Hi! My name is Anoushka. One day, I was watching KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati) on television and a thought suddenly passed by my head.
Well, I didn't actually let the thought pass by, I caught it and kept it in my head!
I thought that in India, a lot of people in the rural areas didn't allow girls to go to schools or colleges to study. Women couldn't do jobs; they thought letting a woman work would be a sin or something.
The problem was, boys were valued, girls were not. Honestly, I just don't understand what had the boys done (mostly before their own birth!) to make people think they are great (or mahaan).
Nowadays, in urban areas, both men and women work. But in the present times - in the 21st century - people have started valuing girls more than boys. People say, 'Hamare ghar me hum betiyon ko beton se zyaada badhava dete hain.' ('In our house, we encourage girls more than boys').
I am not saying that this is a bad thing, it is really good that people have started caring more about girls, who were once discrimated against.
But, that was not what we wanted. We wanted 'Gender Equality', right?
And valuing us girls more than boys is not really helping with that, is it? I believe we should encourage girls and boys at the same time. Girls should work, boys too. Girls should cook, boys too. Girls should clean, boys too. Girls should study, boys should too.
I thought about this, and the next day, talked to one of my friends.
I asked her, 'Ok, listen, I'll give you two options. Choose one. Option a) only girls should cook and sweep; only boys should study. Option b) only boys should cook and sweep; only girls should study.'
I was really disappointed with her answer. She said, with a laugh,' Obviously, boys should do jharoo-pochha and cooking stuff. And, only girls should work!'.
I had thought, she would say that none of the options is appropriate; both should work and both should clean and cook.
But, unfortunately, my friend was not as open-minded and clear about gender equality as I am. I am not saying that my friends are not nice, but I admit that I get very serious about such things.
I don't know what you will think about this, but my formula is:
Girls x (Work + Household) = Boys x (Work + Household) = { same }
Thank you for reading what I have written. This is not like a practised write-up, it's just a thought. A thought which was flying with the microorganisms in the air...
