Short film director Geetha Ilangovan encouraged women to pursue their passion, travel with groups of women and discuss burning topics, at the 33rd annual conference of the women’s sub-committee of the Insurance Corporation Employees’ Union (ICEU), Madurai Division, here on Saturday.
In her address, she said that it pained her to see that the women in the generation that succeeded her were still governed by arbitrary rules generated by society.
All of Periyar’s works on women's rights are yet to see light, she added.
Speaking on harassment, Ms. Geetha said that many women who undergo sexual assault think of justice as a privilege or a luxury. She said that parents are hardly supportive of women and put chains on the woman's life as conditioning has taught them to protect her through regressive means.
She referred to a number of incidents, including the Pollachi sexual harassment case.
“Why are there barely any non-judgmental space for women to share their problems and come up with constructive and supportive solutions?” she asked.
She added that women should begin engaging in activities like trekking and travelling to experience the world. It would help them cherish the world outside, she said.
Convenor of the women’s sub-committee meeting (Madurai division) D. Chitra recalled the contribution of the committee towards women’s empowerment, particularly through their JEEVIKA organisation that travelled to support families that have been affected due to sexual harassment.
She recalled several incidents of empowerment and struggle faced by women in the last year, including the #MeToo movement that took India by storm.
“India continues to be unsafe for women and the government is bent on spending more money towards advertising,” she said.
Tamil Nadu Zone joint convenor J. Vijaya too spoke on the importance of the organisation.
The sub-committee demanded that it received mandatory leave for menopause and during menstruation.
