Feminism- a tamed ideology

Indian feminists have continued to under-perform, but not because they choose to attain mediocrity from their actions or solve petty questions of social jurisdiction. To this day, if the western world still debates whether the word ‘feminist’ is a dirty word, there remains little hope for a modicum of respect to be given for a point of view that has suffered stigmatization since its coinage and existence. Before the word was put into being, points of views coinciding and aligning with feminism reaped no rewards. Those who chose to accept them- from the medieval witch-hunts, a patriarchal campaign that continues to this day. Emancipated women, women with power, women with the will to demand equity were the Game. Unlike the older times, the witch-hunts of today have a new label- instead of the word ‘witch’ they choose to brand the woman with the simple yet heavy tag of a Feminist. Just like in the older times, the prey is punished- by further stigmatization and subjugation.

In a country like India where for most part of the last century women had no right to inherit property, the non-male population has been handed a rougher, rawer deal than their western counterparts. There was no outrageous Women’s Liberation Movement, no push from the fever of a Flower Power generation to carry a revolution on and no sign from the patriarchy that it was ready to listen to the voice of the women.

The lack of mainstream support for women’s issues leaves much to be desired- such agendas are seen as misguided and a by-product of western hedonism by the right-wing, while proud male-supremacists approach such movements and expression to be sign of non-conformist women-folk eager to ‘seize power’, for want of a better phrase. Misogyny carries on in our country, and lack of faith in women’s causes as well as unwillingness to compromise makes for a shallow setting. The drama surrounding the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Indian Parliament is a testimony to the chauvinistic attitudes pervading among the ruling class of this country- men. One does not necessarily have to assume that all men have it bad. It is merely easier to admit that women just don’t have it as good, from the sense of ease in an unfamiliar neighbourhood to that big promotion at the workplace.

This fear of emasculation begins with social conditioning- forget female foeticide, households positively reinforce male dominance and righteousness by awarding asymmetrical systems of duties and responsibilities and unequal distribution of household resources between siblings of different sexes. Those who will protest against this statement probably won’t account for the millions of households in small metros, towns and villages where gender oppression is a way of life; even in large cities, such family practices percolate socio-economic barriers. Our conditioning extends itself to colour perception of strong-headed, independent women as negative influences while an aggressive archetype of an Alpha-male is seen as role-model worthy.

While it may be too strong an assertion to make that all men equally reject pro-feminine and feminist policies, especially in the wake of gender budgeting taking on a greater role as a policy tool by the Indian government or a number of men being employed in fields related to gender equality, an unfortunate reality holds that the common man is at best inclined to view feminism as a frivolous academic pursuit and sees protests and social rallies such as the recent Slut Walk in New Delhi as a shameless display of unwarranted and misplaced feminine angst.

However, a positive transition is alive, currently. A growing number of women are employed in the workforce, with many earning just as much as their husbands or even more. Greater investment and funding in projects which involve female-oriented legal literacy campaigns in towns and villages as well as gender-sensitive lobbying by umbrella organizations working to effect changes in legislature and budgeting. While all these efforts are welcome and essential towards meeting gender equality goals, one is yet to see an effort on a large scale that attempts in changing perspectives of Indian men. A majority of the projects are female-centric and female-oriented, with very few aiming to counsel, train or reach out to menfolk. Gender sensitivity remains an intellectual privilege not limited to class or wealth, but to those men who recognize that emasculation is not the desired end-product of female empowerment and women who are fortunate enough to be in proximity of such men.

The public space. Is it really?

Being a single woman in an alien city, away from your comfort zone, thrust into a space which is not yours is a scary thought to begin with. The responsibilities of being a new comer to a large cosmopolitan city of the likes of Mumbai are huge, unfathomable. The onus of carrying one’s ‘Izzat’ and upholding one’s ‘sanskar’ is burdened on the shoulders of the woman, who bravely decides to open up the doors of her dreams for once. She feels going to the city as being liberated from the clutches of boundaries and restrictions behind her, but little does she know that in this new ‘promised land’ of hers, she is differently, if not more, still bound.

Along with being new and alone in the city, the highest responsibility that comes along is that of ‘being a woman’.

Public spaces today demand a reason for them being used by a woman loitering on the streets, at the bus stop, on the marine drive promenade, on the ‘katta’ is strictly restricted to men as they cannot be questioned for their purpose of being there. However if this is followed suit by women, it takes no time for eyebrows to be raised and tongues to lash out at the audacity of these women to be out without purpose.

Recently, gender experts from a legal news service surveyed that, India ranks 4th in the list of most dangerous places for women in the world. Our country is so largely and so clearly divide into the westernised ‘them’ and the Indian ‘us’ that bridging the gap seems near to impossible.

Gender divide, apartheid and discrimination have long been an integral part of the ‘civilised and cultured’ society we boast of. The ‘little hapless woman’ attitude has been so thoroughly infused in the minds of the people at large, that even the woman herself is astounded and confused and questions her own ability.

We as a country have been boasting about the diminishing differences between towns and big cities, but is it so? Leave out the big multiplexes and fancy restaurants that have marked their place in a lot of towns lately, the status of women, the cultural difference, the economic revenue etc. have a sharp chasm of difference.

You see the sari clad woman of Mumbai in the local trains, the loud and ‘care for nuts’ attitude of the Delhi females, the smart intelligent retorts of the Bangalore girls. But what happens to the remaining percent which constitute a much larger number of women?

Recently, the rape of an 18 year old at Kalyan station near Mumbai comes as a rude shock to people living in the phantom world of being safe in a big city like Mumbai. However, the intricacy of a heinous assault like rape is also linked to the chastity of the woman before the incident. The crime apart, the first question that comes into minds of the society at large is “what was the woman doing there/with them/at that time of the day etc. It is ultimately the fault of the woman for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Today, the reason why women have come out to rebel with a gimmick like the ‘slut walk’ is mere frustration. It is anger, boiling to its fullest which has been put on a simmer by the society. For the socio economically liberated woman of the city, to the docile small town girl to the ignorant tribal woman, it is always been and will always be

‘Your chastity is your responsibility’

Trace enroute...trying to bring class! :P

The name of my blog literally means 'to trace on the way'
I may not exactly have a reason for naming my blog this but i kind of found it classy!
Well it's French you see!
Utkarsha Kotian I officially thank you for that!

Perhaps this name, because I wish to trace along my life through the years and see what marks people have left behind. Have they trampled upon, not caring what comes beneath their feet or have they trodden with care?
I know it won't be any different even if I do mange to race all of that back...but just as I have always been..a dreamer of the dreams. I don't know if all this makes any sense to the readers, but it does to me!
To trace on the way, I should also leave a trace behind which someday someone might want to follow. Till then I hope I leave at least an impression deep enough to be traced back to me. :)