“Start with the Boys” says an advertisement of VOGUEEMPOWER. This advertisement depicts a boy from his childhood to a grown up man. He is injected with “Boys Don’t Cry” dialogue whenever he tries to shed tears. This particular boy, who is taught to not cry, is seen physically assaulting his wife and making her cry in the climax of the advertisement. As an epilogue of the advertisement, a Bollywood actress says “From their childhood boys are taught to not cry but better it is if they are taught to not make others cry”. While switching channels to avoid the commercial advertisement, I happened to encounter the above advertisement .It instantly captured my attention and brought me a pensive mood. Though an Indian advertisement, the message it wants to convey is equally applicable in Nepalese context as well.
Sad but true, violence against women is prevalent in each and every sections of Nepalese society. Being a typical patriarchy, Nepalese society has always believed women as inferior to men. Men are given first priority in every aspect. May it be at home or working sectors or others. Let’s face it, women in Nepal (might be else where as well) are not provided fair share of rights as compared to men. Yes, women literacy rate has increased as per statistics but there is more to these data and numbers than meets eyes. Women occupy more than 50% of total population of Nepal but why is it so that we find minimum percentage of women in working sectors of the country? Aren’t there enough educated and qualified women? Or are still women judged by their gender and not qualifications?
Yes, the scenario is changing but the change is less than minimum and not satisfactory. Still woman are burnt alive, raped, mutilated, thrown acid at, accused of witchcrafts and many more. We get to read about at least one rape case or dowry case or any other sort of violence against women in newspapers daily. These all reflect a grim situation of women and the situation always has been like this. Previously, these hideous acts against women would be brushed under the carpet. Thanks to media awareness that violence against women are coming out to the public. Many of us go through the pages of women violence and just let go. But how can I, a girl, sleep peacefully at night with a fact that women are not safe even in their homes let alone elsewhere? How can not this fact break my heart and of many others like me?
How does someone muster up courage to burn another alive or throw acid at? And why are only women the victims of these hideous acts? Ever heard of a man being burnt alive in the name of dowry? Ever heard of a man accused of practicing witchcraft? Then why a woman, as human as a man, is allegedly titled “a witch”, is humiliated, tortured mentally and physically and even murdered? Is this only because man is better physically and socially than woman? Ok, man is strong but stronger is the woman who faces all these social discriminations and violence (let alone the Labor pain, monthly period and others) and still survives. How could not someone think that while you are throwing acid at a girl or burning her alive you are not only destroying her body but every piece of dreams she has seen and every zillions of trust she has on men. What does it take people to realize that these physical pains would fade away with time but the pain in heart remains? Moreover, would the society let them forget the trauma? Would it stop blaming her or else sympathizing them?
Media, these days, have been very helpful by bringing these cases of women violence into limelight but still cases of domestic violence go unreported. Domestic violence and marital rape are the must basic and chronic form of violence against women and yet these are the ones that rarely come into limelight. Almost every child in Nepal witnesses his/her mother being suppressed and being underestimated or worse being beaten up by other family members. What does the child learn from this then? Simple as it is – a boy child learns to suppress the females in his life and a girl child learns to be submissive. If only every family teaches its children to respect every female then the whole scenario can change to large extent. The biggest thing a family can do to its children is shape their mentality rightly before academically educating them. One does not need academic education to know that violence against women is a hideous act but the right mind frame is what it is required.
NGOs can play a very crucial role in women empowerment. NGOs can plan and implement programs to help women realize their potential. New laws are being formulated and existing ones are being amended but the role of government doesn’t end here. Punishments the culprits of women receive are at minimum level-Some years of imprisonment and monetary penalties won’t suffice for the crimes they have committed. Sorry, if I am being ruthless here (but then I am not as much as they are) and we can be only lenient to mistakes not crimes. Moreover, many perpetrators of women violence are at flee and many victims are still fighting for justice. It should be understood once and for all the fear of punishment can make people abide by law temporarily; Violence against women won’t stop unless people wipe out the filth in their mentality and come out clean.
Better late than never for lawmaker Chaudhari, actress Manandha...
Men only can’t be blamed for women violence. Women are also found indulged in violence against women. Not only men but women also should change the way they perceive themselves and other women. Society should understand that victims don’t need sympathy but respect and should assure the protection of girls’ freedom. Owing to many factors like globalization, education, media awareness, etc. voices against women violence are rising but not loud enough to weaken and beseech the frozen hearts and corrupted mentality. There was women violence, there is and always will be unless we all stop blaming each other and change the way we perceive gender issues.
So, everyone come out and shout loud. It's late but not too late to start right away right??? Lastly, change is possible. For that, change your mentality and perceive woman as a human. Act now or never. Above all, please "Start with everyone".
“Start with the Boys” says an advertisement of VOGUEEMPOWER. This advertisement depicts a boy from his childhood to a grown up man. He is injected with “Boys Don’t Cry” dialogue whenever he tries to shed tears. This particular boy, who is taught to not cry, is seen physically assaulting his wife and making her cry in the climax of the advertisement. As an epilogue of the advertisement, a Bollywood actress says “From their childhood boys are taught to not cry but better it is if they are taught to not make others cry”. While switching channels to avoid the commercial advertisement, I happened to encounter the above advertisement .It instantly captured my attention and brought me a pensive mood. Though an Indian advertisement, the message it wants to convey is equally applicable in Nepalese context as well.
Sad but true, violence against women is prevalent in each and every sections of Nepalese society. Being a typical patriarchy, Nepalese society has always believed women as inferior to men. Men are given first priority in every aspect. May it be at home or working sectors or others. Let’s face it, women in Nepal (might be else where as well) are not provided fair share of rights as compared to men. Yes, women literacy rate has increased as per statistics but there is more to these data and numbers than meets eyes. Women occupy more than 50% of total population of Nepal but why is it so that we find minimum percentage of women in working sectors of the country? Aren’t there enough educated and qualified women? Or are still women judged by their gender and not qualifications?
Yes, the scenario is changing but the change is less than minimum and not satisfactory. Still woman are burnt alive, raped, mutilated, thrown acid at, accused of witchcrafts and many more. We get to read about at least one rape case or dowry case or any other sort of violence against women in newspapers daily. These all reflect a grim situation of women and the situation always has been like this. Previously, these hideous acts against women would be brushed under the carpet. Thanks to media awareness that violence against women are coming out to the public. Many of us go through the pages of women violence and just let go. But how can I, a girl, sleep peacefully at night with a fact that women are not safe even in their homes let alone elsewhere? How can not this fact break my heart and of many others like me?
How does someone muster up courage to burn another alive or throw acid at? And why are only women the victims of these hideous acts? Ever heard of a man being burnt alive in the name of dowry? Ever heard of a man accused of practicing witchcraft? Then why a woman, as human as a man, is allegedly titled “a witch”, is humiliated, tortured mentally and physically and even murdered? Is this only because man is better physically and socially than woman? Ok, man is strong but stronger is the woman who faces all these social discriminations and violence (let alone the Labor pain, monthly period and others) and still survives. How could not someone think that while you are throwing acid at a girl or burning her alive you are not only destroying her body but every piece of dreams she has seen and every zillions of trust she has on men. What does it take people to realize that these physical pains would fade away with time but the pain in heart remains? Moreover, would the society let them forget the trauma? Would it stop blaming her or else sympathizing them?
Media, these days, have been very helpful by bringing these cases of women violence into limelight but still cases of domestic violence go unreported. Domestic violence and marital rape are the must basic and chronic form of violence against women and yet these are the ones that rarely come into limelight. Almost every child in Nepal witnesses his/her mother being suppressed and being underestimated or worse being beaten up by other family members. What does the child learn from this then? Simple as it is – a boy child learns to suppress the females in his life and a girl child learns to be submissive. If only every family teaches its children to respect every female then the whole scenario can change to large extent. The biggest thing a family can do to its children is shape their mentality rightly before academically educating them. One does not need academic education to know that violence against women is a hideous act but the right mind frame is what it is required.
NGOs can play a very crucial role in women empowerment. NGOs can plan and implement programs to help women realize their potential. New laws are being formulated and existing ones are being amended but the role of government doesn’t end here. Punishments the culprits of women receive are at minimum level-Some years of imprisonment and monetary penalties won’t suffice for the crimes they have committed. Sorry, if I am being ruthless here (but then I am not as much as they are) and we can be only lenient to mistakes not crimes. Moreover, many perpetrators of women violence are at flee and many victims are still fighting for justice. It should be understood once and for all the fear of punishment can make people abide by law temporarily; Violence against women won’t stop unless people wipe out the filth in their mentality and come out clean.
Men only can’t be blamed for women violence. Women are also found indulged in violence against women. Not only men but women also should change the way they perceive themselves and other women. Society should understand that victims don’t need sympathy but respect and should assure the protection of girls’ freedom. Owing to many factors like globalization, education, media awareness, etc. voices against women violence are rising but not loud enough to weaken and beseech the frozen hearts and corrupted mentality. There was women violence, there is and always will be unless we all stop blaming each other and change the way we perceive gender issues.
So, everyone come out and shout loud. It's late but not too late to start right away right??? Lastly, change is possible. For that, change your mentality and perceive woman as a human. Act now or never. Above all, please "Start with everyone".
