Am i the only person who feels squeamish and downright irritated when people say things like; 'these days girls smoke/drink a lot more than guys' ; 'don't be such a girl'; and yes, if pointed out, comes the reply, 'was just a joke, relax'. True, anything in good humor is OK, but the problem arises when the same joke develops into a regressive mindset.
Second in line is when i see people asking each other, or for that matter, asking me, if i am a 'feminist'. But i will get back to that later.
India has been a 'developing nation' for a long time, and will continue to be one for time immemorial. Forget the development of technology, rise in education levels and all the other benchmark standards. As long as we still have those regressive attitude barriers and superstitions that we follow in the name of religion and culture, the country as a whole will continue 'developing' for a long time. I have not traveled around a lot outside India, and yes, maybe it is prevalent elsewhere, but i can only talk about what I have personally observed.
But all through this, i must say there are very rare exceptions though, but these views on what i have noticed about the bigger part of the community.
Let me start with the phrase 'career woman'. Is there such a word as a 'career man'? No? Why?
Because it all stems from the thought that for a girl, there are very few important milestones. The most important being marriage. It is almost as if she has been born only to 'get her married' later on and the 'responsibility' is 'passed on' and work, or 'career' as we refer to, is just a hobby that is pursued in the meantime. A guy HAS to work, because he has to earn a living, and for a girl, it is to 'fulfill her interests before she gets married'. Any girl not wanting to do so, is branded.
Has it ever occurred that maybe she can take the responsibility for herself and that she can do it better than the rest?
Sure there are girls who would not like to work. But that is their choice. Not a generalization.
She drinks or smokes, and out come the comments;" Oh. You too? You know, girls are very fast these days, they want to do everything". Excuse me, what does that even mean? Why is it that a girl doing that evokes surprise?
There are posts which say- Some guys do not drink or smoke, yes, we exist. Yes we know you exist, and that is your choice, not an achievement.
Calling a person a feminist. The use of that word itself implies that you believe that women are of course, the weaker sex and that someone is absolutely required to fight for their rights. As long as there are 'feminists' and woman's days, there will continue to be inequality based on gender.
The same goes for a guy, too. He decides he does not want to work, and he is termed a loafer. Does not drink or smoke? Wow. He is an achiever.
Each person has their own interests and choices, and that does not entitle anybody to brand the other person ANYTHING, or stereotype them.
Just let them be.
Second in line is when i see people asking each other, or for that matter, asking me, if i am a 'feminist'. But i will get back to that later.
India has been a 'developing nation' for a long time, and will continue to be one for time immemorial. Forget the development of technology, rise in education levels and all the other benchmark standards. As long as we still have those regressive attitude barriers and superstitions that we follow in the name of religion and culture, the country as a whole will continue 'developing' for a long time. I have not traveled around a lot outside India, and yes, maybe it is prevalent elsewhere, but i can only talk about what I have personally observed.
But all through this, i must say there are very rare exceptions though, but these views on what i have noticed about the bigger part of the community.
Let me start with the phrase 'career woman'. Is there such a word as a 'career man'? No? Why?
Because it all stems from the thought that for a girl, there are very few important milestones. The most important being marriage. It is almost as if she has been born only to 'get her married' later on and the 'responsibility' is 'passed on' and work, or 'career' as we refer to, is just a hobby that is pursued in the meantime. A guy HAS to work, because he has to earn a living, and for a girl, it is to 'fulfill her interests before she gets married'. Any girl not wanting to do so, is branded.
Has it ever occurred that maybe she can take the responsibility for herself and that she can do it better than the rest?
Sure there are girls who would not like to work. But that is their choice. Not a generalization.
She drinks or smokes, and out come the comments;" Oh. You too? You know, girls are very fast these days, they want to do everything". Excuse me, what does that even mean? Why is it that a girl doing that evokes surprise?
There are posts which say- Some guys do not drink or smoke, yes, we exist. Yes we know you exist, and that is your choice, not an achievement.
Calling a person a feminist. The use of that word itself implies that you believe that women are of course, the weaker sex and that someone is absolutely required to fight for their rights. As long as there are 'feminists' and woman's days, there will continue to be inequality based on gender.
The same goes for a guy, too. He decides he does not want to work, and he is termed a loafer. Does not drink or smoke? Wow. He is an achiever.
Each person has their own interests and choices, and that does not entitle anybody to brand the other person ANYTHING, or stereotype them.
Just let them be.
