,923 rape cases were reported across India in that very year. But, this was the only case which agitated the people to come out on the streets and protest, and for the first time the entire country was furious and demanded justice. But now that fire seems to have extinguished.
After everything, we still have the Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh–Assam rape cases – which are just the tip of the iceberg. The history keeps on repeating itself. The list keeps on growing with Kathua, Bihar, Unnao, Surat and many other places where hundreds of crimes against women happen but never get reported.
Isn’t this a reason big enough why a country like India NEEDS feminism?
Feminism.
One word.
Eight alphabets.
A single meaning.
Thousand perceptions.
Feminism, as most people take it – is not about ‘hating’ men. It’s not about raising the female community above the male one. No!
Patriarchy says that a man has to be strong and most importantly, he has to be the provider and the decision maker. Whereas “Feminism” looks at men as equals and emphasises on a gender-neutral division of labour. The feminist movement has always fought for an inclusive society with a right to make decisions and individual choices for people across every possible intersection. Feminism advocates that every person has the right to choose their sexual identity, gender, profession etc. and has also fought for inclusive spaces and equal opportunities for all.
It upsets me when guys in my college are made fun of for not being good at sports, or sometimes, for their talent of being a good classical dancer. And being men, many of them tend to hide their weakness within their harshness. Because most of them were taught that ‘ladke-log’ aren’t supposed to express themselves emotionally.
Such discrimination starts at a very young age when most of us aren’t even familiar with the realities of the world.
Feminism is also for all those times-
when my lips quiver and hands shiver;
for all those sinful eyes whom I’ve been undressed by,
every disgusted look at my red stained skirt;
times when my bra strap hurts random strangers,
when I hear the intricate details of my waist;
that has been measured from time to time,
when I’m objectified as a piece of flesh –
rather than being another human.
Feminism is needed for people like us. Like me.