The Myth called Equality

All of us talk about India being a progressive society. That we are catching up the "modern" world. That women are now treated equally... or atleast will be.

It is a good thought to pursue, since India is one of the few nations in the world where we have the existence of a matriarchal society, where the woman of the house has the right to property, money and business. Don't get me wrong, it is not about the money, but more a sense of power and rights, and the notional symbols attached to it by our society. Needless to say, in most cases, the woman is forced to fight for this right, despite being the care giver towards the later parts of life. And again, by woman, I don't necessarily mean daughter... it could well be the daughter-in-law who has been doing what it takes.

But what good is all this power, when the same woman is beaten, raped in wide open streets, and then is told that she is at "fault" and is tainted... ironically due a crime committed by someone else. Power has to, first, come in the mind. And it is more critical to change the mindset, not just of men, but of fellow women as well. When a women is not allowed in a temple during her menstrual cycle, it is more often a fellow women who forbids her.

But even that is not the point... because the most elementary concept of any society is Survival of the fittest... and that holds true irrespective of gender, space or time. Fitness not just of the body, but of the mind. Women will be easy prey, till they fight back. They will be taunted till they raise their voice and speak their thoughts.