Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Womens Day - 100th - It is really simple. It is not about equality it is about difference

 The supreme court of USA has just heard the plea from women employees of Wal-Mart that they have been discriminated against. It might be true but very difficult to prove, because, this is a all pervasive phenomenon and is problem of society in general and not one company. Whichever way the case goes, I believe retailing, healthcare, education and knowledge based industries like software are more women friendly than others.

 What struck me this women's day was that everyone (men and women) is sure that things like women's reservation bill or addressing issues of the girl child are very important and useful, however we are not clear on what we need.  In the best interest of the society  in general, ( that includes women,men and children!), I think we should consider 7 hour working day for women with children in the age group of 0-14yrs. I request women who talk about equality to consider this. We must accept the differences and discard the worn out argument of superior/inferior. I wonder why women will not fight for a cause like this. Something that will benefit all of humanity present and future.

Mamata didi can not only garner more votes, she might be able to maintain at least one fourth of the toilets cleaner by allocating one of the four toilets in every compartment on the train for ladies. Those of us who travel with women and children in 2nd class will understand this and others can try to comprehend!


Like wine gets better with age, I finally read a really good article by Shobha Dey. It was about the lack of toilets for women in India and the consequences thereof. After this article, my respect for Shobha Dey has taken birth.
I remember as a teenager travelling by bus between Hyderabad and Bangalore very frequently. In the middle of night, when the bus stopped at Gooty, I would point out to a toilet the petrol station used to have, to women traveling with me.  Some of them would be grateful and many of them found it amusing. One of those trips I remember the famous actor Vaishali Kasarvelli was on the bus with her troupe.  About toilets I wish the giant PSU oil companies can insist on their DODO outlets to have reasonable toilets. THe petrol pump in high end sadhashivnagar boasts of a ATM, Restaurant, shop and the toilet.....my gosh!! The attenedents uniforms are however really nice!
 Like I forget my wife's birthday every year and wish her later, I am writing about Womens day 21 days after it has gone.
Am happy Alvin Tofler's  70's forecast about women occupying more positions in various professions and working out of home has come true, wonder what it is for the next couple of decades.

Finally What Manu  said was

"Gods are pleased, with the house in which women are respected, in that house in which women are insulted and are made to suffer, every thing done is sure to go waste.
If in a house daughter,1he daughter-in-law, and the sisters 'and other women suffer, that house is sure to be destroyed. The house in which such women live happily, secures wealth and happiness.
The family in which the wife, the daughter, the sister and the daughter-in-law, etc, are not respected and in which they suffer from insult, is sure to be destroyed.
Hence, men who seek (their own) welfare should always honour women"
MANU 3(56)-(57)-(58)
I copied this from "DHARMA -The Global Ethic by Justice M. Rama Jois
 Do write in with your views. Only Your comments keep this blog alive.