Although, there are changes in society’s attitude towards women and more acceptance for those who dare to cross the conventional norms and break the glass ceiling, one still wonders if women, in general, are able to make free choices without considering the quintessential prototypes of women that the society loves to love.

For over a century and thousands of year we have been talking of equality, gender parity, gender balance, woman’s identity in a patriarchal society and several other buzz words that are akin to women’s issues. Although, there are changes in society’s attitude towards women and more acceptance for those who dare to cross the conventional norms and break the glass ceiling, one still wonders if women in general are able to make free choices without considering the quintessential prototypes of women that the society loves to love. 

In her younger years a woman is brought up to believe that she herself is not the right person to make her choices and it’s the males in the family; a father or a brother or even an uncle; who will decide for her. If she must have a career, it should be such where she can maintain and nurture her womanly traits of love, compassion, care and looking after the family. So, she chooses to be a teacher, a nurse, a doctor, and if she’s bolder, an Air hostess, a model, a fashion Designer and, of course, it would still be the best if she chooses to be a home maker! These options give her a choice not to be over ambitious and still tend to her duties at home as and when the need occurs. The society would disapprove if a woman chooses to enter the so called male territory because that would lead to a shift in design. It is a man’s job to be ruthless, to flex brawny muscles, to deal with difficult issues and woman needs to be sensitive, caring and loving. 

Women are constantly classified as having aspiration deficit. There are thousands of stories regarding successful women taking premature retirement and completely withdrawing from their careers, some as early as in their twenties and some in their early forties. There are innumerable cases of school and college dropouts and more about women who sit on their academic laurels and never choose to work. And this brings us to our basic question, are women able to make free choices? 

The good news is that we are slowly and steadily breaking the established norms. We do hear stories of successful women leaders, entrepreneurs and even women in uniform who emerged winners. Women are now found in the most unusual professions and are making big mark as Lawyers, Technocrats, Scientists, Astronauts, Politicians and even the erstwhile male domains. They did not have to break any societal custom or fight any war to do so. They were simply consistent and committed. They did not do anything exceptional except for making their choices and communicating it firmly. They were aware of the challenges but accepted them. They knew they would be judged but they also knew that resistance was temporary and will vanish if they prove themselves correct in the times to come. They had to evince that their choice was not to disrupt any natural harmony or create imbalances. They chose to work because they were willing and had the abilities, skills, talents and aspirations to be successful.

A free willed woman is the one who is able to take decisions for herself. She knows what she wants and to what extent can she go for it. The society is now more approving of the women who make their choices. The change is seen more in urban areas, and hopefully, will someday reach the rural quarters too. Parents, in many families, no longer make decisions or future plans for their daughters comprising of dreams that are limited to an ideal home with a husband whose salary is greater than her dream of a career for herself. Parents, now, want their daughters to have real dreams and are ready to provide the desired support. The men, who accept women as their bosses, are no longer a rare species. We now hear of husbands who, in support of their wives, change their professions and even locations. 

Women have evolved and are ready to carve their own path. They are not led by the circumstances that are created for them, rather they are designing their own directions and destiny.  Women were, earlier, pitted against each other and were considered jealous competitors. The new age women are supportive of each other and contribute immensely to each other’s success. Women have strong support networks of women who stand by them, encourage, and inspire them mentally, and emotionally.  Women now feel unapologetic in deciding what they want because the choices they make will not only impact them as individuals but will benefit the entire society. A woman is now expected to share responsibility in all areas of life and that’s a global phenomenon. The sustainable development goal 5 concerns gender equality as its fifth of 17 goals. It sees women contributing largely in areas like politics, corporate and education to achieve social, economic and environmental sustainability.

  Technology has also contributed to this change. Millennials, who are more concerned about the advancing technology couldn’t care less whether it is a man or a woman behind the big machine. As technology gives more impetus to brain over brawn, it’s the mind, which is appreciated, whether it belongs to a man or a woman. Fortunately, with the technology taking over every workplace, women can play equal role and contribute as much as men. The same technology is providing women the safety and freedom to be wherever they want. The more women, there are, at workplace, the more women they are going to inspire to come out and make their choices. 

It’s high time when women are accepted as just another human being and not some delicate, fragile objects that need to be handled with care. Gone are the days when their place was inside the home which they were supposed to nurture during all their waking and sleeping hours. If she wished to work outside her home, she was branded as a blot on womanhood, insensitive and uncaring. There is so much more that needs to be done. We further need to educate the girl child to dream and aspire. Because when a woman works, she brings more empathy, sensitivity, compassion to workplaces. Women’s presence at workplaces also makes it more secure for other women and create a real balance which is devoid of discrimination and disparities. Women are now free to make a choice, take a chance, grab every opportunity and soar as high as their wings would take.

(The views presented in this article are written by Dr Padmakali Banerjee, Pro Vice Chancellor, Amity University Gurugram. The article has been solely curated for BW People publication.)