This article has been written for Techkriti Blog for a Cause Contest. The topic was: “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the World.” Write about a particular issue concerning the position of women in today’s society. For more information visit: http://www.socialscribblers.in/techkriti-blog-cause/

1. The lives half-lived
Travelling in crowded spaces can be, many a times, a horrible
experience. For men, it might be frustrating but for women it’s like a
trauma-probability game. There is, without fail, some pervert waiting
to take advantage of the crowd and pass his hands through their body.
Even in a group, there’s a high chance one might get groped, stared at
or eve-teased. One has to be alert. Always.
It’s a shameful fact that all women in our country have at least one such
harrowing tale to tell. There is this one experience which opens our eyes
to the unpleasantness of being a woman in India. On one hand we have
temples, statues and scriptures worshipping goddesses, depicting the
greatness and courage of women. On the other hand, we have honor
killings, rape, female infanticide, sexism, eve teasing, acid attacks and so
on. Welcome to India, the land of extremes and probably the land of
hypocrisy as well. Our law books contain many sections pertaining to
crimes against women but still thousands of women are burnt, raped,
killed every day. It’s a reality we live with, a mirror we can’t hide

2. ourselves from.
Not a day passes when one hears news about violence against women,
whether it was a brutal case of gang rapes or a female fetus being
discarded in the dumps. Let’s face it: Our treatment of women is shoddy
and far worse than disrespectful. Oppression and discrimination are
blatant yet the shock factor seems to have diluted. Cases of extreme
violence are on an indefinite rise, considering many go unreported.
Women don’t seem to be safe even in their own homes. Domestic
violence, dowry deaths, sati are still a daily occurrence till this date.
Marital rapes are still not considered a crime, even after huge public and
media pressure post the Nirbhaya rape case.
Such incidences are just the tip of the iceberg. Why such crimes occur,
how they are dealt with by the judiciary and police, society’s
contribution are some of the deep seated issues which highlight the
status of women in India.
Earlier belief was that such evil acts could only be committed by the
rural, ‘filthy’ populace. Urban cities mostly had positive attitudes
towards women. If so, then, why do huge demands for dowry occur in
even the high-society, so called western families? How does one explain
the sexist remarks made by educated and elected officers? How do you
defend the not-so-subtle objectifying portrayal of women in media and
our quiet acceptance of it? Why is Delhi, the center of governance,
called the ‘rape capital’?
Given a chance to live, girls are often seen as a liability, marriage being
their destiny. Boys are seen as a better investment. Education for many is
just a distant dream. Even those that are literate, are encouraged to give
up on their jobs to become a child-bearing machine.
‘Roti gol nahi banaogi toh
shaadi kon krega?’ ‘ladkiya

3. maths nahi kar sakti’
‘CEO? Business? Science? Yeh sab ladkiyo ke bas ki baat nahi’.
How many times have you, as a modern woman, heard this? A woman
who does not know her household chores is useless. Women are
considered incapable of achieving success in analytical topics and
encouraged to stick to safer shores like home-science. Premarital sex and
drinking are considered gateways to whore-ness.
We teach women to cover up and behave themselves, to not set out
foot after sunset. We tell them to keep their mouths shut if some
miscreant touches or leeches at them, to avoid ‘unnecessary
problems’. We feed their sub-conscious with lessons telling them that
any violence against their gender is, somehow, their fault. That they
should wear ‘decent’ clothes and stay confined to gender roles. Our
movies tell us that stalking is okay, rather a privilege, the girl is bound
to be yours eventually. Our magazines tell women they are too dark,
too fat. We bound them in mental chains of our own fears. So much
judgment, so little freedom. Anguish, humiliation, tension, frustration
and acceptance are common emotions of an Indian woman.
Many might argue that women have it better than before, with new
rights, reservations, and better opportunities. India’s economy is
booming and we are making headway at a considerable rate. To them, I
have only one question- Can true progress be really achieved with half
the population oppressed in some form or the other?
So whose fault is it? Yes, you may blame the government for not taking
swift reforms and letting things go out of hand. You may lay the onus on
the police for defying their responsibilities. Or you may just be a
misogynist and blame women for their existence.
There is no simple single-try solution for it. Years of conditioning can’t
be undone that easily. Firstly, we all should desensitize ourselves. We, as
the society need to let go of our discriminatory attitude. We need to

4. stop teaching women to stay closed and safe. Rather, men need to be
taught how to respect women and consider them as their equals.
Stricter laws and faster implementation are imperative. Women need to
raise their voice against any form of injustice. Education and media play
an important role as well.
I hope there comes a time soon when women don’t have to walk
with fright in a dark alley, where we can live our lives to the fullest
without fear, where we don’t have to live a different life and learn
different lessons-compared to our male counterparts. True freedom,
hopefully, will be attained.
“Hand that rocks the
cradle weakens every
day, little by little you
fight for it
support your bit
and it shall rule the
world close your eyes,
shut your ears crumble
it will, for sure.”
RIYA RANA_TECH56209