At a very young age, woman is taught to distrust one’s own judgment. They are taught submission to authority, how to search for other people’s opinions and decisions, and how to quote and comply, writes Sarika Gulati.
The day she was born, the sky turned furious and it rained. She is five and her world is small. The rose pink light of dawn brings endless chores and she steals few moments to play with whatever she finds around. She is eight and cooks so well. Sometimes she yearns to go out like her brothers do but has no time. She is fourteen and happy. She will get married soon like all her friends. Her life slowly fades in front of her and there is not time enough to question it. Does she know herself as she knows her world around? She is (no) different and God made her like that.
Guddi, Jamuna Devi, Afsana Begum, K. Supriya and many others have resorted to a life they have been taught to lead. If
there is anything beyond, they may never find out. Caught in the belief of their times, they will never discover that they
too exist.
“At a very young age, woman is taught to distrust one’s own judgment. They are taught submission to authority, how to search for other people’s opinions and decisions, and how to quote and comply.”
“Too many women in too many countries speak the same language of silence. When a woman gives her love, as most do, generously, it is accepted. When a woman shares her thoughts, as some women do, graciously, it is allowed. When a woman fights for power as all women would like to, quietly or loudly, it is questioned. And yet, there must be freedom if we are to speak. And yes, there must be power if we are to be heard. And when we have both freedom and power, let us not be misunderstood.”
Abstract from The Golden Notebook, Doris Lessing and speech by Hilary Clinton.
Photo Credits SEEDS
(http://www.seedsindia.org)
and
YOUNG LIVES (http://www.younglives.org.uk/)
