For someone who prefers silence, and has a ‘it’ll sort itself out’ reaction to all things in life, I find it rather easy to seep into the background, and to sit down quiet as the world descends into chaos. Assuming the role of a passive observer in my own life, I didn’t mind not having opinions, or not standing up for myself. I did not mind leaving the revolution to others.
In all honesty, I’ve never felt the need to explain myself to anyone either. Indifferent to how the world worked itself out, I found a way to make do with personal validation instead of standing up for what I represent. But passivity can be equally destructive.
History is stained with women deemed hysterical every step of the way, and we’ve resorted to gain the quiet indifference of a man to ensure we fence ourselves from being called crazy, or hormonal. We’ve distanced us from our own sisters; apprehensive of being labelled one among them. And now, our voice’s go uncared for, and we’re still dependant on our brethren.
The patriarchy is so evidently present every single place a decision has to be made. Families where the male assumes authority, even though there is a more competent women in the room, who bears witness to the scene but is too afraid to speak up. Tribunals in our country filled with men charging ahead, with their brains in their balls, and our silence allows them to make devastating decisions that has far reaching consequences. I’m not going to lie about how scared this makes me feel.
This is not a powerful feministic propaganda of ‘fuck the patriarchy’. I’m tied down to reality along with all of us, and it’s not something I can ignore by being overly optimistic of our state of affairs. It’s a duality; a rage against patriarchy while being overpowered by the narrative the system has fed into my system. Because, personally at least, I still don’t trust my voice and my quill enough to voice myself out ferociously.
Should I plan this like a political strategist, going through each verse; each word; making sure I don’t say anything controversial enough to affect my position in the system? Or do I just assume that my voice has what it takes, and that it can stand on its own legs?
Because once you do decide to stand up for yourself, you’re materializing things. Making them a part of the action-reaction sequence that life follows. But the thoughts in your mind, well they’re safe there; in an empty battleground with no consequences. I say this, because there have been way too many cases where feminism’s misrepresentation has been detrimental to its own agenda, and I don’t intend to add to that. Equality and Justice are complex topics, and gender is only but one hue in the entire spectrum. Gender identity has been used as an excuse to deny people equal opportunities all over the world. And by throwing light on this issue, feminism in no way intends to shadow the greater movement of respect, kindness and equality to every single person, regardless of all things; not just gender.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg famously said, “I ask no favour for my sex; all I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” Her words serve as a reminder of what the fight is all about. Her voice, helps me recognize the power of my own. Because right now, and every single now that’s about to come would require of us to speak out. It would require of us to write our part of the narrative.
In all honesty, I’ve never felt the need to explain myself to anyone either. Indifferent to how the world worked itself out, I found a way to make do with personal validation instead of standing up for what I represent. But passivity can be equally destructive.
History is stained with women deemed hysterical every step of the way, and we’ve resorted to gain the quiet indifference of a man to ensure we fence ourselves from being called crazy, or hormonal. We’ve distanced us from our own sisters; apprehensive of being labelled one among them. And now, our voice’s go uncared for, and we’re still dependant on our brethren.
The patriarchy is so evidently present every single place a decision has to be made. Families where the male assumes authority, even though there is a more competent women in the room, who bears witness to the scene but is too afraid to speak up. Tribunals in our country filled with men charging ahead, with their brains in their balls, and our silence allows them to make devastating decisions that has far reaching consequences. I’m not going to lie about how scared this makes me feel.
This is not a powerful feministic propaganda of ‘fuck the patriarchy’. I’m tied down to reality along with all of us, and it’s not something I can ignore by being overly optimistic of our state of affairs. It’s a duality; a rage against patriarchy while being overpowered by the narrative the system has fed into my system. Because, personally at least, I still don’t trust my voice and my quill enough to voice myself out ferociously.
Should I plan this like a political strategist, going through each verse; each word; making sure I don’t say anything controversial enough to affect my position in the system? Or do I just assume that my voice has what it takes, and that it can stand on its own legs?
Because once you do decide to stand up for yourself, you’re materializing things. Making them a part of the action-reaction sequence that life follows. But the thoughts in your mind, well they’re safe there; in an empty battleground with no consequences. I say this, because there have been way too many cases where feminism’s misrepresentation has been detrimental to its own agenda, and I don’t intend to add to that. Equality and Justice are complex topics, and gender is only but one hue in the entire spectrum. Gender identity has been used as an excuse to deny people equal opportunities all over the world. And by throwing light on this issue, feminism in no way intends to shadow the greater movement of respect, kindness and equality to every single person, regardless of all things; not just gender.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg famously said, “I ask no favour for my sex; all I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” Her words serve as a reminder of what the fight is all about. Her voice, helps me recognize the power of my own. Because right now, and every single now that’s about to come would require of us to speak out. It would require of us to write our part of the narrative.
