“A woman is human.
She is not better, wiser, stronger, more intelligent, more creative, or more responsible than a man.
Likewise, she is never less.

           A woman is human.”

 

The above lines were said by Vera Nazarian, who dreamt of an ideal society where both the sexes enjoyed equal rights and liberties. But isn't this a dream too distant, a vision too far from becoming a reality, which presents just the contrary? Woman empowerment persists to be a myth as long as they continue to be dominated by their counterpart.  There are a number of obstacles that hamper their development, violence being the prime.

 

Male dominance in humans gained prominence as they progressed from preliterate, loosely connected hunter, gatherers to the modern day, well-equipped man. It won't be an understatement if it is stated that even today, men enjoy this liberty of being the stronger of the two sexes, physically as well as socially. And to prove their supremacy, men resort to physical violence/abuse whenever their ego is bruised, which can be tracked down as the real cause of the barbarity that takes place.

Violence,  undoubtedly, is an outright violation of human rights. In the long run, this evil practice has led to a deformity in the society which is hard to mend and its consequences can still be seen as scars on the faces of the so-called “weaker lot”, and undermine the existence of a civilized society.

Violence against women and girls is deep-rooted in gender-based discrimination, social norms and gender stereotypes that perpetuate such violence. According to the UN reports, at least one out of every three women around the world has been a victim of violence, either physical or psychological. Every year, such brutality in the home and community devastates the lives of several innocent women.

Nature may have made women physically weaker, as symbols of affection and delicacy, but certainly not to bear the hostility, wrath of the society and being overpowered.  Apparently, violence was used as a weapon targeted at deteriorating her spirit and hindering her progress. But if one sees it from a different perspective, these wounds have shattered that flattering image that they had of themselves, to wake up in a better tomorrow, its inevitable to get rid of those dark, worse times. Any physical weapon, that stick, or those fierce blows aren’t enough to shatter their inner strength and confidence. It took her quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that she has it, she is not going to be silent.

 

 This violence, which has and is going on has no doubt made several women suffer through the trauma, but on the other hand, it has laid the foundation for women empowerment. Those feeble, anguished screams could not be confined behind the shut doors for long. A change was the need of the hour.

And the change is evident. Now, the society has gradually moved on from being a patriarchal, male chauvinist society to one, which has more respect for women and a better status. Though not in full sense, the awareness that has been brought about is priceless. 

Leslie Morgan Steiner was a typical domestic violence victim.  Treated as a slave by her husband, she finally had the courage to break open the trap of humility and assault. Today, she is a successful businesswoman and in her words, after years of pain, she got the gift of self-dependence and freedom. Had she not faced those dark times, she wouldn’t have the might to start her independent life. Pamela Taylor was beaten and tortured by her family to give up her ambition and lead a life as a housewife. But her spirits didn't let her succumb to the restrictions imposed. She stands out as an epitome of courage,  running an organization to train and skill girls in their desired fields.

Another brave lady who defied all odds to prove her potential is  Marge Piercy, the famous poetess who won the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke award.  She was also assaulted and exploited at a tender age by her own parents. She writes rightly in her poem “Breaking Out”, where she describes her struggle... “This is not a tale of innocence lost but power gained.”

 

The existence of such evils is enabling women to become stronger, more alert and aware. Problems, evils exist everywhere. But we must remember, good and evil coexist. The society, which is the very cradle of these evils is being transformed for the betterment of its beings. Several NGOs, organizations work for the rehabilitation of such women. Techniques of self-defense, for women, have come up, to make them feel strong, not only mentally but also physically. Illiteracy and ignorance are the main causes of their oppression, innovative schemes have been launched to counter it, like free primary education and scholarships to encourage them in their career. Women helplines, modern apps serve for the next level of women's safety. Social media offers the most convenient platform for victims to voice out their sufferings, to speak out and spread awareness. Minor, day to day efforts of the youth can be instrumental to create a huge change. It starts with the quest of changing one’s mentality and perspective.

If beasts exist to pick up that stick, several hands appear to break that one. The society, that discriminates and dominates..comes together to counter them as well, with stronger, sturdier women, full of new vigor. And in the end, to conclude it best,

 

" A woman is like a tea bag you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.”

- Eleanor Roosevelt.

 

This article was published in the H.E.R(Humanity Education and Rights) annual journal, a club run by the International STEM Society for Human Rights.