In apportioning responsibilities in the "fight" for
gender equality the only one left out is the common citizen. It does not
provide for any political mileage or any sensation on the media if we start
looking inwards and find out things for us to do.First of all there is a
need to relook at gender equality and get it defined correctly. Moving forward
more than the police , the paralysed administration and the insensitive
government how many of us have had the courage to raise our voices when we see untoward incidents happening around us. This job we have outsourced to that "hero" in the proxy ad of Liquor brand .How many of us have attended marriages where
huge amount of cash and gold are "exchanged" when we are "aware" about
the dowry act. How many of us have dared to intervene in our localities ( 20 buildings around you) when we have witnessed
harassment ( including violence) by in- laws demanding dowry or chose to ignore
because they are friends , relatives, drink buddies. How many times have we
tried to counsel , advice , threaten the perpetrators , to avoid abortion of female fetuses in our neighborhood. How many of us have friends who are habitual eve-teasers and how
many times have we discouraged them from indulging in such acts. How many of us
feel uncomfortable about imaging the policemen as the chulbul pandey's in
popular films and feel that it is time we boycotted such films .How many of us
realise that most bollywood songs are glamourised eve-teasing and create a
certain stereo-type of women in our society Incidentally the ever-sermonising
news media doesn't find this depiction as incorrect and are ready to celebrate
these films as 100 cr grossers. How many of us squirm when women are depicted
incorrectly in ads and feel that we can voice our protest by at least making
those ads irrelevant .
Answers to these question will decide how we are making our society a safer place for women. And if we get our act right we will not require candle light vigils , flash mob demonstration, and condemnation of govt and administration to set things right . And please Don't forget that CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME
Answers to these question will decide how we are making our society a safer place for women. And if we get our act right we will not require candle light vigils , flash mob demonstration, and condemnation of govt and administration to set things right . And please Don't forget that CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME
