Good girls!

Few years ago, there was a heated discussion between me and my friend about an affair in the college. We should call it gossip, probably. We were judging them but I realized my friend was too judgmental about the woman, to the extent of laying complete responsibility on her. I pushed back, "It's just not her." for which she said, "Honestly I think men are dogs and they are like that. So I look at only the woman."

Couple of months ago, I have seen social media posts for Women's day by an online media company. They say lets revere the women in the form of mother, sister, wife and on and on, how they care for you. There were others too. Shockingly no negative comments on the post (very unlike of virtual audience) This concept of purity, kindness attributed to women is utterly disheartening for the cause of feminism.

The stereotyping of people is understandable but ascertaining value to a gender based on their selflessness, kindness, devotion to you is grossly narcissistic. Its a highly unrealistic expectation. Women can be judgmental (ask me) or selfish or dominating or manipulative, violent, cunning, greedy or any of those qualities that lands you in hell in any faith.

I have always pondered upon what matters to me the most. Is it money, fame or service? I have come to understand that freedom is what I ultimately need to survive. Freedom is interpreted differently in different situations but to me, the core of freedom is freedom to be yourself. My gender should not tell me to be motherly or not motherly, patient or impatient, crass or sophisticated. There are studies which bring up fundamental differences between masculine and feminine in empathy and so on. Discussing it would defeat the purpose of embracing the uniqueness of everyone. You dont go near a lion munching on deer carcass though study shows lions attack only when hungry.

Feminism as a concept is defined as the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes. Equality is a funny idea when all of us are unique in our own way and there are so many other constructs of inequality. Its hard to understand for the average Indian I guess. Let me tell you in a simple way, "Do not ask me to do or not do something just because I am a woman"

In this context came across a great video from Desi Lydic on "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah". Watch it here

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