Similar treatment to women is a must for the holistic development of society

Women today have education, empowerment and freedom and can very well understand prejudicial behaviour against them and mental harassment.

They know how to fight their battles and win back what is legally due to them and also their respect and dignity. Even if that requires breaking the norms set by the society and defining their own rules.

Still, we see only a few women, howsoever educated they may be, dare to challenge the accepted norms and discriminatory treatment being meted to them at the workplace probably in the fear of being ridiculed. It is mainly because society has always undermined the self-respect and individuality of a woman.

Her problems are ignored and her voice is suppressed because she belongs to a weaker gender. Thus empowering women is the fundamental right of women.

They should receive similar treatment like men and be involved in the decision making process at every level. In other words, they should have proportionate rights to contribute to society But the fact is that for years women have been made to feel that they should settle for less than what they deserve.

Also as females, we always have been taught to keep patience, that in hopeless situations it is better to keep quiet than resist it, that things will turn for better after some time, that harassment is not something that we discuss or reveal to others people.

If a woman fights for her rights, self-respect and equality and refuses to be a part of the patriarchal framework, she is branded as self-centred.

The basic idea of females questioning the limits of gender is not acceptable to the patriarchal society. Our Constitution has provided for equal rights and opportunities to men and women.

Governments and people do also talk about equality and egalitarianism but rarely work towards achieving them. It is only limited to granting balanced rights to women.

Governments do make various acts and provisions to provide a healthy working environment and protection to women personnel but rarely sensitize the male personnel on gender equality.

In such a scenario if any woman dares to raise her voice against inequality, gender discrimination, unbalanced working conditions and intolerance, expresses her opinion and asserts herself at her workplace, it is considered blasphemous and sacrilegious for the patriarchal framework that can ruin her career and peaceful life.

The point Is that is it so hard to respect opinionated and assertive women in this male-dominated society.

Why a woman cannot aspire to be independent, why a woman is not allowed to make a choice to do ultimately what she feels is right for her, that a woman wishing for something other than a good husband and marriage is still a hard idea for the society to digest.

Even today women are pestered about their marriage plans than they are even asked about their professional ambitions.

Everybody in the Indian household has their own set of plans and targets about their daughter’s future specifically about her marriage Our culture also glorifies the male ego no matter how reckless it is but holds women on to whole different selflessness and magnanimous level.

It is expected of women that they must be humble, bighearted, obedient, polite, altogether virtuous. In other words, our culture applauds women’s selfsacrifice but abhors any form of female assertion.

The patriarchal society has always been aware of the enormous capabilities of women, which is why it has imposed the obligation of selflessness on women.

Right from ancient times to modern times, society has eternalised the rhetoric of selflessness to control women. In fact, selflessness is an instrument of oppression that keeps women from seeking positions of power.

It denies them the freedom to live out their lives according to their wishes and desires, to prove their selfworth, shackles them to live up to other people’s expectations, leaving them, mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted.

However, Today Gen Z women are learning to prioritise the self. They are standing up for themselves and they should be because when we honour ourselves and our needs, we take responsibility for our own lives.

We reclaim what’s ours and establish a framework to thrive. These women are beginning to see through the false morality of selfless sacrifice and are standing up for themselves.

This is necessary to protect their self-worth in a society that’s relentlessly misogynistic. There is nothing wrong with speaking your mind or having an opinion.

When one is self-reliant and confident, one doesn’t get fazed by others’ opinions. After all, it’s just an opinion and not a fact and we all are surrounded by a sea of opinions. When we are confident, the inner voice becomes stronger than the outer noise.

So the characteristics of assertiveness, boldness and opinion are not bad things at all, rather they are very good traits. And yes we all agree on this point that, irrespective of gender, society out of its manipulation tactics do label good people with firm stance rude when they actually are not and many times really kind.

So we need to understand that being assertive and opinionated is fine but at the same time giving respect and being tolerant to others’ opinions is also important for the harmonious and balanced development of society.

So dear society, please accept a woman for who she is and remember, she has every right to defy the norms you have set for her.

She will and should have an opinion of her own. All her perceptions and approaches to selfcare are also necessary for her personal growth. Every woman needs to individually think about what’s good for her.

Put herself first. Value her worth. Recognise that she is deserving of dignity. Pleasing people in one’s life with no boundaries whatsoever will only result in resentment.

It is good to give, sure, but it is also important to receive, In fact, new research in human decision processes suggests that by being selfish, you not only get the best for yourself but also maximise the benefits for everyone around you.

So ladies stand up, assert and express themselves and realise your worth. You must know that opportunities will not reach your laps, you would have to determine ways to create them. You need to empower yourself by being aware and confiscating chances to bring a shift in your status.

At the same time, be warned. The patriarchal society may try to demoralise you first as it is especially cruel to women who stand up for themselves, You will be called negative, selfish, greedy, calculative. But refuse the judgement. Rise and shine you will.