India, the land of contradictions! It goes without saying that women have fewer liberties and more restrictions than men in the country, in more or less all cultures/religions. Let me begin with possibly the least absurd of them all.
- Loitering alone at a so-called odd hour, like after ten in the night, in public places like parks, roadsides, beaches etc. might be considered perfectly normal for guys; but girls, alone or in groups, if found to be roaming around till “late” attract unnecessary stares and sometimes even nasty comments.
- Smoking or drinking by women in public places or in parties is also frowned upon by many. Woe betide if women are molested in such situations, since the length of her dress, her behaviour and the “late night” time become important pointers to justify the molester!
- Getting periods might be extremely normal and healthy for a woman, but these are the days when she is subjected to a lot of restrictions, like not entering temples, participating in religious ceremonies, and even praying and cooking food. She is not relieved from toiling at her workplace or home during this time though!
- The right of lighting the pyre of your dead parents or even entering the cremation ground is not there for women in most cultures. In the absence of the son, a male relative is sought for the task. Due to this, people keep wanting a male child since he is the one who can deliver ‘moksha’ to their souls.
- A woman having sex before marriage is not acceptable in most households, especially if she doesn’t intend to marry ‘that guy’.
On the flip side, things have changed, and are changing a lot. More women are coming around and voicing their dissent against these obnoxious social taboos that restrict freedom and equality in all matters of life. After all, following or not following these norms is purely a matter of personal choice and none of these can be categorized as right or wrong. So, to the women out there… it’s time to get our dues! And the real men out there won’t be afraid to let us have them! Remember, you alone have the right to choose the life you want to lead!!
