Women must be the change

She gave you birth, she supports you in all your endeavours, she works on par with men. But is she respected for who she is?

This one question reveals the plight of women across the world.

In a country like India which has a dominating rural background, things are downright abysmal. Female child mortality rates have risen five times more than male mortality rates and cases of women being starved and abused have been reported from all parts of the nation.

Girls are forced to leave school and work at home. The number of child marriages has increased. Since families don’t have money to feed the girl, they feel it is best to get rid of the ‘burden’.

Worse, a few families send girls to work as labourers, at times even as sex workers. Lack of food, nutrition and financial aid causes a lot of health issues – women between the ages of 15 and 29 have been facing the trauma of death during pregnancy.

All such issues and many more circle around the major issue of gender bias and inequality. A change has to be brought about politically, socially and mentally to eradicate the irrational behaviour towards women and girls.

Women too need to realise that children, family, duties and customs are just chapters in their book of life. Women need to be strong. The stronger they are, the more respect will they see. In short, they need to be the change they want to see.

(Vidya is an Economics student at Stella Maris College, Chennai.)

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