Women are the building blocks of the society in every way. Women are blessed with the power to give birth, nurture and be calm in every situation. Yet, the irony is that women who selflessly give all that they have to their family and loved ones are in-turn treated badly. They are oppressed, dominated and exploited by men and the society as a whole.
“It’s a Man’s world” as they say. Men, since the beginning of the time, have felt that they have all the right over women. They believe it is their right to tell women how to behave, what to do with their lives, whom to talk to and where to go. Until a century ago women in India as well as in most of the other parts of the world, were confined to their house. All they were expected to do was to manage the household chores and serve their family selflessly.
Men were and still believe that they are superior to women and that they have the right to govern their lives. However, the condition of women is improving with time. Today, it is not as bad as it used to be. Women these days are allowed to study, work and socialise. Few women who came forward to fight for their rights and that of the other women in this patriarchal world are to be given credit for this gradual change.
Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the beauty and power of women around the world. Women’s Day was observed on 28th Feb 1909 in New York for the first time. It was the Socialist Party of America that took this initiative. The idea of International Women’s Day was proposed a year later at the International Women’s Conference held in Copenhagen. The day was celebrated with great enthusiasm in various countries including Denmark, Switzerland, Germany and Austria on March 19, 1911.
It was in the year 1913 that the date was moved to 8th March. It is being celebrated across the world on the same date since then. The idea behind dedicating a special day for women was to promote equal rights for them. While the society is changing its view on women, we still have miles to go. While women are being allowed to seek higher education and work, they still have to struggle their way in this male dominated society. The salary of female employees is less than that of their male counterparts working at the same position – be it in the corporate offices, political parties, film industry or any other field. Even as women toil hard, they are not given the same status as the men. They have to struggle for promotion and salary hike at workplace.
Similarly, many families still don’t find it necessary to educate their female child. Marrying them off as they turn adult is their sole aim. Female foeticide is still quite common in India. The cases of dowry and rape are on an all time high. So, though we have given freedom to women and allowed them to follow their dreams, we haven’t really given them a society where they can breathe easy.
I believe, just like International Women’s Day there must be an ‘International Respect Women Day’ wherein the men must be taught how to behave and respect women and just let them be themselves.