Monday, 06 February 2012
A woman
Posted By: The Burning Soul
 
 
A woman cannot be defined in words.. she is infinity brought to life.. she is ashes set on fire and reignited again in contemprary India. What is women Exactly? Every male thinks that he has figured it out.. Every woman thinks she has figured it out.. but neither of two exactly know what A woman is .. what she represents.

A woman stays satisfied in whatever you offer her.. Now this can differ she can get bullish and go after the goal if she really means to go for it or else she can be content with whatever she gets. They said God made men first and then removed the imperfections and created women.

A woman can be depicted in six Crucial emotional turmoils love ‘n’ hatred, happiness ‘n’ sorrow, laughter ‘n’ cries . A woman does not have a neutral stance on many things she can either be extreme or naive.

They say figuring out women is one of the most difficult tasks and men have wondered for centuries..and yet they stay tamed by this magnificent rule of nature. Women are a glimpse of light in a Coal mine of a man's heart. But most of the time that is taken in a wrong context by most men. Most problematic situations encur when the women is suppressed by the superlative male ( actually his ego ) and she stays restrained to that. A way to gain A woman's heart is not less than conquering the world.

You still guessing why should women exist? Well let me put it this way .. A woman is a perfect daughter for a mother, she is no less than a son for her father. She is a best friend for her siblings , For her husband she is the mistress, Her son's guardian and companion and a Old man's nurse, but she never complains as women tend to seek happiness in work .

In Contemprary society where they Speak " All Indians are my brothers and sisters " , " A woman is God " most of those words just remain words. The same contemprary India shuts out its women inside rooms , her voice is killed and made to stop, her rise is seen provocative and bad.. and the male ego tries to be superlative to her. Untill the condition of women is improved We wont have any more miracles happening in this country. I know of a story where a girl was asked what is your deepest fear she replied


“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”


Thats all . Thank you
 
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Terrorism Against Women
Posted By: Roohani
 
There were attacks on girls in Bangalore regarding the "pub culture" thing, remember? 
And around late february, those cases reported against attack and molestation on women on the streets of Bangalore for wearing "western attire"? You know. Girls behave "indecently" in pubs, which is "against our Hindu culture", and hence to avoid these girls being a "disgrace to our Indian society", some "action had to be taken"?

I would have loved to call it a "religious" movement, but let's come to the facts - this is just one more example of our patriarchial society. These people say they are protesting not against women in particular, but just the pub culture? Then why don't they explain why only females were targetted in that pub? 

Here's a statement from Sena chief, Prasad Attavar -
"Are you saying that women should go to pubs and drink, and do drugs in skimpy outfits? Does even Renuka Chaudhary approve of this? There is a need to preserve our culture and there is no denying that. In fact, we will continue to fight to preserve our culture. I promise you that I will put an end to this fight if parents of these girls give the police an undertaking that they are fine with their daughters drinking and doping with skimpy clothes on in pubs."

So let's consider this once again, shall we?
This guy is apparently agaisnt women going to pubs and drinking and wearing skimpy outfits and doping around. Oh you know, that's SUCH an absolute disgrace! I mean, omg! Because, men NEVER drink or go to pubs, do they? 

They can't make this shit up. This is a clear misogynist action which simply portrays the typical male attitude, no matter what religion he is from. Such males think THEY can drink, have sex with call girls, smoke, drug, and do what they like - but FEMALES? Omg, our culture is at stake here, don't u know? They should keep their brains right inside their homes running errands, chanting hymns, reading religious books, and starving themselves for safe return of their living male god on earth! 

I mean for heaven's sake. All we heard in the news was the debate on whether or not this was according to the Hindu culture and how pubs are increasingly having a western influence on people, but how many people actually thought over the fact that if this Shri Ram Sena was really targetting the pub culture then what explains no attacks on the guys? What is their explanation for their question "Are you saying that women should go to pubs and drink, and do drugs in skimpy outfits?" if they aren't SPECIFICALLY targetting just the women?

Let's come to those attacks on women in Bangalore where women were targetted for their "western attire" which is, u know, out of Indian culture. Now how come no guys on bikes hit men who wear jeans and trousers instead of our religious, traditional, cultural kurta pajamas or dhotis? How come no one shouts "omg they are wearing western attire!" when a man walks on the street wearing a pair of low-waist jeans? Why does no social activist group target men who go to pubs wearing what they like and having sex with who knows how many girls?

These people rant about their culture preserving attitude? They are Male Dominance Preserving Assholes. If they think imposing a certain stereotypical behaviour and a specific dress code and their "moral values" on women while THEMSELVES opposing it in every way (which is, u knw, totally unobjectionable and unquestionable!) is called "preserving culture", I'd just say one thing - cut the crap guys. 

This is the 21st century for heaven's sake. When will people get broad minded? When wil people just leave women alone? I somehow don't understand how the victims of every conflict invariably turns out to be a female - be it religion, clothes, western influence, whatever. I've hardly heard of any incident where social activists attacked specifically men becuase they were drinking in pubs. 

It's transparently clear and yet people don't get it. Or maybe they do, and never admit it. For all those really oh-so-traditional conservative people, I'd like to say a few lines - 

Women will rise up and they are rising up all over the world. Men are frightened because they fear losing their power and dominance. They believe that there are certain things which are morally wrong, but the action should only be taken against the females indulging in these things, because men, u knw, they cannot be questioned or held accountable or attacked! Why? Ah, because it is these men who themselves are the ones who carry out these attacks in the first place. Becuase, matters like violence inflicted on women excite the frustrated male specimen who believes himself superior to women.
 
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Gender Roles
 
 Posted by: Roohani
 
 
A gender role is defined as a set of perceived behavioral norms associated particularly with males or females. 

The society has defined roles for each gender since history. These roles state that of every married couple, the woman would be the home-maker and the man would be the breadwinner. 

Now I don't have anything personally against these roles. Usually many people are happy conforming to traditional roles. Gender roles only become a problem when they are forced on an individual or when there is a huge social outcry when one wishes to go against said roles. Not everyone likes the roles their gender is suppose to follow. Why should they be forced into a role simply because of the gender they were born into? Do you believe one should be forced to stay in the class their parents were simply because they were born into it? People should be able to make their own choices about their own lives. If that means a man wants to be a stay at home father, fine. If that means a woman wants a career, fine. I don't understand why people have such issus with gender roles. 
 
Anti feminists claim that feminists have something against women who choose these traditional roles. We don't. It is the *stereotyping* the role of a woman (being a mother and home maker) is what I have a problem with, and not the roles. When a woman is expected to do what her traditional gender roles have always been, and not given a choice to follow her own choices, that's where feminism comes up.

There still exists approximately one man out of every ten men who thinks that his wife is supposed to stay at home, cook for him, clean for him, wait on his hand and foot, give up her dreams and devote herself to him, give him sex when he wants it, doesn't fight or raise a voice at him, (as if life is all about HIM)..

She is a human being who has every right to refuse the traditionally expected roles thrust upon her, and men need to change their attitude of leaving all housework and family and children and kitchen responsibnitly on her. Just bcoz she has XX chromosomes in her body and two different parts doesnt mean she needs to become a slave to penis owners. The whole idea of stereotyping women as wife/mother and men as the person who works has been questioned enough times now, and by now everyone agrees that men and women are both HUMANS and are both capable of doing everything. 

Women are subjected to extreme criticism when they choose to work (how they're neglecting their children, how they're putting wrong impressions on their children, on and on). Women are thrown out of their workplace if they are in the process of giving birth. Sure, some women would prefer the traditional roles over working, and we respect their choices. The problem arises when a woman chooses NOT to do what is traditionally expected of her, and she is looked down upon by her family and is subjected to criticism, hence having to go against her choice.

I've heard from a lot of people that because of the coming of feminism, women have "forgotten what being a woman is really about." So, what exactly is being a woman about - conforming to traditional roles, not thinking for themselves, not doing what they thought of doing with their own lives?
Being a woman isnt "really" all about taking care of home adn raising children and being stay at home moms. Every woman is different and may want a different kind of lifestyle. If some women dont like staying at home, by all means they shouldnt be forced to stay at home. 

There are biological and physical differences between a man and a woman. Appreciating them and living with them is one thing. Turning them into social differences, into oppression of one whole gender, stereotyping roles, refusing choice, contributing to gender discrimination and refusing to treat women as human beings is another thing, which is absolutely unacceptable.
 
I think life has too many option for all of us, why to limit those options? Following "roles", make us all build a tiny box, I believe life is much more than that, if we explore and get free from preconceptions. Gender roles and stereotypes limit our choices more than they help us.
 
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The Patriarchy
Posted By: Roohani
 
 
Everyone hears the word "patriarchy" frequently these days, and while most people understand the meaning, many people misinterpret the word into thinking that this word is something the radical feminists use to blame all their problems, or something. 
So let's see what we mean by this word. This isn't the first time this is being written, yet I wanted to write on this.

Patriarchy is a social system where men are seen inherently superior to women, where women are denied choices and made to live in traditional roles, where men are given more priviledges than women in terms of choice of lifestyle. 

A system where all housework responsibility is thrust upon the woman because she is a woman, no matter whether she's working outside or not. 
Where women aren't given encouragement to work outside their houses.
Where women are subjected to extreme criticism if they do. 
Where men blame women for neglecting children if women choose to live the way they want while men themselves never stay at home to raise them.
Where women have no place in the work force if they have children at home.
Where the society holds double standards for "working person" on basis of gender.
Where women aren't seen in most high paid jobs because they are expected to contribute to housework.
Where women are seen as physically much weaker than they really are and hence denied certain things men do.
Where a woman's appearance is whats the most important thing for her to gain male approval.
Where a woman is labelled a slut if she wears "short" clothes but no one cares if a man wears shorts.
Where a woman is supposed to have a male escort with her and she cannot choose to walk outside at late night because she might be raped.
Where instead of making tougher laws to forbid men from forcing themselves on women, women are expected to wear "acceptable" clothes, not walk alone at night, etc.
Where cases of domestic violence against women aren't taken as seriously as they seem to be.
Where baby girls are killed just because they are girls.
Where women are expected to remove any hair which isn't growing on their head but the same isn't expected of men.
Where women aren't paid as much as men because they keep taking time off work to help in housework, which is again thrust upon them because men don't help with it.
Where workplaces don't support women who want maternity leave, and replace them when they come back after a year.
Where women are labelled "career obsessed" if they like their work, but it's "expected" for men to like their work.
Where women who want to live their lives on their own terms and not being dependant on a man are considered man-haters.
Where women are oppressed by men in various ways, maybe lesser in western countries, but in many ways in many countries even today.

This is a universally acknowledged fact that women face the soul wearying oppression from men in various small or big ways. Patriarchy is sometimes invisible, sometimes denied of existing, sometimes questions proof - but I'd say, patriarchy is like the air : u can't see it, u can't smell it, u can't touch it - but u feel it all the time, it's around u all the time, it exists.
 
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