Hurrah To The Girl Child | Flash Post 306

Button, I take my hat off to the millennial ladies. Give or take a couple of years here and there.

Why? What have they done?

What have they not? There was a time when most ladies post marriage stayed back home to tend to their homes and families but not so anymore. Girls are not only going out to work to add their earnings to the family kitty but they are also tending to their homes and families with as much zeal. I have two such staff members who are doing just this. The lady who has been in our employment for over 30 plus years joined immediately after she got married at the young age of 19. Not only has she supported her family financially but she has brought up three children who are all graduates–one has done so well that she’s been offered a scholarship to study further.

That sounds so good.

The other young girl who also got married rather early at the age of 20 has been around for almost seven years. She has a young kid who she is sending to school and has a plan worked out in her head for her and, because she doesn’t have any formal education, she wants her child to study as far as she can afford it. To be able to do this, she leaves her home at 7 every morning to come to the city to work till about 5 every evening. By the time she reaches home, it’s well past 7 when she has to complete her household chores from cooking dinner to putting her child to bed so she can get up in time to go to school the next morning and she to work.

It’s amazing and something to be truly proud of.

However, she does not have any regrets of having given birth to a girl child and is going out of her way to bring up that child as best as she can.

It’s such a touching story.

Can one of our government’s Yojanas, beti bachao, beti padhao, even match up to what these women and many others like them are doing?

21 Comments

Nisha Balwani July 10, 2018 at 12:41 pm

This is not something that’s happening recently only…women have been doing this for centuries. Our contributions are not acknowledged adequately…it’s a mindset problem. We have been brought up in a patriarchal society where only a man’s victories are glorified.

Reply
- author July 12, 2018 at 8:14 am
  
  Dear Nisha,
  
  Perhaps! But there is a shift and, like Sham has written, all men aren’t patriarchal. At least, I hope not.
  
  Reply
Sham Rodrigues July 10, 2018 at 12:45 pm

I don’t agree with you Nisha…not all men are patriarchal. It’s wrong to label us. My grand father worked 3 shifts a day to support his family of his wife and 3 daughters…he was not ashamed of having 3 daughters..never once did he say he wanted a son…he gave them education and brought them up like he would a son…

Reply
- author July 22, 2018 at 11:23 am
  
  My dear Sham,
  
  You are right about all men not being patronising. Your grandfather must have one of those rare gentleman to have selflessly provided for his family by working three shifts and not complaining but gladly caring for his family and bringing up his daughters like he would have had if he had sons.
  
  Reply
elton golmes July 10, 2018 at 12:59 pm

I must say i agree with Sham…we didn’t grow up in a world dominated by men. If anything, the women in our house takes all the decisions…but that doesn’t mean patriarchy doesn’t exist. of course it does and it must stop. men must stop patronising women and thinking that women exist because of them…

Reply
- author July 12, 2018 at 8:11 am
  
  My dear Elton,
  
  You are so right. I know of men who feel that women exist because of them and that they are God’s gift to womenkind. I earnestly hope that a time comes when men stop patronising women because we can take care of ourselves.
  
  Reply
shweta talwar July 10, 2018 at 1:01 pm

i hate patronising men…my boss (can’t mention which company or the name) is constantly flirting with me in front of colleagues to just show that he has an in with me…he doesn’t. ours is a strictly professional relationship. he keeps putting his hand on my shoulder and getting me to do odd jobs for him which i don’t want to do…

Reply
- author July 12, 2018 at 8:05 am
  
  Dear Shweta,
  
  But you shouldn’t allow him to do what you are not comfortable with. Just put your foot down and gently tell him that you don’t like him flirting with you in front of his colleagues and don’t like him putting his hand on your shoulder. I guess you haven’t told him yet and, therefore, he feels that you’re okay with it.
  
  Are you afraid of losing your job if you tell him?
  
  Reply
  - shweta talwar July 29, 2018 at 12:40 pm
    
    Yes, I am…I am afraid of losing my job. It’s not easy for a woman to find a job in this country! Especially if you get thrown out of your last. What should I do author?
    
    Reply
    - author August 5, 2018 at 12:27 pm
      
      Dear Shweta,
      
      You must put your foot down and, simply and plainly tell your boss that you don’t like what he is doing therefore, he must stop.
      
      You can seek advice from a close buddy.
      
      Reply
k vishwanath July 10, 2018 at 1:10 pm

if your boss behaves like this, you should file a complaint against him…it’s good that women are noticing these things now…earlier women used to think that the boss is allowed to do whatever he wants and that it’s ok…but men cannot get away with anything.

Reply
- author July 12, 2018 at 7:59 am
  
  Dear K,
  
  No longer. Women have realised that men can’t do what they want and that they can be hauled up when they cross the line.
  
  Reply
Harsh July 10, 2018 at 1:12 pm

but what is wrong in men flirting? if they can get away with it then that’s their skill. if a woman doesn’t like it, she should have the courage to say so..if the man doesn’t stop then it’s a problem…i am a flirtatious man by nature but i don’t think i have ever crossed the line…

Reply
- author July 12, 2018 at 7:56 am
  
  Dear Harsh,
  
  There is nothing wrong with harmless flirting as long as the flirt knows where to draw the line.
  
  Reply
Meher Dcosta July 10, 2018 at 1:18 pm

women are not meant to be flirted with in a boardroom…if that is what she’s been kept in a company for, she should quit…find her true potential instead of just being a prop…my sister separated from her husband because he had a roving eye which eventually led to an affair…whereas i have a lovely marriage…

Reply
- author July 12, 2018 at 7:53 am
  
  My dear Meher,
  
  I agree with you whole-heartedly. More and more women have got a hold on themselves and are refusing to be mere props any longer. They want to have their say and be treated as equals.
  
  Reply
Mohit Vashisht July 10, 2018 at 1:21 pm

kudos to your staff…these are the true human stories of success…their children are very fortunate to have mothers like them…i have always felt and known that mothers are true survivors…i’m sure their fathers have equal roles to play but in a society where women are suppressed for years, to have women come out and do this is incredible…

Reply
- author July 12, 2018 at 7:50 am
  
  My dear Mohit,
  
  Yes, touch wood, I am very fortunate to have such staff.
  
  On the other hand, when mothers only concentrate on their children’s food, their education and their welfare, the men folk tend to feel left-out and totally inconsequential. This shouldn’t happen and both parents should be made to feel happy and contented about bringing up their kids jointly. What do you say?
  
  Reply
  - Mohit Vashisht July 29, 2018 at 12:46 pm
    
    i don’t think there should be any such rule author. it depends on each relationship and how that relationship is nurtured and grown. no one should be insecure in a relationship if there is love and trust.
    
    Reply
    - author August 5, 2018 at 12:23 pm
      
      Dear Mohit,
      
      I didn’t quite understand what rule you are talking about. Can you, please, re-phrase your comment?
      
      Reply
      - Mohit Vashisht August 6, 2018 at 8:35 am
        
        i was responding to your earlier comment author,,,please read our exchange again.