From domestic Goddesses to boardroom bigwigs…
Earlier, the immediate picture that came to mind when one thought of a woman was a charming, girlish, helpless, frail, and soft little creature who needed protection and who couldn’t quite figure out how the lock worked on the front door.
The scenario today—A modern, emancipated adult with a cast-iron image, who not only knows how the lock works, but probably how to manufacture it as well.
Is the woman of today different from the woman of yesterday? Definitely!
Yesterday, women had the potential but a vast majority of them were unable to prove themselves in the world due to social pressures and orthodox thinking that suppressed and stifled them. Women were severely restricted by traditional gender roles. The man was the breadwinner, while the woman looked after the family and children. The portrayal of women and men on television and other media tended to reinforce these conventional gender roles. Today, a young girl regularly sees female characters in films and on television working as lawyers, judges, administrators, or advertising professionals. Added to that, her mother, aunt, and friends also work for a living.
This opens different avenues of thought for her and she realizes that she need not conform to outmoded stereotypes. Today’s women have been encouraged to come out into the world, displaying their talents and abilities in myriad fields, such as art, architecture, interior decoration, journalism, medicine, computer science, law, defense, politics, and sports. Today, women are doing very well in their chosen field; fields hitherto considered a man’s domain.
Yesterday’s woman was meek and submissive, putting others’ needs first and hers last. Today, there is a consciousness among women to look after themselves, too. They are also more assertive and willing to take a stand on issues. The pioneering efforts of some outstanding women have paved a way for others to follow. There is a growing realization of self-worth among women in a largely male-dominated society. This may be a direct consequence to more number of women taking up careers. Women have gained in self-esteem and power within the family as they have moved outside the home and functioned as productive wage earners. Today’s woman is confident, intelligent, and capable of taking care of herself. She can manage a home and a career simultaneously, striking a harmonious balance between the two. She is self-made and makes her own decisions based on the choices placed before her.
Today, we have a day dedicated to women, websites and magazines exclusively for women, support groups for sexual harassment at the workplace, and grievance cells for eve-teasing. It is necessary for women to revel in the feeling that they were born as women and celebrate life.
However, our society has yet to reach that state when every woman can feel that way. The nation is faced with several issues that seem to overshadow the need for the emancipation of women. It is also true that women continue to experience second-class status throughout the world. It is estimated that women grow half the world’s food, but rarely own land. They constitute one-third of the world’s labor force, but are generally found in the lowest paying jobs.
Single parent households headed by women, which appear to be on the rise in many nations, are typically found in the poorest sections of the population. Indeed, the feminization of poverty has become a global phenomenon. According to a United Nations report on women’s lives around the world, the majority of women still lag far behind men in terms of wealth, power, and opportunity.
However, things are vastly better today than they were yesterday, and to quote a heroine, Scarlett O’ Hara, from my favorite book “Gone with the Wind”, “tomorrow is another day!”
Earlier, the immediate picture that came to mind when one thought of a woman was a charming, girlish, helpless, frail, and soft little creature who needed protection and who couldn’t quite figure out how the lock worked on the front door.
The scenario today—A modern, emancipated adult with a cast-iron image, who not only knows how the lock works, but probably how to manufacture it as well.
Is the woman of today different from the woman of yesterday? Definitely!
Yesterday, women had the potential but a vast majority of them were unable to prove themselves in the world due to social pressures and orthodox thinking that suppressed and stifled them. Women were severely restricted by traditional gender roles. The man was the breadwinner, while the woman looked after the family and children. The portrayal of women and men on television and other media tended to reinforce these conventional gender roles. Today, a young girl regularly sees female characters in films and on television working as lawyers, judges, administrators, or advertising professionals. Added to that, her mother, aunt, and friends also work for a living.
This opens different avenues of thought for her and she realizes that she need not conform to outmoded stereotypes. Today’s women have been encouraged to come out into the world, displaying their talents and abilities in myriad fields, such as art, architecture, interior decoration, journalism, medicine, computer science, law, defense, politics, and sports. Today, women are doing very well in their chosen field; fields hitherto considered a man’s domain.
Yesterday’s woman was meek and submissive, putting others’ needs first and hers last. Today, there is a consciousness among women to look after themselves, too. They are also more assertive and willing to take a stand on issues. The pioneering efforts of some outstanding women have paved a way for others to follow. There is a growing realization of self-worth among women in a largely male-dominated society. This may be a direct consequence to more number of women taking up careers. Women have gained in self-esteem and power within the family as they have moved outside the home and functioned as productive wage earners. Today’s woman is confident, intelligent, and capable of taking care of herself. She can manage a home and a career simultaneously, striking a harmonious balance between the two. She is self-made and makes her own decisions based on the choices placed before her.
Today, we have a day dedicated to women, websites and magazines exclusively for women, support groups for sexual harassment at the workplace, and grievance cells for eve-teasing. It is necessary for women to revel in the feeling that they were born as women and celebrate life.
However, our society has yet to reach that state when every woman can feel that way. The nation is faced with several issues that seem to overshadow the need for the emancipation of women. It is also true that women continue to experience second-class status throughout the world. It is estimated that women grow half the world’s food, but rarely own land. They constitute one-third of the world’s labor force, but are generally found in the lowest paying jobs.
Single parent households headed by women, which appear to be on the rise in many nations, are typically found in the poorest sections of the population. Indeed, the feminization of poverty has become a global phenomenon. According to a United Nations report on women’s lives around the world, the majority of women still lag far behind men in terms of wealth, power, and opportunity.
However, things are vastly better today than they were yesterday, and to quote a heroine, Scarlett O’ Hara, from my favorite book “Gone with the Wind”, “tomorrow is another day!”
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