Much has been already said and written about women empowerment and feminism. Since the arena of social media has been opened up, numerous women are getting expressive and extremely vocal about what they think, aspire and also expect from men. Its admirable to see the force with which women are coming forward, fighting and getting themselves noticed. But if we want complete equality and safety for the women it has to first come from the opposite sex. The men have to think in exactly the same way as women think. Sadly, this is far from actually happening in the near future.
Our boys are definitely hammered countless times to respect women – their sisters, mothers, wives, friends, colleagues, etc. But most of this respect comes as a formality which has to be directed externally to show off to the society. The point to ponder over here is whether our boys actually know what respecting women from within their heart means and requires. This will not come naturally unless boys understand many subordinating aspects related to respecting women like giving women freedom of choice, independence from patriarchy and total permission to live their lives as they want.
Listed below are six things which every son/husband/brother/colleague should understand about respecting women if we want to achieve an all-round women empowerment.
Respect her choice of clothes:
First and foremost, the boys should respect and understand the choice of a women’s clothes. Its her prerogative to choose what to wear and boys irrespective of the age should accept it without any prejudices. The woman’s clothes does not define her character. Period. Its her behavior and values that does it.
Respect her choice of work:
Whether she wants to be a model, a banker, a teacher, a film actor, a soldier or simply a house wife, its her choice. Because she will take the whole responsibility of her life and wellbeing, her choice of profession should be respected to the T. Its only when she is happy in her work, she will make others around her happy. Moreover, she is completely capable of understanding her abilities and skills and hence only she should decide where she wants to use them.
She will have a say in the important family decisions:
There is no point in thinking about women empowerment if the woman does not have a say in important family matters. With her education, experience and wisdom, she can contribute significantly and wonderfully in the family’s future. It would be total waste of her talent and can also lead to loss of her confidence if she is denied her right to express opinion. Also, whatever she will say, would be in the best interest of her loved ones. So boys, respect her opinion and listen to her.
Give her the freedom to spend her money her way.
Yes. If she is earning and she isn’t getting to spend her money on her own comfort, then its not freedom. Indian men would still need many more years to understand that women can spend and invest her money smartly – even more smarty than men. There are many women who have proved to be better business women than men which shows that they have a very intelligent sense of what to do with their money. And all the men in her life should understand and respect that.
Alcohol consumption is not a benchmark for her dignity:
There are numerous women who look sexy and dignified with a glass of wine in their hands. Men. Please get this into your heads, women drink for the same reason as men do – to relax and let their hair down. If she is drinking, she is not inviting you neither is she a lose woman. If you really want to respect her, consider her as an equal not someone below your level of machoism or stature. Let he have her drink with her group of gal pals.
NO MEANS NO
Even if the woman is your wife or girlfriend, even if she is wearing a sexy and revealing costume, even if she is three pegs down just like you – when she says no it means NO. Please don’t go by the tacky Hindi film saying that when a girl says no she means YES. By saying No she has made it absolutely clear that she is not interested in having any bodily contact with you. Get the point and keep away.
There are various other aspects which can be mentioned where a woman will require and expect respect. Yet the above six factors can be mentioned as the base for developing that unquestionable and lost term respect for women.
