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The confident new-age woman

With the International Women's Day (March 8) round the corner, it's time to reflect on the progress of women and celebrate their acts of courage and determination

SOARING HIGH Sky diver Rashmi chose this challenging career defying all conventional beliefs Photo:K.R.Deepak

They sport modern clothes, guzzle mugs of beer at the most happening watering holes in the city, sit in air-conditioned office cabins and know their minds perfectly well. Here comes the independent, free-spirited new-age woman. She is no longer the shy, bat-your-eyelids type. But rather, a woman who knows her mind only too well and has the confidence to face the challenges in life.

With the International Women's Day (March 8) round the corner, it's time to reflect on the progress of women and celebrate their acts of courage and determination.

The memorable struggle of women working in garment factories in New York, who marched for better work conditions on March 8, was declared as International Women's Day in 1910 by Clara Zetkin, the German communist leader. Over the years, the Day has sparked off many a heated and original debate and solemn pledges, aside from the cozy meets at luncheons and the demonstrations on the streets.

Cinema medium

Encapsulating this new face of women, Indian cinema too has undergone a slow change and reflects the aspirations of the person who strives to carve a spot for herself under the sun, who wants, just for once, to live her life her own way. What used to be a purely male domain a few years ago, has transformed into a vibrant reflection of the various facets of the 21st century women. Cinema as a medium has moved beyond the conventional, broken many rules. Whether it's the young dynamic journalist of Page 3 or the confident, ready for a live-in relationship lady of Salaam Namaste, the films depict the changing sides of today's women.

"The society has changed to a large extent. In fact, people have started accepting women even in the armed forces," says sky diving instructor Lieutenant Commander Rashmi Singh. Having a soaring desire to fly high, Rashmi embarked on this challenging career defying all conventional beliefs that people had for women. "There are so many young girls who have evinced interest in this field and this shows that times are really changing," she adds.

But has this change really seeped into the society in all sections and classes?

"No doubt women are enjoying greater freedom and independence but most of it still remains at the superficial level," says K. Padma state secretary of POW. Earlier, women were accepted only in specific roles in the public domain like that of a teacher or a nurse. Today, women have integrated themselves into every field of activity and every kind of industry smoothly and skillfully. Whether travelling 20 days of the month or accepting transfers, they are as performance-oriented, sincere, competent and persevering as their male counterparts, if not more, she says.

But gender discrimination continues in various forms. "Daily we register three to four cases of domestic violence and atrocities committed against women," reveals Padma.

"As we march ahead, it is crucial that women's talent and potential are promoted to make our society more equal and just," says Anuradha Reddy, founder president of Diabetes Foundation. Figures show an alarming rise of atrocities on women in our country. Quoting statistics from a recent study, she says that every 26 minutes a woman is molested, every 34 minutes a rape takes place, every 42 minutes an incident of sexual harassment occurs, every 92 minutes a woman is burnt alive for dowry.

Biased mindset

While a section of women enjoys the freedom and liberty in a progressive setup, torture comes in sophisticated forms. She now travels alone, has excellent corporate skills and even has better physical strength. She puts in long hours of work and takes hard management decisions but seems to lack the resilience and courage to manage a husband at home. She effectively solves problems at work. How come she backs out of a psychological warfare?

Gender bias exists in every sphere of life. "It starts from the cradle itself," says Prof. Sudipta of the Department of English, Andhra University. "It will take a long time to root it out. While on one hand we talk about women's liberation, the girl still remains secondary in the family setup," she adds.

"One of the United Nation's Millenium Development Goal is to emphasise on greater responsibility of men in domestic work," says Prof.Vidya of the Department of Psychology, Andhra University, "which in turn will enable women to contribute to the society in a more productive way. "Several researches have proved that when there is favourable attitude and support towards women's employment, they act as facilitators," she explains. "There has to be an attitudinal change." How far that is possible is the real issue.

We live in a world that is comfortable in its hypocrisies, sweeping all uncomfortable questions under the carpet of so-called traditions. The telling image of the swing in Satyajit Ray's Charulata could sum up the present situation where the society constantly oscillates between the traditional and the modern. And torn between them, the lady continues to live the life etched out for her by the society and is projected to be the `ideal modern woman'.

NIVEDITA GANGULY

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