International Women's Day, 8th March
For the last 32 years my life has been revolving around three women; mother, wife and daughter, if I add the maid at home and the secretary at office the number becomes five. So, when I was asked what I thought about the International Women's Day, my first thought was 'is there an International Men's Day?'
Look, I don't intend to take away from the seriousness of the matter, nor do I want to belittle this day. After all, it is an international day and anything imported (specially from the West) is very dear to us Indians, even our own Yoga.
Just reflect on this........we have a very ancient tradition of 'Women Power;' we do 'Saraswati Pooja' to pay obeisance to the Goddess of Learning, we celebrate 'Diwali' to propitiate the Goddess of Wealth Lakshmi and 'Navaratri' is a nine day long celebration of 'Shakti Pooja' (women power of Durga, Kaali, Chandi etc. all rolled into one). Even our God is 'Ardh-Nareeshwara' (half male-half female). In ancient India, women enjoyed equal status with men in all walks of life. There is mention of several women sages and seers, notably Gargi and Maitreyi, in Rigveda and Upanishads.
So, what happened that despite such robust traditions, women in our country, barring few, were reduced to the hapless and helpless beings that we see around us everywhere? And can this situation improve by observing this imported 'Women's Day' once in a year? Has this day, too, not been reduced to a mere symbol as so many other such days (mother's, father's, valentine's etc. to name a few) useful only in furthering the cause of marketeers?
International Women's Day, when it was first observed, was observed as the 'International Working Women's Day.' Look at the dichotomy: a working woman was defined as a woman who goes out of her home and earns money. This was supposed to empower women economically. I think this was the biggest disservice done to women. In one stroke it negated the contribution of women in running their homes. Instead of giving an economic value to all the work a woman did in taking care of her family and her home it gave her an inferiority complex. Even when eventually it changed to 'Women's Day' from 'Working Women's Day' the underlying premise did not. And nothing exemplifies it more than the 'I am just a housewife' syndrome most homemakers suffer from.
While observing the International Women's Day this 8th March can we hope to improve this situation?
Great one Ashok.
ReplyDeleteI am sure women will have their own take on it. Incidentally the constant company of 3 women in my life have sobered me a great deal.
I completely agree with you, that these western ideas actually take away from women.
As my wife Sharada says, 'home' work requires far more acumen than that at work. And I agree.
I tried doing that a few times, and missed quite a few critical items.
I shudder to think of us poor men, if all the women decide to take up a career. We will all be out of work.
Regards,
Vidyut
Well said, Ashok. I always thought that I was alone in my views on all these international days. I am glad I have company.What really gets me is the way we ape the West in almost anything and everything.No musician is worth his salt unless he has given performances in London,Stockholm and Paris !No tourist places are worth visiting unless the glossy brochures show Westerners riding camels.Fathers Day, Mothers Day... Ugh ! Makes me sick.
ReplyDeleteSeetha
Does any 'day' ever mean more than a mere symbol - if it does, then it's because of the value we ascribe to it and this is not a constant over time.
ReplyDeleteWe don't even need to look at the 'imported' examples - homegrown 'days' such as Independence Day, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti and sundry other Jayantis have no meaning for most of us (my generation at least) other than being days we can take off from work! Then we have the religious festivals - these are also 'days' after all and even with these, there are some that have faded over time while others have gained 'importance' thanks to marketing.
An 'Indian' case in point is Karva Chauth - that absolutely abhorent 'day' that thoroughly degrades women but has gained wider popularity pan-India in recent times (a true reflection of how backward we are as a society today - one merely needs to scratch our hypocritical surface).
The irony of it is that this gender degradation is in large part also perpetrated by women on women.
Very interesting thoughts, Ashok. No we do not need a men's day! Do macho majorities that earn higher salaries have more rights, more power and more decision-making space need to be celebrated and remembered? But you're right on this one: Women's day or not, even right here in Central Europe women are completely underrepresented in society's "higher decision-making levels" above all companies. More men need to do housekeeping. More women need to lead multi-billion dollar corporations.
ReplyDeleteThree women in my life now.Plus 3 sisters and mother.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean!!
Any designated day becomes a ritual unless there is meaning attached to it. Like Neha said, Independence Day does not mean much for the younger generation. Yet, observing it makes it remain in memory lest we forget the importance of it in the history of our nation.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly days like Karva Chauth all have its origin in the belief in conditional worship. This is ingrained in our psyche.
Valentine's Day and such other days are popularised due to commercial interests. And relevant to a microscopic minority in our country.
Let's enjoy these days without becoming too involved!!
It sure is a sorry generation that needs reminders of a ‘mother’s / woman’s day’ etc to revere the ‘woman’. Shouldn’t this be done by default?
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, commercial tho it may be, there is no taking away from the fact that it speaks favorably of a society that bestows recognition and respect to that segment of society on which its very survival depends on and which hitherto has been taken for granted.
having been both a working and ‘stay at home’ mom, I can truly say that tho I derived much inherent satisfaction from being at home and looking after my family, my true identity and worth was realized only when I was employed. Having lived more than a decade in America, I have seen the benefits and rewards of couples sharing the responsibilities of work and home together. That, I believe is the true credit being given to a woman. When men accept graciously the contributions of women in the workforce without being threatened themselves….when men become equal partners at home in raising and building up the family…etc….that’s when the woman comes into her own….and it starts from our own homes……anything else is exploitation in disguise.
Why don't we celebrate a humanity day?? By celebrating a women's day itself is a way of showing one is inferior from the other...I celebrate only the co-existence and equality...special privileges should be given or taken only when we feel that there is lack and inequality...I am completely with what Beulah has said here...why should there be any fight in proving anything...as long as there is acceptance and respect for each other there won't be any need to celebrate the 'special' days
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