Let’s Resolve to Remove Gender Discrimination

As India celebrates its 70th Independence, the question which comes to my mind is what is 'freedom'.

The definition of freedom can vary from person to person. For many, it may be about lining up outside polling booths and exercising their franchise. For others it could be about singing paeans of Bharat Mata, feeling proud of being an Indian.  

It has different connotations in public and personal space. Hundreds of women are subjected to physical abuse and violence in our country every day. For me, freedom means removing gender discrimination.

For me, freedom means a society free from violence against women or against anyone for that matter. Violence can be both physical and psychological. A troll on social media may be subjecting his victim to psychological violence. Women are not spared even on social media. She is threatened with rape. A well-known singer was recently threatened by fans of a Bollywood star with sexual assault when she took him on for his crude remarks. Women who have every right to express their opinion are abused, harassed and bullied on social media by strangers, most of whom are men.

Such instances reflect a deep-rooted malaise in our society where women are still held as objects of sexual desire who have no right to express their opinion. And, if they speak up, they are silenced into submission. We are a free country, but not free from our gender biases.

Even in private sphere a woman is subjected to severe restrictions. She should be allowed to dress the way she wants. She should be given equal right to chose her profession or to take decisions regarding her marriage or when to become a mother. It is not for men to sit on judgement on women ‘being complete’ only when she is into a family way.

The Parliament has passed the Maternity Benifits Bill  paving way  for 26 weeks  maternity leave for working women. The legislation is being described as ‘woman friendly’ but again belies the sense of freedom or equality. Is it only the mother’s responsibility to raise the child? Should not the child’s father also get leave from work to raise his child and be an equal partner in sharing the responsibility. But this important question eludes our policy makers.

In the 70th year celebrations of our Independence, let us resolve to treat women as equal partners in country’s growth engine.