The Hills Are Alive
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Feeling strongly sometimes isn't enough??
I heard about an article that appeared in the Malayalam version of Top Gear, January 2008. It was written by a Professor of mine, about the difference in the experience of traveling between men and women. She was very emphatic about her opinion. She wrote about how traveling in this country, as an alone women, is a constant battle. From the moment she steps out of the house, to the moment when she steps back in, every single step is a struggle to protect herself, to be recognised as an individual, to be respected for being a woman, and to not be violated in the most basic sense of the word.
The article was read out in class, and there followed the most outrageous conversation i've heard in an open forum. A classmate of mine (needless to say, it was a guy) actually said "I don't think it happens that often nowadays, i've never seen it..." I was shocked anew by the blatantly chauvinistic belief of the country that still prevails. Some men still think women blow things out of proportion, and that most things we say and do are just an example of how emotional and irrational we are.
This post was not supposed to be a male bashing session. What i actually wanted to talk about was another interesting thread that came up in the same discussion. Almost the entire bunch of girls in the class seemed to agree with one of the girls who said, "I think it is time we women started accepting that we're the weaker sex, and learn to protect ourselves, rather than fight it all the time..." or something along those lines. Let me tell you, this is not the first time she had said that. It had come up in another conversation, when we were talking about sexual harassment at the work place, and colleges etc.
Needless to say, my reaction was almost visceral. I was so shocked out of my wits at her candid acceptance of the "weaker sex" dictum that is drilled into our sentimentality since the day we are born. I argued and ranted and reasoned until my throat was sore, but when the whole class of about 15 girls shouted me down, i just stopped talking. But stopping an argument has never stopped me from praying for a bunch of souls who have their whole life philosophy wrong.
When will this world of supposedly under priveleged women learn that 'acceptance' did not gain our country independence? When will they learn that 'acceptance' did not give the African Americans their rights as human beings? When will they learn that 'acceptance' only means you are transferring power automatically to the hands of the few who actually believe they are the ones who can wield authority? When will women learn to be themselves? When will women learn that it is their right to be able to walk down a dark road safely, without having a man escort her all the time?
Angry as I am right now, I have absolutely no intentions of backing up my arguments with facts. I could go on and write about the number of women who have stood up for themselves, and retained their self respect, and earned the respect of the men who have harrassed them. I could write about all the laws we have in place that assure a woman all the kinds of safety imaginable. I could... But I will not.
I will not go silently into the night.
I will not put up with a stare.
I will not ignore an indecent comment.
I shall keep my self respect.
Posted by Vodka ::
2:04 PM ::
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Thursday, January 10, 2008
my song..
Posted by Vodka ::
12:55 AM ::
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