Womanhood and the Like
It was a sundry experience; I had, watching the movie 300 last Saturday. Raving about its picturesque entertainment apart, I believe the film makers had gone a long way to appease the female audience. Here was the role of the queen of Leonidas who was an unmatched sensuous, audacious, sharp and patronizing partner to the King. Having watched a myriad of off late Kollywood and Bollywood dramas, where so-called commercial cinema meant a zillion shots of a woman’s Torso, a Casanova hero and grotesque skin show in the cheesy name of “item-number”, 300 seemed to respect the very existence of a woman in every man’s life and in the man’s world.
When someone said – “Behind every successful man lies a woman”, I believe it meant way beyond the carnal pleasures she offered, and much into the assurance and solace she provided. I am reminded of the story of Sudha Murthy, wife of Narayan Murthy, who found a place in workshops of Telco and in the heart of JRD Tata for her daring gesture to take up a male-preferred job. Later she gave up her career for Infosys, her husband’s venture. Women like her have proved that womanhood is all about being daring, composed, wise and elegant.
I am no feminist; neither am I a believer that every man on this earth is a MCP. For the very same reason, I think that reserving 35% seats for women in Engineering colleges is no less a discrimination on the basis of sex. Incidentally on Women’s day last week, I caught myself arguing with a colleague on women managers. He seemed to believe that being powerful and stringent to get work done was completely unfeminine. I countered the statement, insisting on the pressures of being a woman in a male dominated environment and yet succeeding because of their level-headed temperament and not because they seek equality and neither because they were born as women. I exemplified it with Indira Gandhi and the remark on her as “the only man in the cabinet”. End of it I wondered if this debate would ever have a true winner.
I recall the little incident as a six year old, which left a mark on me till this day. It was the evening of Krishna jayanthi and the house was laden with the aroma of ‘palaharams’ of sweets and everything mouth-watering. But the ambrosia was taboo until the pooja. I had overheard my aunt remark that if children ask for the sweets before it was offered to the Gods it was acceptable to give them. Overcome with childish greed I had dared to ask for a bite to which my mother not only vehemently opposed but left a comment that it would have been agreeable if I were a boy child, but being a girl I was not to ask. I had turned a helpless rebel after that, not understanding why the boy cousins enjoyed certain luxuries in the family that we girls didn’t. I later consoled myself that what my mother meant was girls were milder in disposition than the boys.
Seventeen years and later, the very scenario seems poignantly satiric to me. I wonder if I am caught in a sea of transitions; A world of independent single mothers, hardworking super-moms who manage Multi Nationals, women who are expressive about their sexuality as much as about their wit, women underrepresented and wanting equality in the man’s world. I am not blatantly independent to walk the 'altar' alone. Neither am I a coy undercover, who can’t handle life the way it comes. It leaves me guessing as to when will us humans, live as humans and not as man or woman.
As I find a few answers and feel strangely discomfited doing so, I simply boil it down to I as an individual with identity, passions, dreams and destinations. I am happy to see this world as a woman and enjoy the phases of femininity without complexes of a weaker or stronger sex. I am contented to be able to run the mile, chase away shadows, follow my dreams and wear a happy smile. May be that’s the true meaning of feeling like a woman!
11 comments:
I started reading the post under the impression that it was a review on "300" from a girl's perspective :)
But nice post anyway..
ill check back later!!
You have described the worry,
Beyond, there lurks a query,
In history often there is a hint,
But it doesn't help stop the guilt.
How do you change a society?
Why does it continue this way?
You get it, why can't others?
Only if one plus one was two always.
I agree...Women should be treated as equals...the problem with proverbs of an age long gone is that they tend to be sexist much more so than what men normally are.
And all reservation sucks, because at least in our country, the whole implementation apparatus is corrupt, non-functional, and impractical, to say the least.
Sandee, The very role of the woman in 300 inspired me to write this really!
Naveen, Thats a pretty neat poem I must say! speaks for itself!
Jayesh, I agree.. We are given a picture of MCP man way too often, while most men of today dont care to be one!! And about reservations, it sux, in every form.
Reading this blog at 2:08 Am as it ticks in my clock, this line from your blog struck me like a lightning.
"It leaves me guessing as to when will us humans, live as humans and not as man or woman."
How true! Way to gooo madam.
I would love to read a similar post about man from you ;-). You game?
Angel : Thanks for your comments. About manhood...Sure men are predictable.. And may be I should postpone writing about it until I actually get to know them better!!
Its Agnel! Note the JEE before ENN
Every woman thinks men are predictable :-) it is not the case always. Yes yes, take your sweet time and get to know them better. But one line doesn't go with me well.
"I believe it meant way beyond the carnal pleasures she offered, and much into the assurance and solace she provided."
Everywhere it is portrayed as if men look at women only as a sex objects. Very wrong. Even in the above line, you felt that way and tried to emphasize the fact it is much more than that.
May be there are a few bad guys around who use women. And the vice versa do exists. Let me not go OFF TOPIC here, the point is, we men know what women are in our lives. It is time women stop become judgemental about guys and start living like a woman.
Nowadays, i really don't see Women around. The fact is, Woman has lost her virtues, traits, beauty and the speciality she possesses in this modern world. I just hope and pray she doesn't get lost in this stupid moneyminded, career minded, goal minded, selfish world.
Oh sweet mothers/sisters/daughters/friends please realize your virtues, your traits and for heavensake live like a woman!
Agnel, Sorry for misspelling your name previously. I agree there are men who understand a woman's role in the world and not all of them want her as a sex-object.
When I said "I am not blatantly independent to walk the 'altar' alone." I meant, I dont want to be one of those women who believe you can live as single and re-write the entire system! I wanted to emphasize that when women are supporting the family these days as not just a home-maker, but as a bread-winner too... she must not forget what her ultimate purpose is. Women in the long run of career and "wanting equality" often forget that it is in her hands that a man can lead a successful life and so can the family and her aim is not to overtake him!!
Why is it that we have so much skin-show everywhere?? Its because buying power is still in the hands of men! We cant be re-writing the society which is still run by the men. Its a mammoth task to turn it all over to women. Some believe achievable, some impossible, I say "I dont know".
As always issues like these which are sensitive, can never have a true winner!
Needn't be sorry :-) I was just kidding. I tell this to everyone who talks to me for the first time, They read it as Angel :P. No problemo.
I wanted to emphasize that when women are supporting the family these days as not just a home-maker, but as a bread-winner too... she must not forget what her ultimate purpose is. Women in the long run of career and "wanting equality" often forget that it is in her hands that a man can lead a successful life and so can the family and her aim is not to overtake him!!
You just made my day Divya! This is what i've been yelling to all those women i've met in my life. All I have treated as sisters/mothers and i tried to emphasize this fact. I wanted to get this one from your mouth and I've done it. This is all that women and men need to understand for them to live happily and to maintain healthy relationships.
I read the altar thing and i perfectly knew what you said. Good luck and my best wishes for the right guy :-). He must be one lucky chap i tell you, not many women have this thot you said.
Last 4-5 years I've seen so many relationships going awry. the basic thing was this what you mentioned and both man and woman failed to understand.
With your permission, i am gonna make this as my first Post in my blog tonight. let me know.
As long as we have a few male chauvinists and few feminists among us and sometimes within us!... the perfect understanding cant be reached!!
You are going to make "what" as your first post?? I didnt get that!
Agnel, Okies.. No problems! :)
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