Diversity or Disparity?

India is said to be one of the most diverse countries in the world! To say that there exists a different culture in every state would be an understatement. In my opinion, every individual in the country exhibits her own culture and has her own set of beliefs. Even in such diversity, there is some mutuality in terms of humanity, in terms of respecting one another and treating all as equals to Hoist the flag of Peace! But the question here is, can we really Believe in the Phrase “Unity in Diversity” if one half of the population is deprived of dignity and respect?

In India, till date men are seen as a mascot of strength and power on the other hand women symbolise sensitivity and weakness. Why is this so? Did God create this difference? Or our cultural variance? If I were to answer this then, no it was not how God created us to be nor is it due to the diversified culture, but due to the “Disparity in our Mindsets”.

Let’s discuss why Men are regarded as “Strong and capable” while Women are considered to be “Weak and Sensitive”. According to the ethos of most of the members of the Indian society, men are presumed to be the earners while women are expected to be homeworkers. So let’s start with some basics! If Men are viewed as stronger than women then there such be variability in their anatomies, right? But the only contrast I see is Women are consummated with the power of creating life inside of them while Men are not. If anything, this is an emblem of the Greatest vigour and power anyone could have. Then why is it that women are seen as WEAK!? Let’s take up the Question of Ability! Is a man more competent in doing a Job than a woman is? I don’t think so! No one is born with a special skill, everyone develops them as they grow up. So why is it that we see more men out in the open working than women? That is because women in every household are restricted to use the inumerous opportunities available, to their own benefit!

People have a taboo of the male child, because of which more than 2000 girls are killed even before they’re born, many more after their first breath! Besides this, our women face brutal situations wherein they are Raped, abused every day in every corner of the nation. Sources indicate that 87 women on an average are raped each day and we around 405861 every year. Sadly, these are just the reported ones, the real numbers are much higher. There are thousands of cases that go unrecorded due to reasons such as societal pressure and fear of being shunned from the community. If women are considered to be weak it is not so because of some shortcomings in them it is only and only because of the mentality of people in the country. The mentality that men are the superior race and can treat

women however they want to. How do you justify Rape, Female infanticide, other forms of Domestic abuse against women? Women in every household are denied the basic right to feel “Safe” in their Motherland. And why!? Just because people “Think” they are weak. Women being denied equal pay as men, women being denied the right to safely return home at midnight, women being deprived of “Life”, just because they are “THOUGHT” to be weak? How can this be justified! Just because a woman is not covering up her whole body doesn’t mean she is asking a man to rape her! Just because a woman wants to study doesn’t justify domestic abuse and just because she is a Girl doesn’t Justify her Death even before birth!

People of our country try to justify this as a “Diversity” in their culture. On one hand, they worship women as Goddesses while on the other they pawn on the dignity and integrity of women like it is theirs to offer! Then how do we call ourselves Diverse? Culture in India is being used as a blanket to cover up and justify the difference in treatment meted among men and women. While in reality no culture is based on victimising a whole gender. This is where Diversity of culture gets completely ruled out and Disparity (i.e a great difference) of Mindsets set in. Is it correct to term this difference as Diversity while it is clearly just Disparity!?

This disparity will keep widening until women are treated in equity with men and nothing less than that! Women are as capable as men! They can be executives at high posts while handling her family. A child is as much a responsibility of a father as it is of a mother. Women should not be kept at home covered just because Men with sick motives are out there in the open. Instead of teaching the women “It is not safe outside for a girl” we should teach everyone to create a safe and peaceful atmosphere for MANKIND. A Woman is as much a Human as a Man is and deserves an opportunity to live her life as she wants!

Let’s not create a Disparity in this Diversity! Let’s create a world with equal opportunities, Free thought, and freedom to feel safe! Let us remind the world why we live by the phrase Unity in Diversity by vanquishing the case Disparity in Diversity.

-Nishtha Agarwala