- Any woman who has a strong sense of independence would not put up with interference from others who want to impose limitations mostly based on antiquated beliefs, practices, and instructions. In every area of economic opportunity, modern society vehemently advocates for gender equality, parity, a level playing field, and without prejudice. There has been a noticeable shift in the way that both genders are given equal opportunities to succeed in their chosen industries and leave a lasting impression. Women are now given opportunities to demonstrate their efficiency, which is on par with that of males, and many of them succeed in outperforming their male counterparts. Women are no longer seen as simply pushovers.
PC: Ishan Arun Mudbidri
- It is also well known that Indian society is still seen as sexist and parochial when it comes to gender issues. Despite going to tremendous lengths to guarantee gender equity prevails in Indian society, a sizable portion of men still see women as second-class citizens due to the weight of their prior experiences. Mind you, women have advanced greatly in every area that was formerly thought to be reserved for men, including piloting a fighter jet. To the dismay of all parties involved, women’s freedom of speech and the choice to express themselves however they choose nevertheless remains elusive. Also, concerns about women’s safety and security reflect the fact that society hasn’t given them the same level of comfort as it has given to men.
- Women are seen as an amusing and disposable targets whose submissive nature inspires a vast majority of males to assert their masculinity and uphold the status quo. Certainly, there is a clear end to the tunnel now that society is beginning to view women differently. Nonetheless, some transgressions continue to happen irregularly as well. Consider the controversy that has arisen in Kerala as a result of a woman who posted a video on social media showing her little son and daughter painting on her bare torso. She was accused of violating both the IT Act and the POCSO Act for this. I’m talking about Rehana Fathima. The Kerala High Court deserves praise for upholding women’s physical autonomy by clearing Rehana Fathima.
PC: THE QUINT
- Fathima’s act was at odds with traditional values, which don’t view a woman’s body as simply the body of a fellow human, who owns it and can use it as she sees fit. Usually, male control, which views women’s bodies as passive property that can be covered up or disclosed as men want, serves as the foundation of morality when it comes to women’s bodies. These ideas are deeply ingrained and assimilated. For this reason, many people contended that Fathima’s son would unavoidably suffer psychological scarring from the body that gave birth to him or that her bare torso was offensive just because it was bare. These arguments are rejected by the HC’s decision, which correctly notes that there was no evidence of sexual intent. A patriarchal, conservative society would like to suppress many such behaviors. A wise judiciary is therefore essential.
