March 8 is a global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and a call for accelerating gender parity. It is not about offering discounts to women in stores and salons, cab rides and cinema halls, and so forth; all of which is mere tokenism. It’s about empowering women so that they can enjoy equal rights and opportunities as men, and can freely live their lives with a sense of self-worth and dignity.
There is no denying that various international agencies, government and society have a huge responsibility to ensure a safe environment for women; an environment in which women not only survive but also thrive, but the primary responsibility of empowering women rests with women. We should stop waiting for others to do what we should be doing for “us.” The educated empowered women must take the lead and the rest will follow. It’s not a one-time thing, though. Persistence is the key here.
ALSO READ: 8 special things men should do for women this International Women’s Day
STEPS TO WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:
No matter what age or stage we are at in life, we can inspire and empower other women and make every day International women’s day. Here you go:
• Respect yourself & other women.
• Strive to be better than yourself, not better than men. Understand that women and men are meant to complement each other, not compete with one another. You can’t empower yourself by disempowering men. Carve your own niche.
• Know what you want. If you want gender equality than don’t ask for reservations, exemptions, separate queues and all of that. Aren’t you equal to men, then why these double standards?
• Dress up for yourself and not to make other women jealous.
• Behave responsibly. The onus of taking care of yourself is on you.
• Be supportive of female colleagues/employees. Understand their stress and reach out to them. Make them comfortable. Show that you care for womanhood.
• Don’t badmouth your girlfriends and other women in your life to your partner or male friends. Be their strength, inspiration and motivation, and never betray their secrets.
ALSO READ: CIA may be spying on you using your smartphone or smart TV’s, reveals Wikileaks
• If you wish to not be seen as a mere object of gratification, don’t behave like one. Enjoying and dancing to vulgar item numbers is consenting to objectification.
• Don’t use your being a woman to seek any favors from men.
• Stay in control. Women have learned to be helpless because it is rewarding. It is also disempowering. Get hold of your life, brush up your knowledge, work on your self-esteem, keep fit mentally and physically, and be confident.
• Manage your finances. If you can earn the money, you can manage it too. Don’t leave it to your father, brother or partner to decide where and how you will invest. Ask questions, discuss and then decide.
• Don’t forward jokes that demean women to other women or men. Remember there is a little truth in every just kidding. No forwarding jokes demeaning men either. Like I said earlier, you can’t empower yourself at the cost of men.
• Help women in distress. If you see a woman stranded on the road or being harassed at office or any such thing, don’t look the other way. Help her in any which way possible.
• When you decide to marry, make sure the ad you place in the newspaper/various matrimonial sites gives information about your qualifications, hobbies and interests, rather than how tall/fair/beautiful you are.
• Prepare for your marriage and not just the wedding. A happy marriage empowers the couple to deal with the stresses that are an inherent part of family life, and makes women less likely to be victims of domestic violence.
• With changes in gender roles, rituals need to be changed too. Let your to-be spouse know what you are comfortable with (Karvachauth fast or any such thing,) and whether you really wish to go ahead with it. Don’t get pressurized into doing something you wish to not do.
• Sign a prenuptial agreement, as divorce negatively impacts women more than men.
• Don’t over-invest in the wedding even though you may be able to afford it. Keep it simple. Remember that you are setting a trend that other women may not be able to afford.
• Expect to birth a normal healthy baby, not male or female. Thank God for the PNDT act. Most female feticides were done by supposedly empowered women.
• Treat your girl child at par with the male child. House rules should apply to both of them equally. If your daughter must get back home before a particular time, make sure your son does too.
• Stop telling your children fairy tales that show women in bad light – Cinderella, Snow white and the seven dwarfs are passé. With changing family dynamics, these fairy tales need to be dumped.
• Don’t tell your daughter that she is short or tall, thin or fat, or any such thing that places emphasis on her physical appearance. Your aim should be to raise a compassionate child who will grow up to live her life with integrity and honesty, and not just a pretty face.
• Invest in your daughter as much or more than you would invest in your son in terms of time, money, love and affection. Allow her to choose her career and support her. Don’t tell her which professions are most suitable for women. Give her the freedom to live her life just as you would let your son live his life.
• There is more to a woman than just being a mother and a wife. Stop looking down on women who have not birthed child/children, or who are divorcees, new wives, or step mothers.
• Support your daughter-in-law. Understand that she has left her parents and family to set up your son’s home. Encourage her and appreciate her for what she does, rather than putting undue pressure on her to be a super woman.
• Refrain from putting yourself in situations that disempower: Infidelity, remarriage, step families, etc.
I hope you will do your bit to ensure that the future of all women is bright, equal, safe and rewarding. Remember that alone we can make a difference, but together we can rock the world. Cheers to womanhood!