Your space: begin women’s empowerment at home

On the occasion of Women’s Day on March 8, residents talk about women empowerment, where it is needed the most, the good things that have happened this year and what more needs to be done. Here’s what are readers have to say….

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day 2019 (March 8) is #BalanceforBetter, which means having a gender balance. And to me women’s empowerment is nothing but balance for better. Historically, certain sections are at disadvantaged positions based on their caste, class and gender. Hence, efforts should be taken for the empowerment of vulnerable sections. For me, empowerment is enhanced capacity of a person to lead a quality life with dignity and the freedom of making choices. It is flowering of internal powers, but facilitation may be required from the outside.

There is no putting brakes on the skills of a woman and this has been yet again proven by a 12-member team from the Cummins College of Engineering. The college will send its first all-women team from India to participate in the Baja 2019 competition in the US, held to design and build off-road cars, in April. (HT/FILE PHOTO)

Although women need to strengthen themselves, a socially conducive environment is needed. Many positive things have happened related to women’s education, their participation in public sphere; still safety remains an issue. Stigma to survivors of sexual violence needs to go, gender stereotypes need to go, healthy approach of looking at women as equal partners needs to be strengthened further. Women’s Day is not a celebration of the so-called feminity, women have created history in the struggle for human rights and, hence, the day should be celebrated in that spirit for empowering women socially.

Preeti Karmarkar

Need stronger laws for crime against women

When people will stop differentiating between a man and woman, and when society will change its outlook towards a woman; then woman will not be needed to be empowered. Empowerment according to me should begin at home, where being born as a girl should not be treated as a separate entity. I feel that there should be more programmes regarding women empowerment at the school level, so that the base for any woman will be rock solid and help her to be strong in any field. We need stronger laws and quick judgements to reduce the crime on women.

Megha Shimpi

Women should help each other to boost confidence

When we celebrate Women’s Day, it is a trend that successful women are felicitated, but today there is a need to help those women who are facing problems like harassment from husband or in-laws, women begging on the city streets or orphan girls who need a helping hand to lead a respectable life. Every woman should stand on her own feet and develop her personality, but she should also help others and boost their confidence is what I feel is women empowerment. If a woman can be firm and make her own decisions, then she should also help other women develop these qualities. Every woman should realise her potential and there are several government schemes which will help them have a bright future.

Namrata Kharshikar

End violence against women

Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today and it remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it. Every other day we hear about rapes and sexual harassment cases. We must work together to stop the violence against women and have laws in place.

Roopali Bhawre

Empower women in rural areas

In the last few years, positive changes have been seen in our country in terms of women empowerment, as initiatives like ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ are been taken up by the government. Whereas, in rural areas, women are still not allowed to work freely or given equal opportunities like men. There needs to be more awareness on various levels, about the options available for women in rural areas. What is needed is motivation and a push in the right direction. Instead of putting women down, one should support her. Women themselves should take the effort to thrive and develop the best qualities that she already has.

Smita Patil

Homemakers should be appreciated

In our country, women empowerment is synonyms with the right to live respectfully and get equal status everywhere. Though women are getting the right to education and employment, they are still considered inferior. They have to juggle between home life and a demanding career. True women empowerment denotes the right to express your feelings without any fear. Women should be part of decision making in the family. The day women feel they are also important as others in the society and are not compelled to prove themselves as a good homemaker, besides being a career person, then will it be a true Women’s Day. Even homemakers should be recognised and appreciated by the family and society. Women must feel safe and content in the society, and this will showcase the real women empowerment.

Maya Hemant Bhatkar

All women need is just a chance

Women empowerment, according to me, is educating the girl child. Women empowerment is not just making women self-reliant, but also helping them to discover their selves. We say that women empowerment is building up pace, but yet there are women and girls who are shattering in the folds of customs, traditions and so are their dreams and ambitions. We need to reach out to these girls and women. If they are determined, they can bring about dynamic progress in the society. It’s our duty to encourage them. This can be achieved through spreading awareness about various scholarship programmes launched by the government, which in turn will help them to soar high and build new horizons for themselves. The government should have more initiatives to reach out to women with hidden talents. On the occasion of Women’s Day, I would like to tell all women that “Today’s smart girls will be tomorrow’s successful women. They just need the direction. They just need a chance.”

Arya Joshi

No #Metoo cases at work

On International Women’s Day, the world comes together to celebrate women and their struggle for rights. It is good that women can be seen in many sectors, right from information technology to entrepreneurship. According to my personal experience, the mentality of society is still male-dominated and we as men should work towards changing that. Sexual harassment is a major worry for women. Several women are scared and do not file a complaint when they face any kind of sexual offence. We all must be supportive to women and help them fight these crimes and protect them from these ordeals, and that to me is true women empowerment.

Anoop Panjwani