The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : It's a clear no to `conditioning'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 17, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

It's a clear no to `conditioning'

Staff Reporter

Seminar held on role of women in national building Women achievers come out against gender bias at seminar

WORDS OF WISDOM: Actress Nandita Das speaks at a seminar on the role of women in nation building in Hyderabad on Friday. Photo: Satish H.

HYDERABAD: Actor and social activist Nandita Das exhorted women to break the shackles of societal conditioning that suppressed their aspirations and prevented them from realising their full potential. She said gender bias was so strong in the society that women were deeply conditioned.

Analysing the dilemma of women during a panel discussion on `Role of Women in National Building' at St. Ann's College for Women here on Friday, she said so deep-rooted the `conditioning' was that women wanted to be good at everything, at home and at work to avoid feeling of guilt. Conditioned by patriarchy, it was not easy for them to question social norms. "But it is time women broke of such conditioning that killed their aspirations," she said.

`Earn respect'

IGP, Hyderabad Region, A.R. Anuradha said women normally set limitations for themselves restricting their growth. "With courage and conviction one can realise ambitions.

Gender bias will vanish when women earn respect with their professionalism," she affirmed. Dancer Ananda Shankar Jayant said unwillingness to fight gender bias came in the way of women realising their full potential. "Don't ask for approval for everything you do just because you are a woman."

Magsaysay winner Shantha Sinha wanted girl students to work for strengthening the education and health sectors. Saying that the poorest of poor in the villages inspired her immensely, she said they had never lost faith in the system or turned cynical despite all their hardships. Advertising professional Santha K.John and fashion designer Tutu Taneja also spoke.

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