Redefining the meaning of emancipation
By Shruti Prashar and Priyanka

Matrices are changing fast as the woman today is learning to shed the cobwebs of the past. She is no more the Sita waiting patiently for her husband to rescue her, nor is she the Drapaudi who has been left behind by her husband on the last journey to the Himalayas.

Individually, every woman is seeking a name for herself and collectively an identity. But even as she tries to fight the virgin syndrome and climb the dizzy heights of her ambitions, she finds herself engaged in a dual war — a war with the world and a war with her own self. And as she tries to plant her feet; transform the past, into a present reality, she is becoming conscious of her rights and freedom. In all the new millennium hullabaloo, the women today, are trying to redefine what emancipation means to her vis-a-vis men and evaluate how the society (particularly the menfolk) are reacting/responding to it.

Shibani Walia, a graduate, takes her freedom as an expression of her individuality and as a ventilator of her opinions. She says, "Guys still have double standards. While they would love sauntering around with girls who are cool cats, they would finally settle down only with a female who is a holy cow. Moreover, they think that women are putty in their hands. They can respect their mothers, but not other females around. I won’t change for men, especially where my career choice is concerned". She quickly adds: "If my father is supportive, why can’t fellow men be?".

Another young girl, Avantika, a first year student of B.C.A., feels that men still enjoy more freedom than women do and will continue doing so. But she definitely feels more free than her mother did in her times. "Even though I am studying in a single sex college, it hardly hampers my freedom of expression. In fact I feel I can interact quite freely. But when It comes to guys, they find it hard to take females seriously. They mostly view them as sexual objects. May be this goes as they grow older, but I am not sure whether they would ever learn to accept and respect a woman for what she wants to be".

When we asked a cross section of young women about the need for celebrating Woman’s Day, most of them harped on its futility.

Malvika feels, "all such events are publicity gimmicks. When there is no Men’s Day then why a Women’s Day? We don’t need such crutches. Women first need to understand that their problems arise more out of their efforts ‘to be like men’. Freedom is more in the mind and can come to a woman only when she takes pride in being one. She needs to be aware of the fact that her inner strength is unmatched by any human force on earth". In fact, many women complained about men still sharing a primitive approach.

Gayatri, a sociology student says, "most men proudly think that women are bimbos, while they themselves are an intelligent lot. If they do come across women, who are gutsy and go-getters, they are quick to dismiss them off as "fast/a bit of fluff." I have seen my own male friends doing that. I think more than celebrating days dedicated to women, we should channel our efforts towards equipping ourselves with good education and confidence. Freedom doesn’t come through shouting slogans".

Sakshi, a public relations officer with an event management firm, voices her opinions quite strongly. She says: "being a working woman, society gives you more respect and you are taken more seriously than other women. While working with male colleagues, one is always viewed primarily as a female. At work and otherwise I always carry a ‘don’t-mess- around-with-me’ attitude and snub people who pass snide comments. I think men take women to be pea-brained and find it unnecessary to ask for suggestions. They suppose women are incapable of doing outside jobs and find it hard to respect women who make it big in life. If they were made to undergo delivery pains, I am sure they would have found out how strong a woman, really is"

But Sabina Singh, a student of M.A. (English) firmly disagrees. She feels celebrating Women’s Day etc. just proves that women still think they are inferior and need such days to assert themselves. She says, "All this is bunkum! I feel men are taking female freedom quite well, even if they don’t like it on first thought. It is women who are taking it all a bit too far. When men have no problem with performing their roles, why are women creating such a hue and cry?" If they talk of equality between the two sexes, they should even have the guts to beat up a woman who harasses a man. It’s just the way they handle things." Though she agrees that it’s a different picture in rural India.

There is no doubt that times have changed. But the surmounting demands of being an ideal daughter, wife and mother sometimes call from a woman the suppression of her personal desires and self-actualisation needs. She finds it tough to strike a balance.

Jessica Sherwall, Astt. Manager, Business Information, British Library finds it a very strange scenario. "Parents want us to be independent and career-oriented, but suddenly after marriage they want us to be accommodating and want our careers to take a backseat. In a nutshell they expect us to be superwomen. While not all men have changed, women have changed faster. Men prefer a woman who can earn for them as well as handle the family and house. I think it’s asking for a bit too much. They should learn to share duties. Perhaps, a few more years down the line, the picture might become more promising".

Whether or not today’s women are projecting a dominating image, by they are certainly trying to move centrestage everywhere. There is no longer a poverty of ideas and perceptions. Neither is room for mere patchwork. They are breaking the mould and Sita and Drapaudi are being resurrected.

Unless certain basic issues are resolved, this day will remain meaningless. There is no security for a woman unless she stands up and earns her own money.

Women are women's best friends
Vimla Patil

The great divide between the rural and urban Indian women is what is the cause for greatest concern for me on this first International Women's Day of the new millennium.

If more and more rural women remain illiterate, they do not know how to take advantage of the laws that can benefit them. City women have almost everything that they need, it is only the rural women who cannot become part of the mainstream.

We should rid our minds of the hackneyed and cliched notions such as "women are women's worst enemies."This year's theme should be Women are women's best friends and they can make a difference. To mark the day, I shall be conducting a workshop with 400 women today on the subject of personal enhancement and networking among women. This is the way in which I intend celebrating Women's Day. I am a great believer in female bonding and have benefited greatly over the years from my relationships with friends and women in the family. In fact bonds nurtured over the years have been a source of sustenance. Women should look at other women as resources.

There are thousands of women who are working in the rural areas for social uplift and numerous others who are doing their bit by channeling the artisans in the sphere of handicrafts and cottage industries. However, the gap is so much that it is not possible to bridge it in one generation.

On their part, the men have changed at a slower rate than women have. It is not in their interest to change at a rapid pace. If they change it will mean they accept equality with women and as a consequence, they will have to lose their power and supremacy. Why should they change? But women have to understand that they can make a difference and they should strive for it.