International Women’s Day cannot be a Day of Celebration until our women feel it worth celebrating and this can happen only when each one of us stops hurting the women in our lives by thought, word or deed and ensure that there will be no discrimination nor limitations to their growth to be not just on par but even better. Until then this will be the day to create awareness and a day for all men to pledge equality, opportunity and growth for our women. And until then, we shall continue owing an apology to the women in our lives.
Going by the data projected by Women’s Helpline-Goa, more than half the calls received are regarding domestic violence and related crimes against women. This reflects a shameful reality that’s hidden beneath the image of a susegad and happy Goan family. When 50% of the calls are for help to save from their own kith and kin, the primary question is how safe are our women who live amongst us expecting to be cared, protected and above all respected for their identity and individuality?
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Domestic violence takes many forms, it need not be only physical. Subjugation of women in our homes is more of an invisible yet strong binding that restricts the movement, growth and even freedom of speech of women.
There’s an emergent need to sensitise our law enforcement agencies towards domestic violence. Majority of the cases reported are withdrawn without even an FIR by the intimidating pressure of family, religious representatives, local politicians etc, all of whom toe the same old decadent line “Such issues should not be brought into public and should be settled within the four walls of the house”. Sadly, everyone fails to understand that it’s only because she cannot expect justice within the four walls that she’s dared to seek justice outside. Thus instead of giving her a platform to express her angst, we confine her back to the four walls to continue suffering silently in the name of family, honour and sacrifice.
It’s time we wake up to the absurdity of treating our women as symbols of family pride and honour. Are men not equally or more responsible for family pride and honour since they’re the dominant part of family? Similarly, we unjustly expect women to make sacrifices in the name of family and social obligations. Aren’t men equally or more responsible for meeting up familial and social demands?
Century-old psyche of societal discrimination cannot be changed only by formulation of laws and policy frameworks. Our regressive outlook will still take a lot more time to become progressive and this transition of outlook can be expedited only by increased awareness. This should begin primarily from our homes where discrimination is rampant, many a time veiled under the guise of customs and traditions.
Creating awareness should begin from our homes where we should abhor all forms of discrimination between male and female children. Only then will the next generation break free from the shackles of a decadent mentality and pave way for equality in every strata of Life.
And until we fail to perceive the divinity of our women, we shall forever be owing an apology to every woman.
