Girls should know their strengths and weaknesses to be able to both survive and excel in a world which is still dominated by men, said speakers at a “Gender Sensitisation” programme organised by the Indian Women Network (IWN) for girl students of the Westin College of Management here on Tuesday.
IWN Vijayawada Centre chairperson V. Nagalakshmi said women were not as strong as men physically, but they were as strong often more powerful than men when in came to emotions and certain personality traits. Girls and women often played second fiddle to their male counterparts because of the strong indoctrination they were subjected to.
Since the indoctrination begins at a very early age, girls grow into women without the slightest knowledge of what was happening to them, she said.
All India Radio (AIR) Vijayawada Station Director Krishna Kumari said girls had to acquire special kind of knowledge that provided them safety, security and strength to make proper decision required for a happy, free and long life.
Girl students gave interesting answers to question about dressing. Asked why girls liked to wear pants and shirts like boys, but boys never wore dresses like girls, a large number of the girls answered because dresses would look “awkward” on boys.
Answering a questionnaire, many girls said that they preferred being born as a boy. Ms Krishna Kumari said girls were “brainwashed” about their dresses, choices and opportunities available to them to such an extent that many want to be boys.
Ms Nagalakshmi said that it was unfortunate and ridiculous that men were making policies for women. Women who constitute half the population had no say in policy matters because they were cut off from one another. IWN’s primary objective was to articulate the unified voice of the women general and the career women in particular.
Asked how girls should respond to advances made by men, Ms Krishna Kumari said the girls should ignore them if there was nobody around. She cited the example of a Chennai-based software professional who ended up dead merely because she said “shut up” to youth who made lurid comments. “In a crowded place call the police on your mobile, but when there is nobody leave the place quietly. Don’t have ego problems,” she advised them.
