OPPORTUNITIES BEYONG GENDER|||

IS OUR SOCIETY STILL BASED ON PATRIACHAL NORMS?
Since ages our society has been a Patriachal society where there exists two communities , The Superior and the Inferior.
Opportunities , Dreams , Abilities all have been gender driven . Can a society where equal opportunities are given can exist? From our childhood ,we have been taught to cook, clean , wash and to obey but was it to all or just girls? Aren't these basic life skills which should to taught to everyone in order to survive . Provision of equal rights should first start at home| They say a Women is not say safe at night | but who makes her unsafe? The men say they fought for us and protected us and without them we can't survive | but again the question arises , they saved us from whom? If we want an Equal society to ever exist , it should start from our home. A single mother or a Divorcee can also be Leader. No one stops the promotion of a man with an excuse that he is a dad and can't balance both. The day we stand equal is the day we can finally live in peace . If a woman works late , its our duty to ensure that she remains safe . If given opportunity women can achieve everything . Operation Sindoor was handled alone by women . THE DAY WE ARE SAFE IS THE DAY FOR A BETTER WORLD .

 

[Priyani Gupta]

Your article offers a thought-provoking and heartfelt critique of the gendered structures that continue to shape our world. You raise crucial questions—many of which are long overdue for broader, action-oriented discussion. However, while your piece resonates emotionally and highlights valid injustices, some aspects warrant deeper reflection and perhaps a slightly more balanced framing to drive meaningful societal change.


Firstly, you make a strong point when you say that equal rights should begin at home. This is practical and essential. Social conditioning starts in childhood, and the expectations placed on girls to “cook, clean, wash, and obey” do reflect a long-standing patriarchal mindset. However, it's important to remember that societal change is a complex process, and generalizing all men as the problem risks alienating potential allies. The enemy is not a gender, but a system—and systems change only when everyone feels responsible and empowered to act.


Your rhetorical question—“they saved us from whom?”—is impactful but could be rephrased to focus on the structural causes of gendered violence, rather than implying blame on men collectively. Many men, too, are victims of toxic masculinity. Encouraging more men to be part of the solution will likely be more effective than casting them uniformly as the problem. After all, dismantling patriarchy benefits everyone, not just women.


It is refreshing to see you highlight women’s capabilities with examples like “Operation Sindoor,” though a broader context would strengthen this. Sharing more such real-world examples across different domains—science, politics, technology—would further reinforce your claim that women can and do excel when given the opportunity. The single mother, the working woman, the female leader—all these images are important and deserve emphasis in our collective consciousness.


Your point on parental roles is especially practical. The fact that a man’s promotion is rarely questioned based on fatherhood, while a woman’s is often scrutinized due to motherhood, reflects a double standard that workplaces must address. Pushing for policies like paternity leave, flexible work schedules for both parents, and unbiased hiring can significantly bridge this gap.


Where your article truly shines is in calling for safety, not just as a right but as a societal duty. The safety of women should not be a “favour” provided by society; it must be an uncompromised norm. However, instead of viewing safety as solely a women’s issue, reframing it as a societal infrastructure issue—addressing poor policing, inadequate public lighting, and toxic cultural narratives—could foster a broader sense of collective accountability.


In closing, your voice is essential and timely. Your anger is justified, but channeling it toward collaborative, inclusive solutions can turn that emotion into transformative power. Keep asking hard questions, but also leave room for dialogue, growth, and nuance. That’s how we’ll move from critique to real change.