#MeToo

Social media sites are filled with #MeToo stories from most of my female friends. I wondered as to what #MeToo meant only to realise that it was a campaign against Assault and sexual harrasment started by one Alyssa Milano in her tweet . It was started to bring to light the magnanimity of harrasment of women.

There are many types of harassment that women face- in public, in office and also at times in the comforts of our homes. Yet why is that we women prefer to remain quiet? Is it mainly to avoid public shaming or that nobody trusts the women or is it to save the relationships in case of domestic harassment?

Harrasment may be interms of inappropriate touch or humiliation interms of one's character or sexual advances without one's consent.

I too have faced this while travelling in public transport and a man has tried to feel me, yet chose not to raise my voice inorder to avoid getting attention and instead all i did was move away. There are times when people who are family have spoken of my character, yet i remained quiet just to save the one bond that I was nurturing. 

Well, more often than not, the woman-in-charge fails to realise that she is being harassed and also doesn't know the appropriate action that can be taken to curb the same.

At times, it results in decreased self confidence, guilt and may drive a person to the point of insanity.

It's not only women who are harassed, men may be harassed too however the percentage of men being harassed is less as compared to women.

It's time to confront the person harassing and avoid such encounters in future thus making the world safe for our loved ones to live in. Also the person harassed has to be given enough moral support so that they regain confidence to get over the fear and tackle such situations if they repeat in future.

IT'S NOT OK TO BE HARASSED AND HARASS.

I am cursed, do you know why...

... Because i am a woman...

Her ill-fated luck starts the moment she is born. Rather than being treated as a good fortune or luck to the family, she will be looked down upon as a misfortune which has dawned upon the family.

She is treated as a debit to the family while the brothers who have been born before or after her are treated as credits..

Is it her fault that she is born a girl? Why do people, even though in 21st century still believe this?

Where do the talks of 'women empowerment' and 'beti bachao' andolans end up? Though years have rolled by and literacy percentage has increased, why has the temperament of people not changed?

Yes, i do agree that males carry the dominant genes from a family and that is one of the scientific reasons why it is necessary to have a male child but isn't the girl child carrying a part of your genes too (which may or may not be recessive)?

In a country like India with its vast geographical area and a place where goddesses are worshipped, there is a highly dominated patriarchal society and a recessive matriarchal society. Where do we stand in terms of gender equality?

We all want to make the world a better place to live in. What are we doing to the people who are trying to educate and bring to light the atrocities against women?

In recent times, we all know that the documentary pertaining to the rape victim (Nirbhaya- 26th December 2012 case) that was aired in UK and subsequently available on the internet was removed following the objections by various people. Where is the right to speech?

Is there going to be an end to the gender discrimination or do we have to silently continue chanting - 'Naa aana iss desh laado! The time has not arrived for you to get the respect that you deserve nor is your value understood'.

Harassed? who is at fault?

Over the weekend, we could see only one news flashing across all the news channels- Actress Preity Zinta had filed a harassment case against her kings XI co-owner and ex lover Ness Wadia. Though the incident happened on 30th May 2014 it was brought to light only on 14th June 2014. Lot of people went about saying that its Preity's fault cause she had enjoyed all the benefits of being a businessman's girlfriend and now is accusing him of misbehavior.

Though nothing is certain about who is guilty and who is taking undue advantage, the incident has pushed me to write something in this regard. The most common issue that women face irrespective of whether she is educated, earning well, single or married; the stares, touch, words - sometimes knowingly and at other times unknowingly. Why do people fail to understand the discomfort that they cause with these demeanor?

 If these untoward incidents happen due to strangers then we can very well take action yet it hurts the most when a person who is close to us does that. While many men tell that they are against such things and join the women in their protests there are a few who are all words of sympathy and no action.

 Last month a few rape cases were reported from Uttar Pradesh. When one of the journalists asked the chief minister about the action he would take, he got a shocking reply- 'Did it happen to you? No right? Then continue with your work its all common'. If a person with power and education replies in this manner then what to expect from others?

There are times when a woman has to listen to things like - being a lady its easier for you to get things done for everyone has a soft corner towards you. At office, if a lady gets promoted faster and if she is praised for her worthiness people go about talking that she would have slept with her boss. What a crap thinking! Can't women be smart?

 If a guy helps a girl it doesn't mean that they both aren't going around with each other.If we join you for lunch or coffee it doesn't mean that we are giving you an invitation or the feeling that we are hitting on you.

Even if you are our friend (sometimes a very good friend too) it doesn't mean that you can tell us whatever comes to your mind and even if you like us and are possessive about us please don't look at us with love filled eyes if you know that the relationship cannot be taken forward.. We are not comfortable with all the lovey-dovey aspects though we are the most romantic creatures on earth.

Give us the space and remember that we won't mind getting a scan done if we need medical analysis but hate to be scanned by the eyes. We are not some showpieces to be stared at or non living things to be touched and felt.