“Equal World” ( Man=Woman) is still a far fetched concept. Yes biologically, difference exists but in terms of capabilities and career aspirations, women are no less.
Truly inspired by the book “Lean In” By Facebook COO-Sheryl Sandberg, I feel that as women, we bear the responsibility to bring in the positive change by following Sheryl’s mantras:
- Sit at the Table
- Make your Partner a real partner
- Don’t leave before you leave
While reading the book, I could recall few of the instances which made me believe that we need to reinstate everyone’s faith in women’s inherent capabilities.
Incident 1:
Few years ago, I was rushing back home from office because a couple friend had come and we were meeting after a long time. Excitedly, I went inside my abode and found the 2 women, friend’s wife and my mother in law, were involved in a lively chit chatter. I joined their conversation,only to be left flustered and emotionally worn out a few minutes later.
The tete-a tete followed as:
Mother In law: What do you do?
Ms. A: I do what a woman is intended to do! I take care of my kid, my husband is there to look after money matters.
Mother in law: At a loss for words, she just nodded because how can you refute when you believe in the very phrase “ Atithi Devo Bhava”!!
Ms. A is a young woman in her late 20’s who has attempted at doing a full time job but could not continue for her husband believed in “traditional marriages” where a man takes decisions and pay bills and a woman cooks meals, clean the house and take care of kids.
Incident 2:
While Campus Placements during my M.B.A, the first few questions always revolved around
“If I am Married?”
“If I had kids?”
“If I was planning to have kids?”
After a few attempts, I realized that red vermilion on my forehead and my mangalsutra were playing against my career aspirations.Thus I took a “HARD” decision to remain/look “Unmarried” for the Interview Panel.
Recently too, while attending job interviews, I had a “Woman Leader” who asked me openly if I was planning for my “second child”. With a lot of agony in her voice, she further added that she had invested a lot of time in upskilling her colleague and now when she is ready technically to take over the responsibility, she is going on “Maternity Leave.” Baffled, I uttered that I do not have any such plans because that point of time, I did not want to lose the opportunity.
Incident 3:
My husband and I both are career oriented parents ( a term taken by the book called “Lean In) and let me confess that he is definitely a hands on father and a diligent homemaker too. Now please don’t be confused when I call him a “Homemaker”. It is just because we equally share our home responsibilities, be it cooking or taking care of our kid and thus both of us equally qualify for the term “Diligent Homemaker”. Now you all must be thinking” How lucky is Shubham” and here comes the gender stereotype. This is the reality and not limited to only my case.
When a husband works at home, he is qualified as a “a good husband” and he gets more brownie points but when a wife does all the house chores, why is she not eligible for the “good wife” trophy??
Let us walk towards an equal world! Let the change begin from within! Let the change begin from our house! Let the change begin from our office!
Thoughts on Fire 