‘The hand that can rock the cradle can rule the world’

- Dr. K. Lakshmi Rao, Director, Centre For Professional Development (A Cambridge Accredited Teacher Training Centre), Hyderabad

by Subeditor1

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 school leaders.

In this context, we are pleased to present an article below by Dr. K. Lakshmi Rao, Director, Centre For Professional Development (A Cambridge Accredited Teacher Training Centre), Hyderabad.

‘The hand that can rock the cradle can rule the world”-an old adage!

In the present scenario, when the family and ‘Societal dynamics’ are rapidly changing, with women making their mark in every field that they enter: words like ’empowerment’ and ‘encouragement’ of women appear and sound to be trivial!

International Women’s Day started being celebrated almost a century ago when there was a need for encouragement and empowerment of women. It was more of a patriarchal society with gender disparity. In fact, till the 90s some of the factories like Coromandel Fertilizers, and Shipyards, had no women employees as a recruitment policy of the company, as they felt women were not capable of performing certain duties.

Let me reminisce about my childhood days:

When I was a child, I was the only girl child in my colony riding a bicycle, so I was the ‘talk of the town.’ But now, the societal norms and requirements have changed. When both partners of the ‘couple’ go to work, which is necessary to survive, they can no longer depend on each other to drop off or pick them up. I am citing this as the most basic need.  Being independent and self-sufficient is the new norm! In such a situation, why should we still commemorate International Women’s Day and focus on the role of women? Perhaps it is to nurture a different perspective and thought process of women and ‘Society’ as a whole. The present generation of educated women has already realized their power. Yet, they need a different perspective of society towards their skills, qualities, and contributions to the family. Women are exploring their skills by discovering their inner potential with the power of education. In this process, their priorities have been changing towards family, which still is questioned and objected to by society. This I feel is unfair.

When women are empowered, they develop emotional strength and self-understanding. They become aware of their abilities and limitations. They stop worrying about having to prove themselves as “superwomen” just to gain society’s approval. Empowered women pursue goals aligned with their capacities rather than striving for unrealistic expectations. All women deserve empowerment to foster confidence and self-esteem.

However, let us be a part of the solution: As an Educator I feel that we need to go to the grassroots level to bring the transformation in the Society, which can be done in three layers.

Firstly, I feel, it has to come from the family and within, thereby ‘Society’ – as we are all a part of society. When a family has a girl child and a boy child, the parents need to be cautious in setting up their expectations for the kids. Never send a signal to either of the kids that they are superior to others.

Let them grow as equals except for their physiological differences. Let them do all household chores together. Let them feel that they need to mutually support each other, rather than the brother is meant to support the sister. Even if it is done with a good intention. Let them have the freedom to choose what they want to do. The list of course is voluminous.

Secondly, curriculum changes are required. The curriculum at the elementary level onwards, must not support any gender disparity by mentioning father is the head of the family, he earns for the family, and the mother cooks, and so on. I feel this creates confusion in the present generation of kids, as he or she might experience something different at home with single parenting or any other family structure that he /she may be a part of.

Thirdly, society and policymakers have to keep in mind that women and men complete the ecological balance in nature. Hence the whole society including men and women should change their thought process in setting goals or expectations for one another. Though Society has changed by accepting the equal status of women, some darker patches still exist in the world that showcase the gender disparity through the policies. Equal wages are still to be achieved across the world, which is a matter of concern and shame.

If we, as a ‘Society’, together work towards achieving equal wages and developing strong women with high self-esteem and values, society can be transformed into an Ideal Society. Without an ‘Anjana Misra’s’ case, a dowry death or infanticide case occurring. Let us remember that women can make Society strong !! This can be achieved only when the thought process is changed.

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