What women want

Each thing we release - whether it's a pair of shoes, an old grudge, or an outdated belief about ourselves - creates space for joy, connection, and new experiences.

Mel Robbins

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What is it about this Mel Robbins quote that urged me to headline it in my post, you may wonder. Well, the promoter is the billion dollar outdated belief that women specially in her role as a wife and/or mother cannot be or should not be selfish. Here being selfish is more in terms of awareness and dignity to ensure their well-being. That is why earning money is so important because more than just getting salaries, the job gives the lady a profile, an identity. 

How many Indian women prioritize their health and are concerned about their rights? How many among them take rest without guilt, eat a complete planned meal rather than what is left in the kitchen and/or stake ownership in properties? Experts note, they need to be mindful to make room for personal growth. Mental decluttering and self- empowerment are necessary tools to get an agile mind and robust body. And sisterhood, which is so often used, misused and abused in our tele serials, needs to be celebrated, observed speakers at an international conference held at a distant Mumbai suburb.

Women Development Cell, University of Mumbai along with Royal College of Arts, Science and Commerce held a one day international conference at the college campus in Mira Road. It is on Holistic Wellbeing of Women: Building Health, Dignity and Empowerment for an Inclusive Future.

This was held last month. I was a special invitee to this gathering to write a blog on it. Normally, such symposiums are either too pedantic or technical to interest common people like me. But I was compelled to sit through the entire session in the first half spanning over three hours. Though overwhelmed by the volume of the information and the wisdom inherent, I was still drawn into conversations with some students who attended the conference to showcase their findings. More on that in my future blogs.But I still need to talk about a very confident Alina Shaikh from the psychology department who post this conference has resolved to be financially independent before getting married. 

The chief guest was, professor and psychiatrist, Dr. Shubhangi R Parkar. The speakers include professor and lawyer, Dr. Sharmila Ghuge and social worker, Jyoti Mhapsekar.

A common refrain among most speakers were: solutions must be inclusive and dialogue sustainable. I particularly appreciated the importance given to the males: boys and men.

Right from the birth, in our society, segregation starts taking place identifying male child with blue colour and female with pink. And it doesn't end there. Gradually the segregation only gets bigger and bitter. There is segregation in attitude even in basic choices with women being easy targets: right from what to wear to when to reach home to primarily focusing on household work.

Here are some key takeaways - 

Waste becomes wealth when segregated. Because, then everything don't go to the landfills as a lot of waste gets recycled, thanks to the ragpickers. 

However, the next time you throw that acid bottle, take care to empty the bottle and wrap it in paper before throwing it. This will alert and protect the ragpickers who would otherwise burn their hand while picking up such bottles from spilled acid. 

Similarly, be conscious about not using plastic as they are non-biodegradable  and hence immensely contribute to our landfills. Methane, the gas that is nurtured in the landfills is 20 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. So why wrap soiled sanitary napkins in different plastic bags. Instead use paper. 

Merely getting education is not empowering. It will only happen when women get aware about their rights and empower themselves by doing some work that will earn them good money and  position. When there is sisterhood among women and when there are conscious males rallying around, progress in emotional growth and social life starts rolling in. 

Ideally, this post could have been a March 8 celebration. But since my birthday is on February 20, i.e. today, I am uploading it now. Let's celebrate being a woman and that too Everyday. 

Happy Women's Day!! 

#WomenDevelopmentCell #landfills #Methane #March8 #ragpickers # UniversityofMumbai