“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt.
Empowering women to help them realize their self-worth, become aware of their rights, understand their capabilities to determine their choices, and become financially independent, is the process of evolving society, community, nation, and world where women enjoy their respect and rights like their counterparts. However, to step out of the ‘existential distress’ that constantly devalues the identity of a certain segment and move towards ‘consciousness-raising’ is a careful process infused with responsibility and accountability, which is beyond pseudo-feminism or faux feminism. Uplifting women from a secondary status in families and society at large is not about falling into the trap of pseudo-feminism and creating hate mechanisms or ‘male-bashing’ for the opposite gender in the name of gender equality. It is also not about playing a victim card at every given opportunity when expectations don’t fall in line. The focus should remain on acknowledging and addressing the systemic inequalities that disproportionately impact women and strategizing to dismantle such disparities.
Equipping women with the required resources and capabilities to be able to make independent decisions and informed choices, thus taking charge of their lives and becoming an active participant in society, empowerment of women has since time deviated from the very process and intention of the movement today. Isn’t it wise and respectful to accept biological differences and proudly accept the capabilities that women possess by just being themselves and not trying to become men in every way? A narrow definition of ‘feminine’ and everything that falls outside this framework, being simply dismissed by a certain stratum of women who conveniently choose to prioritize their opinions of collective prosperity, has become the trend that is taking the world by storm. And at the center of it, is the concept that men are the enemy in every sense for the upliftment and empowerment of women! Is this true?
From ancient times to the modern era, women’s empowerment has seen many upsides and downfalls where some of the other countries have evolved to be more liberal with gender equality, whereas countries like India are still struggling on this front. Although unjustified treatment of women by men has been prevalent for centuries, the world today is moving towards the empowerment of women where they can exercise their power and action to take charge of their lives. If we look back to the history of India, the ancient Indian culture saw women as equal to men, honored by society, and were far from any discrimination. The Vedic era portrayed women as protectors and caretakers. With time, the integrity among the genders saw a huge decline mainly resulting from foreign conquests. The ideals of fairness and harmony were uprooted to create unrest and inequality where women were forced to have indisposable devotion to household confines and even considered unwanted by families and society, to an extent where the birth of a girl child would be considered a shame. That period witnessed customs like Sati, Jauhar, child marriage, non-education for girls etc. In the modern era, women gained access to their rights and powers, but that was confined to certain segments and was unavailable to every woman in society. Through social reforms and continuous movements, women did receive a better status in society to a great extent. However, the process slowed down for a long period and women retreated to the state of negligence in several aspects. In contemporary times, however, the buzzword of ‘women empowerment’ resurfaced to reform, reconstruct, and recover the quality of women in every aspect of life, non-discrimination, equality, and freedom being the pivotal points.
However, the motive should remain that of a progressive framework for women of all segments of society and collective prosperity rather than merely becoming a jargon for women in power and position to flaunt and misuse the concept for their selfish motives. We need to understand that women empowerment advocates equality of both genders and does not imply that the two genders are the same. The intention should be to foster a conducive environment where women find their niche and not channel their needs and energy into disregarding traditions, creating a ‘men-haters’ clan, and raising a breed of resentful and unfavorably forceful women. And isn’t it cliché to simply use a victim card of forced helplessness to get things done? It is important to enjoy the bliss of being a woman as much as it is significant to accept the opposite gender with their natural traits.
And yet, In this digital and technology-driven era, where even Google translate shows English translation of ‘Vidushi’ as ‘Wise Man’, we are certainly a long way from attaining gender equality and true empowerment of women, however, we have achieved milestones and with the right attitude and positive drive, there would be a day when women of all segments would be considered at par and given the rights they deserve. Until then, we strive to create a world where ‘women in every social, economic, and political status could overcome ‘survival anxiety’ and be able to independently walk into the swathe of safety and security without the men in their lives taking charge of their protection.’
‘Rise above the odds and thrive in a world that is ready to challenge at every step.’
– Jyoti Jha
About the Columnist
An HR-turned-Author, Columnist, The Times of India Write India Winner, Jyoti Jha has authored, edited, and translated several books in both English and Hindi. TEDx speaker, Speaker at major literature events, IITs and IIMs. Awarded ‘Vidya Vachaspati’ from Vikramsheela Hindi Vidyapeeth and ‘Dr Shanti Jain Smriti Sammaan’ from Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan. Invited as Judge at IITBHU (Kashiyatra), Featured in Femina and India Today. Interviewed at Radiocity Pune 91.1 FM. Conducted Writing Workshops at IITs and NIT. Chief Coordinator-Literary Chapter, Let’s Inspire Bihar. Her books have garnered much appreciation from readers, prominent media houses, and literary fraternity. Upcoming book on Autism (Vishwakarma Publications). She is known for her bestselling Hindi novella ‘Aanandi’.
