Women’s liberation

This is one word which has travelled through a variety of paths since it’s inception - fashion , the in thing, freedom , pride , birthright , contempt etc.

But what is the true essence of the word ?

Is it freedom from wearing clothes ?

Is it freedom from social and cultural boundaries ?

Is it freedom from ethics and morals ?

This word has always brought me a sense of grief over the years. I am always forced to deliberate again and again over it’s meaning.

We say that today the modern woman is liberated .

Let’s consider few examples.

We have women who are highly educated , who have opinions about the matters of the world , who are well respected at their work place. These women come here and post about how they are bearing all the household expenses without any savings to their name , being abused for years by the il but still reluctant to stand up for themselves and unable to gather courage to live their life alone. Venting out fiercely about the injustice done to them but unable to face the tormentor and tell him that from this minute the abuse has to stop and they will not put up with it. Pushing aside all their desires and happiness just to have some peace .The inability to accept that their life does not need a husband as a prop to obtain respect of the society. The slavery of the mind .

Is this truly liberation ?

We have movie actresses who command great fan following and also serve as role models for many. When they do roles where their basic job is only to expose their bodies and do vulgar dances . These days it is not confined only to desperate unsuccessful starlets but to the most popular actresses . The pride in being called hottest star. Similar situation is with models .

Objectifying yourself as a sex object for money – is it liberation or slavery to the sex addicted male viewers ?

There was an uneducated woman shown on satyamev jayate who came out of her abusive relationship to take care of herself and her children by driving a taxi. There are examples of rural women who have raised voices against sexual abuse and rape by getting their culprits punished . A young girl of 12 raising her voice against child marriage . A teenager working against human trafficking fearlessly.

So what is liberation ?

For me it is

Freedom from fear to be able to follow your heart and bring happiness to your life

Freedom from greed

Freedom from restraints to make the right decision irrespective of the consequences

Freedom from being attached to something so strongly that it results in the compromise of values and ethics

Freedom to be able to pursue one’s dreams

My concept of freedom is well defined in the following verse


“Where the mind is without fear

and the head is held high,

where knowledge is free.

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls.

Where words come out from the depth of truth,

where tireless striving stretches its arms toward perfection.

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost it's way

into the dreary desert sand of dead habit.

Where the mind is led forward by thee

into ever widening thought and action.

In to that heaven of freedom, my father,

LET MY COUNTRY AWAKE!”

― Rabindranath Tagore , Gitanjali

Usually my views are a bit contrary to the popular beliefs . So I would very much like to have your opinions on this matter.

Women’s liberation