Newsweek of March 14, 2011 portrayed 150 such women round the globe who have the courage to stand up for themselves as well as for others. Unfortunately, none of those women enlisted were Nepali. This was immensely disheartening as I confidently believe we Nepalis are no less.[break]
Women have always been positioned below men, not only in our society but elsewhere too. There is always one way or the other to dominate women, be it in any sphere.
In spite of being suppressed and considered non-existent, there are Afghan women like Fatima Rahimi, Shabnam and Sadaf who are preparing for the Summer Olympics.
They are boxers trained in Ghazi stadium in Kabul where the Taliban had once put women to death for adultery and other crimes. Similar is the case of Wajeha al-Huwaider who drove a car to rebel against the Saudi law.
She even loaded the video on YouTube. Italian women rallied against Silvio Berlusconi after months of tawdry headlines about his sexual escapades.
These are just a few examples, there are other stirring instances. In Yemen, young girls hardly six years of age are sold and married to old men.
They are resold again and again in houses where they have no way out besides enslavement and violence. Here’s to the lady, who despite rigid social conditions, shelters these girls who have managed to flee.
How heartening these instances are. While coming across several others alike, it gives me great pride as a member of the same gender. Nevertheless, there was hollowness while going through this list.
As I salute these women for having fruitfully revolted under harsh and inflexible male-dominated societies, simultaneously I feel cheerless thinking of urban Nepali women who enjoy almost equal status with men. We live under no hard and fast rules. Our religion and society has evolved thus treating women equally.
A woman today is capable of crossing all boundaries; there is practically nothing to be afraid of, unlike in the above stated societies.
We have seen women like Anuradha Koirala, CNN Hero of 2010. Following her example, we, as young, educated, and independent women need to work for our society. It is high time we stand up for what is wrong.
There are so many social issues and concerns that need to be touched by us. Our nation has a long way to go to scale heights.
Women’s role is critical for development if it is to be attained, and we carry half of the sky. As has been said since early on, behind every successful man is a woman!!
Aditi Aryal is currently doing her A level studies in
Kathmandu.
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