Dear Reader
Good evening, once again, after a hiatus! A lot happens during a hiatus . . . but I am happy to be back and writing to share my thoughts.
I am back in the feminist counter, once again. I say 'once again' because in my previous engagement with my dear learners at the Post Graduate program at the National Degree College, the conversations moved from suppression-oppression of women to gender equality and gendered reality. But I realise, while this is possible theoretically, in reality, it is not really over, I mean, the feminist struggles. It has returned with a new look. That demands a quiet reflection and a stronger determination to transform. Just a thought and a disclaimer: the write-up does not claim to have any understanding of the cricketers' specific reasons for their acts of respect and love!🙏
Recently, the Indian Women's Cricket Team won the World Cup and wow, how! The struggles of these incredible cricketers must also have been incredible. It is not easy to overcome the societal perceptions, challenges of a woman's body, the ridicule, the question mark on the face of everyone when one says 'I play cricket', etc. One of my feminist man-friends always said, 'Rekha, it is a challenge to pave a path in this world which is carved by men and their bodies. ' True that, but is it really so for men, I would now want to add.
It certainly is a challenge for women, but when the going gets tough, the tough get going! There are innumerable visible, invisible barriers that society, family and women have built around themselves. The toughest is to balance the competition with the ethic of care. The big gesture on the day of the big win--of including the senior women cricketers-- speaks volumes, as this gesture showed an immense sense of balance that became the highlight of the win.
Life is stranger than fiction! Lo and behold! This gesture became the instant highlight, not of women's ethics, but of men's cricket! Many people observed, said and wrote about how the men's team/captain rarely acknowledged their seniors! I am amazed! I am not saying that men are incapable of gratitude, no, never. What I am amazed at is the fact that that is how society expects men to be! Macho. Of course, they deserve, have earned every bit of fame and wins, but isn't that how victorious men are expected to be, across the world, irrespective of whether it is sports or academics or at home? Victory is of, by and for the leader/captain, meant to be celebrated as a symbol of manliness. (I agree, if what you, dear reader, are thinking, how messed up is that!?!)
On the other hand, is it not expected of women to share at every point? 'Sharing is caring' is a lesson taught persistently to young girls, sadly, rarely to boys. It is not to belittle the Captain's gesture that I write this; on the other hand, it comes from a great source of integrity and personal strength to acknowledge the work of your predecessors in paving and carving a path. The men's cricket team has not had it easy, either. Remember the colonial legacy? (Lagaan, 83) Yet, suddenly, everyone is celebrating the Women's team's gesture of inclusivity. It is a little confusing to me. Is it to you, too? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!
And as a reality cross-check to this instance, let me share an instance from everyday life. In the apartment where I live, some time ago, an arrangement was made regarding trash disposal. Since the trash van comes about mid-day. As most of us are working or are not home, we stood near the gate wondering about a solution to the situation. A lady who comes to clean the street said she would help the residents by clearing the garbage from within the gate to the van. We were relieved with this arrangement and agreed to pay a monthly payment. A few months later, the lady told us that the trash van driver had fought with her as she is not supposed to collect the trash from homes, and that the trash had to be put in the van, and so, the payment is due to them and not to her! Not only did she stop helping us, but the men refused to help us and demanded that we pay them instead! Strange indeed is the way of the world !!
I am wondering what Virginia Woolf would say to this?! Or is 'Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf?' true after all😟😏
Dear Reader, you are most welcome to share your insights about gender and reality! If you are happy to read this blog, please share👇and hit the follow button 👉and share this blog with your friends and like-minded readers. Looking forward to your thoughts. Share your comments directly with me at rekhadatta02@gmail.com or message me @rekhadatta1 on Instagram. I shall send the links to you personally.
