The role of gender

There have been roles that are specific to men and women since the dawn of society. They have an identity because of these roles, but it is limited to the four walls of women's existence. According to Simone de Beauvoir, "One is not born a woman, one becomes one" in her book "The Second Sex". The idea of womanhood that was imposed upon them was summed up in this phrase.

The Bible says that women are made of a man's ribs. This doesn't mean that women are less valuable than men; rather, it means that women are meant to be a man's companion. Men are inherently the family's primary provider, while women are the carers, however, this does not limit their gender roles. Looking further into history reveals that women bear the load of suffering in silence rather than having a voice for themselves. 

When a lady became a widow, sati was once done; but what happens if a man's wife passes away? He marries another woman with ease. Does patriarchy operate in this way? Even if it may not be relevant now, there are still many patriarchal societies that prevent women from advancing in their lives. When girls reach legal age, they are married off, whether voluntarily or not. Let's examine another reasoning that society holds: if a woman has an affair, she has lost her chastity; nevertheless if a guy has the same affair, it represents his definition of manhood. Isn't this picture strange if we simply ignore gender and realize that both of them are human beings with the right to be treated equally?

There are still concerns about how women are represented in the entertainment sector as a whole. In movies, women are usually shown as a trophy to help the main character. It is quite disheartening that there aren't many powerful female characters who elevate the male characters. While a song is played we find women being objectified to satisfy the male gaze. This was a trend in movies where they had at least one 'item' song where women would be half-naked dancing. Is this how society pictures a woman and her identity?

We claim that society has advanced greatly, but where is the progress if these practices persist, if girls still need to struggle to receive an education, or if girls continue to be found dead for unknown reasons or commit suicide as a result of pressure to meet their obligations? Women's emotional sensitivity is both their strength and a weakness; if it wavers even a little, it can become an Achilles' heel. We still need to work for a change and wait for the magic of the 'butterfly effect'.