By Venita D’Souza
In a world where “Actions speak louder than words”, I want to be “The pen that’s mightier than the sword”.
Welcome to 2017 where the desperation of females require a double word hashtag as assistance to denounce the upward rollercoaster of misogyny in the world. Yes, #metoo!
People across the world fail to understand the meaning of gender equality to such an extent that they use it synonymously to women empowerment. They say, “Educate! Educate girls to dress and behave however they want. Educate boys to respect the education given to girls”. The urgency to slam educational institutions as the biggest hypocrites is not even a joke anymore.
Why do I have to think about what clothes to wear with respect to the place I have to go? Why do they stare at my bare legs when I use the skirt my mother gifted me? Why do women stare at girls like us like they’re ashamed we share the same gender as them? Do females have to carry the guilt of exposing skin throughout their lives just because men choose to be so untamed?
Misogyny gets even sadder when you experience the gruesome selves of your very own people. It’s sad how many girls will empathise with an article talking about their own people taking advantage of them, asleep and awake alike.
‘Lovable boys who claim to have hearts. If somebody tickles you, you will laugh. Not because you’re enjoying it, but because your body is responding to someone tickling you. A girl’s body reacting to your unwanted body is not consent! It is, unfortunately, natural and involuntary’.
I do not want to end every discussion of inequality and brutality with “It’s sad, I wish we could put a stop!” I wish articles could do anything more than stirring the minds of people who already feel the same. I do not want to get used to living a careful life just because of my gender or sexuality; I did not choose it, I do not want to carry the burden of living with it. I do not want to use knives or pepper sprays to protect me.
How can one get so empowered by being born a male and the other feel so unfortunate by being born a female? Why has the world made lifestyle this way? We’re living a life of questions that can never be answered.
To the millions of girls who might empathise with an article such as this, #metoo! #metoo a thousand times over for simply being born a girl. More power to each female for simply existing, you’re courageous!
Venita D’Souza is a student at St Xavier’s College, Kolkata. After doing her schooling in Jamshedpur, she decided to face the world and step into the brutal emotionless city life. With faith and hope in her heart, she aspires to fight against discrimination and succeed to results of equality someday.
This is the best thing I’ve read in a long time. Eloquent and empowering. It’s women like you that make me feel proud of being a woman! Keep writing and keep inspiring!
Keep it coming Miss D’Souza there should be an end to this.
Beautifully articulated ,relatable and original .Proud to be a woman,proud to bleed.
Very nice article, Ven! Good job, keep it up!
Very nice Venita di beautifully expressed your thoughts.
The river will flow as long as glaciers have melt waters and tiny droplets of fresh rain fill its banks. Flow on Venits. Let the river meet the sea