International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, honors the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide. This day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. The theme for 2024 is ‘ Invest in women: Accelerate progress’. In recognition of this important occasion, Brainfeed will be highlighting diverse perspectives and insights from women leaders in the education domain.
In this context, we are pleased to present an article below by Dr. Sucharita Roy, Principal, Jubilee Hills Public School, Rampally, Secunderabad, Telangana.
“Assessing a community’s progress should entail measuring the advancements made by women” – B.R. Ambedkar.
With all due respect to this assertion, I ponder why this sentiment remains equally pertinent in contemporary times. Growing up in a very progressive family, we were shielded from gender discrimination by our parents, who had no preference for a son over daughters. Despite this, within our extended family, instances of discrimination arose, yet they didn’t significantly impact us due to the supportive environment for girls in our generation. Our parents prioritized education and holistic development for their children, though as we matured, we noticed they subtly instilled traditional household skills and etiquettes, preparing us for future family life. This realization highlighted how even the most educated and progressive parents could inadvertently conform to societal norms.
Ideally, the celebration of Women’s Day should focus solely on honoring womanhood, devoid of the need for empowerment discourse. From my perspective, empowerment should be a societal endeavor rather than solely directed toward women. Only this holistic approach would lead to a significant cultural shift, including equal opportunities for education, dignified treatment of female fetuses, delaying marriage until a girl secures employment, rejecting dowry, and empowering a girl child to care for her parents with the same authority as a boy. In many households, I’ve observed a troubling trend where parents differentiate between their sons and daughters even during something as basic as serving food. This bias extends further, with discrimination during the inheritance of properties or daughters-in-law being pressured to sacrifice their careers to maintain traditional gender roles and financial dependence. It’s very unfortunate to see highly educated women still subjected to domination by family members across various aspects of their lives. The stories of these women too often go unheard and unaddressed. As a parent, the idea of bringing up my daughter in a society with deeply ingrained norms evokes a mix of anguish and determination. Will I be able to navigate these challenges and ensure she grows up free from the constraints of gender bias? It’s a question that weighs heavily on my mind, driving me to strive for a world where every individual, regardless of gender, can thrive without limitations.
On this very special occasion, I urge every woman not to strive for perfection at all times. It’s perfectly acceptable not to look flawless, speak flawlessly, or avoid making mistakes. Embrace your imperfections and fulfill your role and dreams as a human being, striving to be accepted as you are. Because, in our country, with a very patriarchal society, changing attitudes or mindsets is an extremely difficult and slow process and only you have the power to fast forward it. Just as evolution doesn’t occur overnight, neither does societal change, but it is inevitable provided we all contribute our parts.
Confidence isn’t inherent; it’s something that needs to be cultivated. Every woman should prioritize building her self-esteem to enhance her confidence. Instead of solely defining womanhood through marriage and motherhood, emphasis should be placed on achieving financial stability. Financial independence of a girl child should not be considered as an option but as a necessity for every woman. Providing equal opportunities to the girl child should not be considered as a favor to her but as a fundamental responsibility of all parents. Similarly, empowering your sons to engage in household tasks and teaching them to respect every woman should not be seen as optional anymore, but rather as imperative. This practice indirectly promotes the empowerment of women.
To my understanding empowering a girl or woman will be achieved not only by sending a girl child to school or by making a woman financially independent but by also making the woman’s whole ecosystem empowered, so as to help a woman grow as an integral part of it and to ensure a more sustainable future for all. The celebration of Women’s Day would then truly embody a celebration of women in every aspect.
