Every year, the International Women's Day comes and passes by and the world glorifies us women in all possible ways, be it as a successful career woman, a doting mother, loving wife, dutiful daughter - in- law.. and so on. All for one day.
In all modes of communication, we see hordes of advertisement - how women are the torch bearers of their family, caring to the core - understanding all the nuances of the family or family members, sacrificing her dreams and ambitions for someone else or for something else, saying - " It's my choice". Really?
Because she unfailingly loves her family, she sacrifices her health, her diet, her sleep, her money.. in fact, everything for them, because, according to the societal norms - they are more important than herself. That is the image of women being projected everywhere.
It is so overwhelming that, at times, if we are wavering even a tiny bit, we are made to feel guilty about it. What the heck! Aren't we allowed to live the way we want to? I can vouch for the fact that - every woman, in whatever stage of life she is in, and whatever role she is playing, deep down under - she wants to be a free bird.. hating the norms or the stereotypes that bound her, control her, restrict her - at home , at work, or anywhere for that matter.
We want to be ourselves. Not what the society wants us to be. We don’t want to be measured according to any standards or benchmarks. We don’t want to be the ultimate 'Superwoman' but just normal - with all our strengths, as well as weaknesses.
And it is actually the spunk, veiled most of the times - which makes all the difference. We would love to see an advertisement "Women will be Women" instead of the clichéd "Men will be Men" which we see everywhere. Showing us women as we really are - Confident, Caring, Responsible and Strong, but at the same time - free spirited, indomitable, cheeky, gutsy, fearless, gritty, fun-loving, forever the Flower girl.. Dream girl.. Daddy's little girl..
One life for us too, please !
The writer is Chief Manager (HR) at CMPDIL, Ranchi and the views expressed in the article are her own.
