Celebrating Womanhood Through The Eyes Of Our Children
On International Women’s Day, the world is brimming with news, events and activities celebrating womanhood. A farce really, when women are being humiliated, molested and raped every other day. You might wonder as to why such a kind of post is appearing in the Parentous column.
Well, for one, every household has a woman be it in the form of a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt or maid. And, irrespective of the fact whether one has a son or a daughter, acknowledging the presence of the woman in one’s life and respecting her for who she is, is very important for the child. Only then, will the child grow up to be a good person and a responsible citizen with no prejudices or complexes regarding women.
Conditioning and upbringing go a long way in grooming the minds of children. Stereotype slotting of views, narrow minded nastiness and conservative callousness tend to traumatize and influence the thoughts and attitudes of children and youth who grow up with distorted views about womanhood.
Role models differ in every family. One may have a meek suffering mother or a dominating one. Still others might have a mentally strong woman in the household who singlehandedly runs the household and family. The line between unwarranted domination and calm strength is very thin and, women, especially the mothers in the family play a big role in bringing up a mentally balanced and prejudice free son or daughter. Sad to say, most of the time, it is the woman who compromises on this very essential element mainly because it is easier to stick to the age old stereotype even if it is incorrect. So, we find that children are led to believe in two extreme views:
That it is a male dominated world so all males need to follow suit in showing off their assertion over the women.
Or, that women need to prove to the world again and again that they have it all with or without men, that all men are mean and that they can manage very well on their own.
Both attitudes are wrong and the consequences of such kind of thinking are out there in society for all to see wherein, some men feel that it is their birth right to control women while some women feel that they HAVE to express their freedom in ways they deem right but, which need not necessarily be safe and healthy!
I have a teenage son and, with the co-operation of a supporting husband have made my son reflect (if not realize as yet) upon the value of being understanding when it comes to a woman. Now, how far will this help him in his future endeavours with women as an employee of a firm, as a boss, as a husband, a friend, etc is yet to be seen? But, I do have the faith that he will neither support injustice meted out to a woman nor will he permit himself to become a pawn in the hands of a woman. Too ambitious a belief you say?
Well, it is this unflinching faith, it is this firm desire, it is this prejudice free thought with which I hope to instil in my son the values of good thinking in word, deed and action. How far I shall succeed, well, that is something to be seen in the future!
International Women’s Day will come and go every year but the true and sincere celebration of the woman spirit can be seen every day and every moment of our lives as we influence our children through our views, attitudes and actions in positive and healthy ways.
Wishing all parents a happy woman’s day, today and every other day!
Shail Raghuvanshi is a freelance journalist, content writer, editor, book reviewer and poet. She has 15 years of writing experience in newspaper, magazine, radio and television. She has worked as a Spoken English Teacher too. She runs a blog for writers called Write Space and blogs at her personal blog Muse N’ Motivation. A daughter, wife, mother and friend, she believes that there is no situation that can’t be made better. Faith, Friendship and Family are what makes her life complete.
