The golden eagle serves as a metaphor for independence for many. And at the same time, the eagle is known for its predatory skill sets.
Today on women’s day, I feel the notion of freedom for us has a likeness to the golden eagle, we have freedom, but at the same time, there are situations and circumstances which continue to work against us.
In the metros an independent woman may be well-known, but once you step out of the city limits, the woman is independent of such notions. It is like the good old days where your primary responsibilities are limited to rearing the kids and cooking. And everyone else apart from her is calling the shots.
Coming from a rural background, I have experienced this first hand. Only to realize later that the mindset is widespread, right from what a girl should wear, to what she should do to what she should pursue, and how she should behave. A list of do’s and don’ts are predefined beforehand. This list is like a sacrosanct gospel that defines the life cycle of a female.
This pretty much also limits the choices you have in terms of career since you are considered to be naive and at times mediocre to be able to decide a future path for yourself.
When I decided to pursue my professional educational post HSC I felt I would be facing a similar scenario but thankfully I had some support. But not many are lucky; hence have to settle for something they would ideally be unwilling to do.
Once I charted on the path I had to, there were instances where I met women who were so absorbed in their work that they had little time for their extended families. And since family is an important part of their lives, they carried with them a guilty conscience despite being successful in their professional endeavors. They felt they were not able to match up to the expectations of being an ideal mother or a bahu.
The essence of freedom lies in the ability to choose and lead a life without inhibitions. More than being equal to men it is necessary to assert our existence for what we are, we too are an important part of the human race. Like anyone else we have dreams, we have a wish list, we have needs and wants. Many women have overcome the so-called familial and societal restrictions and made it big. They are acting as a guiding light for others. And I hope this light beacons the darkness which keeps the womenfolk in the dark and steals their individuality away from them.