“Glorious Woman’s Day celebration” started an email. “Pamper yourself with our exclusive offers and celebrate beauty!” said another. Colors across the mall – pink, pink and pink! Sale on every cosmetic, apparel and shoes! While I smile at these Business aspects and walk further on to the road, here I see sweating women panting and running to catch the bus to get back home. As I entered my home, my toddler hooted, cackled and made faster moves to show his excitement spreading his hands.
As I retired to bed, I settled to read the discussion board on a “Depression” site where I sometimes answer to questions. Typical “Mom’s guilt” stories of just returning to work was on the top. “Feeding guilt; Nanny care guilt; relationship depression; Menopause; PMS; PCOS; Infertility; Loneliness and isolation;” quite a number of them. I commented on a couple of “working mom’s guilt” and closed my eyes!
5 am – Idly shops with steaming idlies and aroma of sambar – aunty is busy preparing vadas on the street; as I walk further, there is “florist” akka tying flowers by the side of the temple with a bright smile at me; As I return I see maids running around taking the stairs at the apartment with milk packets in their hands.
Hurry burry roads; Scorching sun; Women with handbags and tiffin boxes standing on the bus stop. Some holding the kids and crossing the busy roads rushing to schools; some driving with kids next to them; some looking at their watches ten times a minute thinking of their in-time; some looking at their purses if they have enough money for the day.
Busy roads in front of IT parks. Women all around. Rushing hormones within us. “Is this marriage proposal atleast going to work?” “Is my relationship going to get any better?” “My cycles are delayed. Should I start feeling happy or is this just another hormonal imbalance?” “Another IUI this weekend. Will this atleast be successful?” “Is my baby doing good today? Will the nanny give medicines on time?” “My sick mom – hope she is able to manage today” “I lost the old me. I am lonely” – “Good morning” she smiles as she enters office!
Glossiness of malls with woman’s day offers is just a Business aspect. We need not glorify women nor put her down. We just need to balance. We don’t need a special day to celebrate her but just accept her as she is. We don’t need to make her feel special but just make her feel included. Stop branding her as “a new mom; a guiltless self centered working woman; a lady who crossed marriage age; a childless woman; a dominant male-like female; a woman sitting at home;” and the respect automatically creeps in.
To all the women there, “Be happy for what you are; choose your path and walk over rough and smooth roads; do not long for discounts for being a woman; accept your strengths and weaknesses and move on. Do not indulge in self pity and use your situation for your advantage. Do not just say “men put us down”- rather learn to stand up on your own!”
“Amma, today is womans day. Do we get gifts?” Harshu looked at me puzzled. “For what? We are just another human race” I hugged her.