8th March-The day started like any other day.
I could see a lot of establishments like saloons,Eatouts,Clothing stores throwing offers for women,encouraging them to buy more or promoting their services.
Even some hospitals in the city came forward with offers like Free medical checkup for women.
In my work place,our cubicles were decorated with balloons(for all women employees),
we have been given some chocolates and flowers.
To my astonishment,pubs and discos,declared to have ladies night for the entire week..
My question is "Why do we need women's day at all?.."
Answer 1:This day celebrates the life of a woman who faces hardships with her inner strength..
It was from a feminist friend of mine.
I think she is mistaken.Facing hardships with inner strength is something,
which is done by almost every living organism in this Earth.Another answer came like,
by celebrating women's day,we are saluting the bravery of women,who came forward to work,and for making an independent living.
Again,every creature does that..what is so special about it.
Here comes another answer,by celebrating this,the sociobiological status of women has improved.
Hmm..Not really...
Here is a shattering fact,
In this world,
1.64% of the illiterates are women.
2.Two thirds of the children are denied education are girls.Nearly,41 million girls are denied education.
3.Gender-based violence causes more deaths and disabilities among women aged 15-44 than cancer,malaria, traffic accidents and war.
4.60 million girls are sexually assaulted at or en route to school.In Afghanistan and Pakistan,Employed women receives death threats,asking them to leave their jobs.For the victims who commit adultery,men will be given 100 lashes and women stoning till death.Women are highly discouraged from entering politics by assasinating them.(Benazir Bhutto,Pakistan).Mass destruction of Girl's schools in East Pakistan etc
5.75% of civilians killed in war are women and children.
6.Very few countries criminalized marital rape(Check IPC 376 section,so nebulous)
7.Many countries permits polygyny.
UN peacekeeper Patrick Cammaert said,
‘It is now more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in modern conflict’.
Look at the verity in his words.
Are the women of East (Afghanistan,Iran,Libya,Somalia etc),aware of Women's day?
Are the feminist aware of the increasing number of domestic violence (physical,sexual and emotional abuse by spouse) victims?
Eventhough the era of women employment begun in early 20th century.they were never given a right to vote,even in the so called developed nations like England,U.S.A etc.
Is it like i cannot decide or choose my representative?
After a terrible fight by the suffragists,women were given the right to vote.
(FYI even now,Saudi Arabia women cannot vote or drive)
Remember Freedom is never granted,It is always Won.
Even now Women of U.K has the following obstacles ahead of them..
1.700,000 people (90% of whom are females) experience domestic violence
2.Equal pay is almost as distant as it as when the Sex Discrimination Act was passed in1975
3.Conviction for rape cases hovers at around 6-7%
4.Only 12% of the company board members are women(avg)
5.Only 19% of MPs are women
Coming to the medical problems,
fatal diseases like Sexually Transmitted disease(STD) are transformed to women,
only from their SPOUSE.
There is also an alarming increase in the number of victims of Mortality rate during child birth,marital rape,Female Genetal mutilation,Breast cancer,cervical cancer etc.
When are we going to stop barbaric practices like stoning,FGM etc..?
What i suggest is,for example a clothing store instead of giving offers to women who can very well afford,can give clothing(atleast 5 to 10% or from old stock) to women who are below the poverty line.
The same kind of idea is suggested for Eatouts,hospitals or any other service industry.
Medical aware camps can be organised instead spending so much on ladies night clubs.
I contribute some money,to a school(for both boys and girls) every month,which provides world class education to the kids from slums...
WHAT IS YOUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY?
