Things women should stop apologising – Despite being touted by a future superpower and a fast developing country by many, India continues to lag in several areas.
We are still an economically backward country with a large section of the population adhering to an ultra-orthodox mind-set. One of the biggest victims of this mind-set are women. They are suppressed and are not granted half as much freedom as men get.
This is more prevalent in smaller towns and villages than in bigcities. As aresult of this, women think a hundred times before exploring or even expressing their desires and feel apologetic or guilty about several things they do.
Here are 5 things women should stop apologising for:
Things women should stop apologising –
- What they wear
While men can get away with roamingaroundshirtless on the streets, a young woman draws attention even if she is wearing something as basic as a pair of jeans. They are dictated about the length of their skirt, the colour of their lipstick and whether a sleeveless op is okay or not. If a man looks at a woman with wrong intentions, he should be reprimanded and not the woman. It is not the hemline of the skirt that needs to be checked, it is the mind-set that needs to be broadened.
- Having a boyfriend
While most girls do have boyfriends today, they meet them discreetly and keep their relationship under wraps. Boys do not have to be that careful though. Every human being, regardless of their age or gender, wants to be loved. So, why is seekinglove or wanting to be loved looked upon as a crime in the Indian society? People need to understand there is nothing wrong in a girl or a woman wanting to have a male partner she can love and be loved by.
- Drinking and smoking
There are health concerns related to consuming alcohol and smoking cigarettes but by no meansshould they be used as a measure to judge somebody’s character. Of course, here in India it is not used as a tool to judge men and is only applicable to women. Why the sight of woman taking a puff of cigarette does makes you cringe and scares you when you are okay with a man doing the same? These are completely personal choices and must be respected as such.
- Being passionate about career
Though a lot of people today are okay with the idea of women striking a balance between work and personal life, they are expected to prioritise their family, which is husbandand children, over work. While it is not right to neglect one’s family, there are times when the man could also think about making a sacrifice so that his girlfriend or wife could. Women should not be expected or asked to make sacrifices all the time. Men should lend a helping hand or step back in certain situation when necessary.
- Having an opinion
For several years we have lived and learn to live in a patriarchal society, wherein men are treated as the head of a family or a social group and who have the right to make the final call on everything. Women who have an opinion aer not given any attention and are even reprimanded for speaking out. This is something that needs to change.
Things women should stop apologising – Gender equality is the need of the hour. It is not just for the betterment of women but for the well-being of the society as whole. A nation will grow only when we give everybody an equal opportunity to grow and fulfil their dreams.
