Women too, need to empower themselves and avoid being victims- By Susan Anand, Advocate

Forgotten are the words of Swami Vivekanand “The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is the treatment to women it gives.”

Thousands of years after Manusmriti prescribed a very restrictive code of conduct for women, unfortunately the Indian society is refusing to look beyond it. Everytime when we think that the condition of women has improved, a Guwahati, a Bhagpat reappears. The molestation of a minor girl in public in Delhi, shameful harassment of a Madhya Pradesh judge, and a foreign national in Jaipur again reminds us that the society has not moved away from causing hurt and mental agony to the women. Fatwa against the women by Khap Panchayats is indicative of the mental illness with which our society suffers.

The root cause of the deteriorating position of a female lies in the cultural norms prevalent in some states of our country. In an old sentiment prevalent in the state of Haryana bears testimony to this fact. “Chore pebajetali, choripetheekarphode” i.e. announce the birth of son by beating a brass plate but on the birth of daughter, break the earthen pot. Punjab is no exception to a similar mind set where the celebration of Lohri, primarily a cultural tradition associated with a Rabi crop, is marked with songs like “Sunder mundriye…”, “Guggajameyasi, gudvandeyasi” i.e on the birth of baby boy, jaggery is distributed. Lohri of a baby boy is celebrated with great fervour. This is indeed gender apartheid!

Who is to be blamed for this gender imbalance? The government, society or the individual mindset? Definitely, we ourselves are to be blamed. The day we stop discriminating against the girls at home, the society will start moving in the right direction. The society needs to understand that the woman is a full circle, with in her is the power to create, nurture and transform. The birth of girl child is birth of a caring daughter, an affectionate sister, a loving wife and on the top of it a mother.

Women specific legislations like The immoral Traffic (prevention) Act, 1956, the Dowry Prohibition Act 1956 (amended in 1986), The Indecent Representation of Women Act 1986, The Commission of Sati (prevention) Act 1936, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, The sexual Harassment of women at work place Act 2013, (prevention, prohibition, and redressal) can be supplementary in bringing social change. The primary one, however, is on us to recognize that women are entitled to a quality of life. They do not need protection but a self-help mechanism; not segregation but integration. We need awareness program-me, shedding off the myths related to son/daughter and a change of mindset of society. Gender sensitivity needs to be inculcated in the minds of menfolk. A genuine enforcement of the system of ethics in the medical profession is also required. Women too, need to empower themselves and avoid being victims. Take initiation and lead!

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