Many of us are at a stage in life
where we are just about to enter the corporate world. It marks a very special
stage in the life of every person. It’s a leap into an unknown and exciting
arena. You are finally going to use all those class room learnings and
experiences. Its time to apply those frameworks and theories! But along with
this excitement, there is also trepidation. More than us, its our parents who
are scared. Talking about my own personal experience, my parents have never
stopped me from pursuing any of my interests by bringing up the gender card.
They have always encouraged me to test my limits. But this time is a bit
different. Don’t take me wrong, they are still encouraging and supporting me
but there is also a bit of hesitation and fear in their minds. The recent news
headlines about rapes, eve teasing, molestation do not help. And this is not
only my case. These are common discussions in every household where the
daughter is about to leave the safe confines of her home. Yes, the parents know
that the girl is not at fault for wearing western clothes, she is not at fault
for being out at night and she does not invite men to leer at her. These
parents get angry and offended when our ignorant politicians blame the victim,
the western culture and every other frivolous thing rather than the culprit.
But when it comes to their own daughter, each parent tells her to be safe, to
come home early, to dress up modestly. They know their daughter is doing no
wrong but she is the one they love and she is the one they can talk to. When
they can’t change the society, when they can’t change how boys are brought up
then it is their own daughter whom they ask to change. Only because her safety
is paramount for them. And it is at this point that the feminist in me has no
answer as to why Indian parents do not give their daughters the same freedom as
they do to their sons. After all I can’t
really blame them when they are just looking out for their daughters. I don’t
really want to get into the whole discussion of what the government must do because
I believe it’s a social problem. Yes, stricter laws, better police control will
help but that’s just at the superficial level. How do you root out the
underlying cause? I believe only education can help. Not only the formal
education in schools but more importantly what is being taught to our kids at
home. I know it is much easier said than done. I know starting tomorrow I am
not going from home to home educating families but I am going to speak. I am
going to speak up and join thousands others who want this scenario to change.
All in the hope that our collective voices will make a difference.
