Have we achieved gender equality, or has it become a concept of an egalitarian society?

"Little did she know that the monsters would crumble her dreams to dearth...."

The world celebrates the eighth of March as International Women's Day every year. It exhibits that today's women no longer wish to be constrained within the four walls of their house and want to live a dignified life with their male counterparts. "Equality, Self-respect, and Dignity are the pillars of a balanced society!" is the slogan that echoes in every nook and corner of this world.

Witnessing all the transformation and awareness in today's women, who were otherwise expected to be mute spectators, there's no doubt that the women won't settle for anything less than what they rightfully deserve.

But are we indeed marching towards an optimistic rake, a new, egalitarian society?

Recently, A renowned actor of yesteryears, Mr Mukesh Khanna, who had essayed the role of Bhishma Pitamah in Mahabharata, the top television show of the 90s, along with other superhit shows like Shaktiman, uploaded a video on the MeToo movement on his YouTube Channel. He had made a cringeworthy, misogynistic, and regressive statement when discussing the MeToo Movement:

"Women and men are made differently. Women's responsibility is to take care of the house. I am sorry to say this, but the MeToo problem started after women started to work. Today, women aspire to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with men. People talk about women's liberation, but let me tell you that this is where the problems begin. The first member to suffer is the child because he does not have a mother to take care of him. He watches 'Saas Bhi Kabi Bahu' with the caretaker. It all began when women aspired to be equal to men, but a man is a man, and a woman is a woman."

(Excerpt is taken from Hindustan Times-News)

These words are unforeseen, especially from a legendary and educated person. Of late, several Indian Ministers have also given such baseless and highly gender-biased remarks on crimes taking place against women. Blaming it all on women who are the victims of animal lust and gruesome violence, they let the perpetrators, the men, escape the scene.

Time and again, these statements force us to ponder on the stubbornly present but politically non-existent gender bias that has been hovering over us since time immemorial.

We desperately need a call for balance, treating men and women as Equals, not opponents.

Men and women are like the two batteries of a remote—both are essential for it to function. Life, too, thrives on balance; neither can truly flourish in isolation. In fact, our ancient sacred texts placed women on an even higher pedestal than men.

In Hindu Mythology, at the beginning of time, Lord Parabrahma was bifurcated into two parts: Purusha and Prakriti. Purusha or consciousness is further divided into three energies or divine forms, namely, Brahma (The Creator), Vishnu (The Rearer), and Shiva (The Destroyer). Shakti took three forms to power the Purusha: Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Adi-Shakti. The creation or advancement of the universe started with the union or viable contact of Purusha and Prakriti.

Women were held in high esteem and given due honour in ancient India. They were considered equal to men and enjoyed the same rights. They were encouraged to receive proper education and shape their lives according to their whims. Even the tradition of Swayamvara in royal palaces granted young women complete freedom to choose their life partners.

As time progressed, the human-made orthodox regimens led to the continuous degradation of women's status. They confined them within the four walls of the house, with the sole responsibility of giving birth to children and raising them.

However, history is not the end of the story. Over time, significant strides have been made to reverse this injustice, especially since India’s independence. The welfare of women and the girl child holds an essential position in all our undertakings. What remains is a complete understanding of this strategically conceded equity on the social level.

But how far have we achieved gender equality? Is it being realized in the true sense, or have we drifted from what it meant to achieve?

The idea of a free woman is apparently in vogue. It predominantly suggests a monetarily independent lady. Thanks to our Indian society, she still needs the anchor of her husband and family for other things. Our backward thinking and rusted culture cannot see a woman being liberated in matters of choosing a life partner, articles of clothing, relationships, and making other decisions in her life. If not, she would automatically be labelled to be an indecent woman or a slut.

Women, especially those from the middle class, often struggle to balance multiple responsibilities. Household chores and raising children are still seen as solely their duty. Often, they become victims of harassment and are subjected to ridicule. Simply being a woman invites unwarranted judgment, harassment, and a sense of unworthiness. They face criticism at work and in education, often due to gender bias.

No matter how hardworking and dedicated they are, many still endure harassment if they resist unwanted advances. In several professions, women are paid less than their male counterparts for the same work. They are constantly forced to navigate precarious situations, facing pressure at every turn.

The atrocities against women are a slur on the fair name of humanity. Crime rates continue to rise, and so does our indifference, as though we have quietly accepted this as women’s fate. The incidence of crime against women, which has started showing an upward trend at a time when India stands at the threshold of a socio-economic revolution, points to deliberate mischief. It is saddening to note that even today, in almost every stratum of our social life, women are treated as inferior beings.

For centuries, women have been fighting against deeply entrenched patriarchy and toxic masculine forces to claim their rightful place in society. Their souls bear the scars of grave injustices, yet they have confronted these oppressions with unwavering intellect and wisdom.

Women have consistently fought with the backwardness to acquire their rights without ever giving up, which speaks volumes of their courage and power. In the past, women like Joan of Arc and Rani Lakshmi Bai have proved their convictions' strength. Influential ladies like Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, Madame Curie, Margaret Thatcher, and their ilk have left a permanent imprint on the present century's history.

From history’s heroines to today’s trailblazers, women continue shattering barriers and redefining societal roles.

It is heartening to note that today, we have in India educated ladies who are very keen on taking up all types of work, including administrative positions. Women now accompany our exploration teams to Antarctica. They compete for IAS, IRS, ISRO, defence examinations, and other fields. Today, we have women as Magistrates, judges, police officers, and imminent scientists who are cool-headed, dispassionate, objective, visionary, and impartial.

However, it is important to underline what true feminism implies.

"True feminism lies in women being respected as equals to men, not misusing its name for personal gain, and all genders uplifting each other instead of holding anyone back."

Our constitution ensures a place of dignity and honour for all genders, and feminism, in its original essence, is about unity, not division; progress, not competition. It is a shared effort to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive.

However, while we speak of constitutional equality, we have yet to go a long way before women find an equally safe and honourable place in our society. Eradicating social injustices requires bold action to transform women's social status. Change begins at home by eliminating gender bias and fostering a more equitable societal mindset.

Let's pledge to make this world a place,

where every woman can find solace.

Where all men view beauty with respect than lust,

where freedom for all is a reality,

Education for all, a must.

It's imperative to delete all derogatory references to women and the glorification of their so-called virtues from folklore to achieve gender equality in its true essence. People must test superstitions and myths about women on the touchstone of rationality, and society should accord them equal status. Once this is achieved, the world will undoubtedly be a pious and better place.

-Meemansa Mishra