This is a voice of an egalitarian who feels that there is a perspective beyond a degraded mind. I go on the street, and while walking i happen to see a woman who seems very strong and attractive. I appreciate her sense of dressing and the way she carried herself, in my mind. At the same time, the same woman happens to see me too. And with a sulking remark, walks off angrily. What had i done ? Had i looked at her with lustful desperate eyes. Not at all. Am i a rapist. No ! I agree that harassment against women has reached to such an extent that women find it derogatory whenever any man even glances at them. Then often assume us to be the ones staring and passing lewd remarks at them, just at the sign of a look. If tomorrow, i go to a woman and tell her on the face that i am sexually attracted towards her, i'll either get slapped, get ignored or made fun of, as if i were a roadside rowdy eve teasing her. But if the same woman comes and tells me the same thing, she is considered bolder and the other boys pass on a mysterious smile at me.Why such difference for a society which claims to give equal status to both men and women. Oh wait, does it even claim ?
All men are not rapists, and we do not take the guilt of being men. We are proud of who we are, and we do not share the sin of those who have raped women, who pass lewd remarks on their faces, or touch their sexual parts while travelling in a bus. We are the ones, who stand by what is right and may it be against men or women. The reason why women are being deprived of their rights are the sick mentality evolved by our so called culture. Its not only men, but women too who are equally responsible for a girl's exploitation. Where every mother tells her daughter to cover up their body properly for they represent their so called 'ghar ki izzat'. Where if a piece of cloth protrudes out from a woman's body is termed a fashion disaster, but for a man its said to be cool. Where the purity of a person is judged not by the ideas her/his mind carries but by his/her virginity.Where girls are taught from their childhood, to be like the obedient sita of ramayana, to heed the duties of a wife to follow their husbands without question. To learn that they do not hold any say in deciding whom they want to marry, but is decided by the strength a man posses to break a bow.
Why is it that every perception has a weight attached, taking sides of either gender, why cant there be equality in our perception. Is equality present only in spirit or will it have any truth attached to it anytime in the future. I am just a man who dreams to live in a world where anyone can go anywhere anytime without worrying about anyone else. Freedom at its peak ! Would it be just a dream ?
