BY ADITHIMANASA
It is international women’s day! Newspapers and magazines
are filled with write-ups on how to make the day special for the special woman
in your life. Eateries, bakeries, ice parlours, beauty parlours, shopping malls
and amusement parks are offering discounts and special offers for women. There
could be a beautiful bouquet waiting on your doorstep! A box of gift neatly
wrapped could reach you any moment! The people who care for you could surprise
you.
Ah! What joy it is to be born a woman. No, wait! Just for
one day we are treated like queens… but for the rest of our lives we live in
fear. The fear of a rapist waiting to strike! The fear of a stalker hell bent
on making you frightened! The fear of a jilted lover who could throw acid on
you any time! The fear of a chain snatcher who could catch you off guard! The
fear of cops who want money to do the talking! The fear of that driver,
teacher, neighbour or stranger who has been threatening you with dire consequences
if you reveal the dirty games he played with you when you were a kid! The fear
of this…
This women’s day when all are in a celebratory mood, I’m
being a pessimist. Well people, don’t you think ‘looking at the brighter side’
actually means ‘compromising or adjusting with the situation’ rather than
tackling the bothersome issue? In a male dominated society, women need to
either beg or prove their worth in order to ‘demand’ equal status.
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| PHOTO COURTESY: KBOO.FM |
Companies have come up with different mobile apps that help
your family keep a track of your whereabouts, that teach you how to defend
yourself, that raise an alarm when you are in danger, that inform the police in
case you are in trouble, etc., But till date no app has been developed that
could change the mindset of the criminal. The woman is destined to be wary all
the time as men have the license to make women’s lives miserable.
Celebrating women’s day would really be meaningful if women
have not one but many reasons to smile… throughout the year. The day women step
out with no worries haunting, can truly be called women’s day! The day men
treat women with compassion and respect, women’s day celebration will be
meaningful. The day women are no longer being treated as mere objects will
there be a feeling of victory and a sense of liberty. That day we all can
proudly celebrate women’s day. Till then let’s ‘try’ to be happy and contended
with the little joys of life. Happy women’s day! (sic)
