Women, women, women

Who said the world was progressive? Who said our women were liberated? Sometimes I can't help thinking not much has changed.

Look at USA. The most advanced nation in the world is yet to have a woman President. Look at us. We have a woman President, but she has not come through as a symbol of emancipated womanhood, for whatever reasons.

Why are we still getting it wrong?

Everybody must have watched the soccer world cup. And before that the IPL cricket tamasha. Everybody must have seen crappily dressed cheerleaders wildly gyrating to some silly music (I cringe to call it that). Why must they be women? Why not men? Why can't we have ridiculously clad men shaking their bellies and rolling their hips to drums and bagpipes or whatever? If we must have cheerleaders at sporting events, that is - now that would call for another blog post.

Don't let's forget the Stone Age Cave Woman following her He Man into the World Wrestling Fed's wrestling rings. Big brutish male hunks followed by growling shrieking women.

You must have seen ads where women come, leaning on and clinging to men - like some prized jewel, a possession that one showed off. Why, for god's sake, can't they stand and walk straight?

God, and we talk of the progress we have made.

I recently attended some functions - some weddings, and some other social gatherings.
At every function, there was a reception committee to welcome guests. A reception Committee made entirely of women. Heavily decked and dolled up they draped the doorways. The bouquets and prizes were brought in by women, but not necessarily given away by them. They were just the fetchers and carriers.

The food arrangements and anchoring was always the women.

The accounts and operations, the men. Why? Why don't we reverse roles? What is so unmanly about receiving guests that it must be relegated to the realm of the woman? Isn't pleasantness and warmth a thing of the mind. Why shouldn't men be pleasant and warm and man the reception committees?

And then again - why must the women who receive guests be the most presentable females round the place? And why must they be gorgeously dressed. Isn't this a bit like putting out your best china or silverware to impress the guests?

Obviously attitudes have not changed. Not here in India. Not anywhere in the world. we have a long way to go. And it would help all around if women put their foot down where it belongs - on the ground - and refused to play ball. Most of the changes that have happened seem facile when one thinks that the change in the mind without which no change would be effective - has not yet happened.