Woman And Power
by admin on | 2024-09-03 17:38:59 Last Updated by admin on2024-12-07 21:18:03
Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 105
WOMAN AND POWER
Patriarchy: The Beginning
Ash: Hey
Vir, how are you?
Vir: Hey,
I am doing great. What about you?
Ash: I am
also doing fine.
Vir:
Good...Anyway happy woman’s day...
Ash: Thank
you, Vir.
Vir: So,
what do you plan to do on this occasion?
Ash: As
such I have no specific plan to do anything about this day. But, one thing I
would like to do is to discuss the evolution of a patriarchal society and the
lower status of women in our society since a long.
Vir: OK. That
is good. We should know the cause of the prevalence of patriarchy in our society.
We will discuss that. It would be a pleasure for me to discuss that issue.
Ash: It’s
good that you want to discuss this topic. Let’s start the discussion.
Vir: OK, as you say.
WOMAN: POWER EQUATION AND EVOLUTIONARY CAUSE
Ash: I
would like to know your perspective as to why women have faced a lowly position in our
society. That phenomenon is not typical of any locality, but it is global. It
has been going on for long. Tell me, why is that so?
Vir: That
is a very deep question. To answer that question we need to go deep into
history, specifically our evolutionary history.
Ash:
Evolutionary history? Why?
Vir:
Because in it is lies the answer. We will try to find the reasons for the
prevalence of patriarchy.
Ash: OK. Then tell me.
Vir: We
need to understand that males have dominated women in several aspects. They may
be physical and other aspects as well.
Ash: I do
not think that males dominated. On the contrary, I believe that women did not
get the opportunity to prove themselves, unlike males.
Vir: Look
Ash, males also did not get the opportunity out of anything. Either you have to
create an opportunity or grab one. That I think, did not happen in the case of
the women. I would say that women did not grab the opportunities or did not get opportunity, which could
have helped them create dominance or be on par with their male counterpart.
Ash: How
could they have grabbed opportunities, if they were not given the chance?
Vir: You
are repeating the same point. Ash, look in this world it is the power that
decides, who will dominate and who will not. I am of the opinion that women
failed to increase their power, which then affected their status in the society, which can be said to have culminated into the so called patriarchy. In such society males in general tend to have the dominant status.
Ash: Ok...
I do not know. Whether this is true or not.
Vir:
Obviously, this is my opinion. And that may very well vary in case of the others.
Ash: Ha,
but if you believe so, I would like to know the reason behind it. As to why
women could not dominate by acquiring more power than their male counterparts?
Vir: Ha.. it needs to be discussed.
Ash: Tell me...
Vir: If
you trace our ancestors or go back into our evolutionary history then you will
come to know many things.
Ash: What
are you talking about? Tell me more clearly...here we are to discuss not to
hide.
Vir: I am
telling... not to hide but to analyze and also realize. But know that these are
my opinions.
Ash: Let
me know your opinions then.
HUNTING - GATHERING OR REARING: WHAT GIVES MORE POWER?
Vir: OK..
then, listen. As you know, for some reasons unknown to me, men took the
responsibility for the bread and butter needs of the family. Now, during the
earlier period of our evolution, humans had to remain dependent on hunting and
gathering food. And know that it was very difficult to hunt animals and even
gather food because humans had to compete with the beasts in the jungle.
Ash: Yes,
I do not deny that fact. But, what it has got to do with the patriarchy?
Vir: I
believe that there is a relationship. As males took that hard responsibility,
their physical and mental faculties developed much more than their female
counterparts. While in most cases, women took the responsibility to maintain
the home, they developed those faculties, which are related to maintaining the household,
at a much higher level than males.
Ash: So,
you are saying males became dominant because of the evolutionary forces?
Vir: It is
just my opinion. I think that must have led to the development of the
patriarchal society in which we live. Naturally, males developed more prowess
because of their role, which they somehow took upon themselves or rather nature
bestowed upon them. That part is debatable. But, regardless they then leveraged
that position to assert their dominance in other fields like politics, society,
economy, culture, and so on.
Ash: Ok...
I do not know whether what you are saying is right or wrong. But, it seems
logical to me. I cannot deny your argument completely. Had women taken the role
of bread and butter, today we would be living in a matriarchal society... Am I
right?
PROGRESS OF THE WOMEN: HOW?
Vir: I
think yes. Probably then we would have lived in the matriarchal society. And
men would have cried over the prevalence of the matriarchal society and
repression of the males. Also, I hate to admit that, but whatever progress that
women are making nowadays, somewhere males have played the role. The earlier
proponents of feminism and women’s rights have been liberal- minded males, who
called for mutual respect between males and females.
Ash: I
don’t agree with you completely. Women today are achieving everything because
of their capability. Males played no role rather they tried to assert their
dominance by maintaining the status quo of patriarchy.
Vir: Yes,
you can have your opinion, even though I do not agree with you. But, one thing
is sure, that situation nowadays is changing. Women have challenged patriarchy
in many domains. Women are creating their own spaces.
Ash: Yes,
many great women have risen to the top, not because of some favours but based
on merit itself.
Vir: And
also nowadays, unlike earlier man does not have to go into the jungle to hunt
or gather food. Now, women and men alike can earn bread and butter for their families.
So, yes women have come ahead. But, there is much ground to cover. Still,
patriarchy remains dominant and many female-centric crimes are committed out of
that mindset.
PRESENT: SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT
Ash: Yes,
you are right that much ground is yet to be covered.
Vir:
Obviously, much more is yet to be achieved. The majority of women cannot and
should not remain mute spectators, while few fight for their rights. They need
to grab opportunities and claim the power. With the acquisition of power, women
can break the shackles of patriarchy. Then women can no longer be seen as
submissive or secondary, but rather equal to men.
Ash: I
completely agree with you. There is one quote that I know. It goes like that
power is never given it is taken. Along those lines, women have to take the
power in all domains and promote a just society.
Vir:
Yes...you are right. All should work to achieve that goal. I hope to see you
that day.
Ash: Ha...
I hope so. I hope women will wake up from slumber to shake and destroy the
patriarchy, which enslaves women.
Vir: Yes. you are right.
