From being subjected to domestic violence, to being attacked by goons, girls have evolved lingering for the goodness of society. With the given freedom, a girl can transcend her influence, bringing changes in the behaviour of the collective human mind. On this day for women, let's realise what it means to be a woman.
The foremost development of an individual lies in her education. Although our women's literacy rate remains lower than the global average, thanks to the government schemes that helped our girls reach 65.46% (according to the 2011 census), expecting to increase significantly in the coming years. Actually, in contemporary Indian society, girls don't face hardship in receiving an education but endure only after education.
While domination, physical abuses, mental harassment and unequal opportunities deprive her on one side; So-called societal morality and pressure from family depress her on the other side. Knowingly or Unknowingly even our governments support society to pressurise a girl.
She Attains 18
The 1954 Special Marriage act declares the legal marriage age for a girl as 18 years. Subsequently, most of our girl child schemes are inclined to give secured liberty till 18 years of age. For example; whilst, the Sukanya Samriddhi account offers a maturity period of 21 years from the date of account opening, it can be applied for a normal premature closure when the girl attains 18 years of age. Generally, the number 18 tends to impart pressure on a girl. This '18 years' phenomenon has cropped up into bitter psychology, where Indian parents, families and society are mentally triggered to think and bond a girl into marriage as soon as possible, as she attains 18.
Disrespecting her aspirations and disregarding her years in education, she is forced into a marriage alliance. Is it really necessary for a girl to be educated to enter a marriage bond? Forcing a girl to accept a knot immediately after graduation is nothing less than ridiculousness. And this is where her entire purpose of education goes in vain, shattering dreams and abilities.
"Her goodness; Education, Awareness and Sense of Freedom pushed this mindset from 18 to 25 to an extent, still, the deprivation and depression have not left her alone."
She took the responsibility
While the situation remains worse even today, imagine the conditions in the past millennium. Every woman was punished for the mistake not committed and suffered for no reason. This blame and shame go to the creators of the caste hierarchy. Suppressors treated women as equal to the lowest of the hierarchy through which they denied her every birthright and forced just one responsibility on her - ‘to serve the men’.
And then, the weakest men were no weaker, as they had a woman who could be dominated.
Nobody cared about foreshortening her childhood, nobody cared about staining her adolescence, nobody cared when she was deprived of education, nobody cared when she was raped in the name of marriage, nobody cared when she suffocated in the kitchen smoke, nobody cared when she was murdered in the name of Sati and nobody felt sorry.
"But she took the responsibility, to save herself and to prove herself."
From having no education, now women form half of the teaching community. Ranging from doctors to lawmakers, there isn’t any field without women. They have even stepped into the battlefield to showcase female endurance. The ability to defend is a birth character of women, the power of which helps them to survive all sufferings. And now they arise with the same character to reach great heights. This inborn willpower is what makes a girl be a girl.
She means Secularity
"Naturally, women are more secular than men."
The caste hierarchy and discrimination were penned down to dominate a fellow being. These suppressive acts were carried out only to benefit a selected few. And these selected few were only males. And those men enjoyed clinching the so-called upper-class status. Human nature tempted every man to occupy such a dominant position. Eventually, a separatist character communicated with every man. At the same time, women had no clue what it felt to be dominant. Ultimately she developed a more secular character than men.
A secular temperament brings the quality of acceptance. The best and unadorned example of this character could be witnessed after a girl’s marriage. From a broader perspective, the concept of arranged marriage is a situation where a girl is forced to decide to live the rest of her life with strangers. Initially, at the husband’s home, the wife tends to be submissive. Such a situation convinces her to accept any situation as it is and to accept the people as they are. Thus a woman sacrifices most of her time, liking and happiness to keep the family together. This peculiar character cannot be inherited by men, which makes most of them incapable to handle strangers with acceptance.
As society understood the secular character of women, they intended to misuse a girl’s strength only for the selfish well-being of one’s family.
She can advocate togetherness
The womb of acceptance can give birth to togetherness. History proves that inequality is the reason for women’s suffering. On a pathetic front, there are women who still believe that they are less equal to men. Those women will remain to be unequal until they believe so.
Every girl needs to realise their birthright and start voicing for the ones who need help. The world has seen women who have been raised to the top by breaking all barriers. It is wrongful to admit to societal pressure despite having the strength and opportunity to change. It is a betrayal not to voice in favour of the girls who are in dire need of help.
"The voice of the affected is much more effective than the voice of external support"
Thousands of years of injustice have come to light only as women started speaking against the suppression. Although the law, the government and enlightened men act in favour of women's rights, their actions can never match the voice of a woman. Successful women must educate the rest about fighting for their birthright. And every woman must take the responsibility to teach their children about treating the opposite sex with equality. Such an effort from a woman can bring society together forever.
She needs time
Every child is born equal and capable. And everyone needs their own time to prove their strength to the world. When men have the independence to decide their way of life, every girl should also be given the same. The independence here would be in means of time. Today’s families and society must stop deciding the marriage fate of a girl. The decision of a relationship is also the birthright of a woman and it must be left to them. Let her take her own time at least until she reaches financial independence. Such independence will keep our women strong and happy. If a woman is happy, she will keep her surroundings and society happy.
It is high time for society to understand the value of womanhood and also high time for women to voice against societal pressure.
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