Treating boys and girls alike………..

Can we Indians imagine a husband parenting and nursing his child at home, doing all the housework and the wife dedicating her full time to a well paid job, and on returning home, dictating her husband on what to do?

Aren’t we confused at this role reversal? We start scratching our heads as to why this reversal seems so out of order………Why can’t we accept women dictating men, and men taking the complete responsibility of child care and household work, but accept the other way round?

This is because of the stereotypes we have been seeing and experiencing in this male-dominated society we are living in. A close look would reveal that such differences among men and women are not linked to any biological differences but because of different roles assigned by the society.

The discrimination faced by women begins from their birth itself. As soon as a child is born families and society begin the process of gendering. The birth of the son is celebrated with great pomp and happiness while the birth of a girl child becomes a source of grief. The son, is seen as the bearer of the family name is seen as the future source of income, as a type of insurance. The girl is looked down upon as a burden to the family. "May you be the mother of a hundred sons" is a common Hindu wedding blessing. This is the reason why there are many cases of female infanticide or female foeticide mainly in many rural areas and even in some urban areas in India.

Similarly boys experience preferential treatment when it comes to education and other facilities, since the Indian mentality has an opinion that the resources used for the male child is like an investment. However girls are either left uneducated or not given higher education because of the mentality that the resources used for girls would go waste as one day she would be married off. Moreover they see education as a reason for high dowry, a real root of many problems in India. A girl’s identity is forged as soon as her family and society limit her opportunities and declare her to be second-rate.

In India, gender-biased societal setup is the main cause for gender inequality. In a patriarchal society as in India, the male is always the head of the family, and the centre of power and authority because of the role of family earning assigned to him. Though women play an important role in the survival and maintenance of household, their position in household decision making is always secondary, as the role of household labour assigned to them is unpaid, and treated as unproductive labour.

Even in the economic sphere, women are paid less than men for the same work. Also, for jobs, promotion, undertakings, men are always preferred over women. Also women are mostly employed in the unorganised sector and their participation in organised, high paid jobs is still very less. Whether women work outside their homes or not, the household responsibility always vests with them!

The President of India is a woman. The leader of the majority party at the Lok Sabha, and apparently the most powerful person in India is a woman. Indian history has seen so many brave and important women rulers and freedom fighters. However still, women are still considered to be unfit for political institutions. Though the Constitution gives 1/3^rd reservation to women in local governments, The Women’s Reservation Bill is still waiting to be cleared by the legislature.

Gender inequality has adverse impact on development goals as reduces economic growth. It hampers the overall well being because blocking women from participation in social, political and economic activities can adversely affect the whole society. Moreover it takes away basic rights entitled to all humans irrespective of their differences.

Education is the tool that can help break the pattern of gender discrimination and bring lasting change for women in developing countries. Women who have had some schooling are more likely to get married later, survive childbirth, have fewer and healthier children, and make sure their own children are educated. They also understand hygiene and nutrition better and are more likely to prevent disease by visiting health care facilities. Girls' education also means comprehensive change for a society. As women get the opportunity to go to school and obtain higher-level jobs, they gain status in their communities. Status transforms into the power to influence their families and societies.

Also equally necessary is the importance of the family members in supporting education for the girl child and acquaintance with ideas of liberalism, and social change. Women have proved themselves whenever they have been given a chance, in all spheres, be it social, economic or political. Hence it is the most important to give women the chance they deserve, as equal humans.

And in the words of ex UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, "Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance."

Civic Sense

Today, I wish to simply speak (or write!) my heart out on a very significant topic and it is upon you to spare a few thoughts, reflect upon my views, introspect and realize how much we are so inextricably annealed to this malice, which is the absence of civic sense.

Now you may ask, what is civic sense? , Civic sense is nothing but social ethics. A lot of people would assume that civic sense is just about keeping the roads, streets and public property clean. But no, civic sense is more than that; it has to do with law-abiding, respect for fellow men and maintaining decorum in public places.

Now why is it that the lack of civic sense has become so is called ‘inevitable’ in our lifestyles? Why does civic sense seem so alien a term to all of us? Why is lack of civic sense become, the Indian way of doing things? Disregard for the law, for rules, any restrictions that bind us is the primary cause for lacking civic sense. We all adhere to any rules, not by understanding its value and by respecting it, but out of mere compulsion. And we are ever ready to break these rules, do we get a chance.

Examples are not too far to seek…if there is no one to supervise us, we never care before we break the rules and regulations, laws- to regulate us. Once I asked a brother of mine, why he wasn't wearing the helmet while driving. His reply was, "There is no Police On Sundays, why do I care! We don't think twice before breaking traffic rules, before damaging public property, before littering public places and what not, if there is no one to supervise us. If there is no authority to keep a watch over us, we don’t care about any restrictions and become the kings of our own will!

We are also so very confined to ourselves that we even forget that respect the basic rights an freedom of others. Talking loudly in public places, chattering away in libraries and restaurants, playing loud music in homes without sparing a thought that the neighbour is sick are just a few examples.

Moreover, we don’t have the feeling of collective responsibility and the sense of collective ownership of any public property. We don’t have this feeling that-“These streets are my own, the city is my own, the country is my own, but assume it as the sole responsibility of XYZ institution, and continue misusing it. We concentrate all our efforts in keeping everything neat, clean and presentable within the four walls of our homes, but as soon as we take a step outside our homes, we treat the streets as dustbins!

When we will inculcate the sense of collective responsibility and take it upon ourselves towards the maintenance of public property, it will be only then that India will truly prosper, and reach the zenith’s height from where no country could challenge us. But there are miles to go (attitudes to change, that too Indian thinking!) before that.

Hitesh Golchha