An Equal World is an Enabled World

March 7, 2020

International Women’s Day will be celebrated around the world on March 8. It is a day that recognizes women for their very being, personality, achievements and more than anything else, her worth and influence in every person’s life irrespective of her gender, nationality, ethnicity, linguistic, cultural, economic or political scenario.

The theme chosen for this year’s celebration is - “An equal world is an enabled world”.I would like to add the word ‘gender’ to it - “An gender equal world is an enabled world”.This is actually good news for both men and women. Often there is a tendencyto focus women as feeble, a contention that keeps men above women in terms of physique. We are made to think of gender inequality from a World thatportrays men as fit to earn and females as managers of household chores. Now-a-days this perspectives doesn’t find easy acceptance for either women or men.

The gender assumptions are everywhere. In this world every individual wants to get respect from society, so we women too are human beings and have the right to be treated equally in society. A woman is usually weaker, and respecting her means that you are not taking advantage of it even though you could. She is not a thing to be possessed, she too is a human being with her own free will, choices, talent and opportunities. Acknowledging this worth of a woman means respect.

Feminism is governed by the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities and this is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the gender. Now-a-days feminism has become unpopular and women are choosing not to identify as feminists. Nevertheless, women should be given the freedom to make decision about her own body, about what she thinks is her right and that she too is part of decision making process that will affect her life.

Fundamentally there is no such thing as superiority or inferiority. Superiority is a notion that has come because of male domination. We tend to send boys to get things to the home, so our self-created notion of men as bold to go out has led to the situation in the society. Present day women are active and participating in all fields such as education, sports, politics, media, science and technology. Women also are involved in campaigning to bring about social and political change with regard to injustices such as female infanticide, rights and safety of women etc. Since many years there is increase in number of cases of violence against women, mainly due to the greater exposure of women in society.

In ancient times, women were restricted to the four walls of the houses but globalisation gave them opportunities to stand tall and bold in all sectors at par with men. Today we even find women as auto drivers and CEO’s of reputed companies. In India many cases of domestic violence against women are happening because male uses these weapons to show his superiority at home. Womenare not at all safe in their own houses as well as their workplace.

Women’s safety is a right. It may sound like a cliché adage to repeat. Most crimestake place because women are not aware of the laws that are in place to protect them. In India, thelife expectancy of women is low compared to other countries, but it has revealedsteadyadvancement over the years due to education and by women rights groups. Still manygirls are facing nutritional as well gender discrimination within the family. Almost half of adolescent girls are chronically malnourished due to the negligence which is shown in the family.

Every woman has the right to live in dignity, free of fear, coercion, violence and discrimination. Every woman has the right to health, including sexual and reproductive health. Yet for millions of girls and women worldwide these rights are denied. Violence against women should be avoided. Based on the principles of respect and gender equality the lessons learned from evidence-based results on what works in preventing violence from occurring and recurring, World Health Organization has developed the adage - 'RESPECT WOMEN' by preventing violence against women”.

The strategies derived from the word RESPECT is:

R - Relationships skills strengthened
E - Empowerment of women
S - Services ensured
P - Poverty reduced
E - Environments made safe
C - Child and adolescent abuse prevented
T - Transformed attitudes, beliefs and norms.

In order to enhance women safety in India the first task is to change thepeople point of view,by educating every individuals that every person has the right to be safe. Our Constitution states that every single person is equal before the law, so women should know the importance of legal rights to protect herself. Every educational institutions should encourage to respectwomen. It is everyone’s responsibility to implement all these laws pertaining to the welfare of the women in this society.

 

By Dr Maria Pais
Dr Maria Pais is an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Nursing, MCON Manipal.
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Comment on this article

  • Irita D'silva, Kallianpur/Mangalore

    Mon, Mar 16 2020

    Nice article Maria !! Enlightening !

  • Rovina, Bahrain

    Wed, Mar 11 2020

    Well written article Dr. Maria Pais, Educating people about value of life, equality, respecting an Individual, their views, could slowly bring change in the mentality of people towards WOMEN.

    I hereby would also like to share my thoughts on the comments posted by Mr. Dan M, Dubai / Mangalore.
    I am not a Doctor but being closely associated with the family of Doctors, I think it is wrong to generalize with the statement Doctors promote abortion, however agreeing with your thought that every life has its own value. There are certain medical situations wherein continuation of the pregnancy may risk the life of the mother, or cause serious injury to her mental/ physical health, or if there is risk of child being born with serious physical/ mental abnormalities where termination is advisable.

  • Nelrin Pradeep, Brisbane

    Tue, Mar 10 2020

    Thoughtful Article Dr Maria Pais . Respecting women should start at every individual home , . Teaching young men about respecting women and girls will help make our communities stronger.

  • Adrian Marian Rebello, Udupi/Bahrain

    Mon, Mar 09 2020

    Dear Dr Maria Pais,

    Nice article expressing your thoughts on gender bias, connected to the women's day theme. Keep writing.

  • Dan M, Dubai / Mangalore

    Mon, Mar 09 2020

    Jesus on the baby, has different DNA from the mother...

    Message to John Leary

    Friday, September 13, 2019: (St. John Chyrsostom)

    Jesus said: “My people, the devil and the demons despise man, and they are inspiring doctors to continue killing babies for money. Killing My babies in abortion greatly offends Me, and many liberal thinking people are taken in by the reasons to have abortion available as a right for women. The baby has different DNA from the mother, and she nourishes the baby, but the baby is not part of the mother’s body. Giving birth should be a joy that you are bringing new life into the world. But some women think pregnancies are an inconvenience in some cases, and they listen to the lies of the Planned Parenthood people. Life is too precious to kill a human being, and it is a mortal sin to have an abortion. You would much rather choose life to have a baby, than to choose death to kill a baby by abortion. You can see all the evil ones promoting death by abortion, so keep praying to stop abortion, and pray to close these clinics of death.”

  • Esther Synthia, Mysore

    Mon, Mar 09 2020

    Wow.. thought provoking words madam. I hope and wish this will come true in our country... especially making it a safer place for women...coz that's the major concern nowadays.


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Title: An Equal World is an Enabled World



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