After a gruelling 16 hour work day she’s packing up. She’s thinking…. cab, home, food, TV, sleep.
She glances at the time – an hour to go for midnight. Nope, no
cab, not safe. The local, it has to be.
cab, not safe. The local, it has to be.
She asks for a ride to the station. The ladies’ compartment
looks invitingly empty. Too empty, she thinks.
looks invitingly empty. Too empty, she thinks.
She heads to the general compartment. She walks in braving
the ‘looks’, ignoring the deliberate brush of bodies against her tired back.
She’s exhausted but she doesn’t forget to keep a hand out near her chest, ready
to ward of groping hands.
the ‘looks’, ignoring the deliberate brush of bodies against her tired back.
She’s exhausted but she doesn’t forget to keep a hand out near her chest, ready
to ward of groping hands.
She finds a window seat, sinks down, puts her laptop bag on
the other side then shuts her eyes and tries to relax, her senses on a semi
alert. She feels someone’s eyes on her,
snaps open her eyes and sits up straight settling her jacket. It’s that man across the aisle. She gives him
a dagger look, settles her jacket once again and awaits her station.
the other side then shuts her eyes and tries to relax, her senses on a semi
alert. She feels someone’s eyes on her,
snaps open her eyes and sits up straight settling her jacket. It’s that man across the aisle. She gives him
a dagger look, settles her jacket once again and awaits her station.
She gets off. It’s a short ride home but her watch is
inching towards the midnight hour and she’s nervous. She catches an auto and
gets in pretending to chat away with a friend on her phone, faking a carefree
attitude she’s far from feeling. Ten minutes later, she’s home having spent an hour
and a half on a stressful journey she could have done comfortably in 45
minutes.
inching towards the midnight hour and she’s nervous. She catches an auto and
gets in pretending to chat away with a friend on her phone, faking a carefree
attitude she’s far from feeling. Ten minutes later, she’s home having spent an hour
and a half on a stressful journey she could have done comfortably in 45
minutes.
She peeks in at her kids and husband sleeping peacefully. Changes,
serves herself, puts away the food. Thinks of switching on the tele then
chooses to crash.
serves herself, puts away the food. Thinks of switching on the tele then
chooses to crash.
Tomorrow is another day.
After a grueling 16 hour work day he’s packing up. He’s thinking…. Cab, Home, Food, TV, Sleep.
And so he catches a cab, gets home, peeks in at the sleeping
wife and kids, eats and settles before the TV till he crashes out.
wife and kids, eats and settles before the TV till he crashes out.
To,
The man who ‘does not notice’
The woman who doesn’t protest
The teens who ‘tease’ a girl on the street
The woman who is too scared to step out at night
The man who sees but lets it pass
The aunty who holds the girl in jeans responsible
Take notice, protest, step out, speak up, trust, support.
Only together can we make an equal world.
Together we can #MakeItHappen.
On Women’s Day let’s get together to #MakeItHappen at Blog-A-Rhythm.
Excellent post , which shows the difference between a woman's life and that of a man. Women's day is a great necessity. When will the world and religions see that women are very valuable. Besides we are 50 percent of humanity.
Wil, ABCW
Hey thanks Will. You are right we are 50 pc of humanity and we need to recognise our strength.
So true! That was spot on! The difference is so stark!
Isn't it? Yet it is so 'normal' that we don't even think about it.
Same scenarios but still different in a scary way! Small post but a powerful one!
International Women's Day #MakeItHappen
Thanks a lot Swathi.
Yes. Let us be the change we want.
A very powerful write.
Thank you Deepak.
This is so realistic. Gender inequality very well depicted. Nice one.
Thanks Suzy.
I loved how you wrote it- contrasting the 2 situations. This is a journey that a lot of us have been through. The unfortunate reality of our times. However, I am positive that this will change and soon enough. Like you said *Only together can we make an equal world. And we will #MakeItHappen 🙂
It'll happen if we include everyone in the change – even the men.
Same scene but yet so different. Terrible truth.
I thought it was quite sad too. Women waste so much energy stressing about things men don't even need to notice.
A sad and a terrible reality of our times. Wonder when will we see a change in the mental make-up of our society towards women?!
It will it will Shilpa, it will happen soon enough.
A reality that is true and real for many, too many women. Wish it weren't so. That day will come….hopefully soon. Change is happening, sometimes it is too slow to be seen, but it surely is coming. I can feel it.
I love the optimism in your comment. Touch wood Beloo.
Reality really bites, Tulika! Story of a majority of women! Happy Women's Day to you!
Thanks Vidya and same to you. Hope you had a good one.
Right on Tulika! You have captured the essence of being a woman vs. being a man. So sorry a state it is for a woman to remain alert, hypervigilant at all times: that's stressful! <3
Yes Elly. Only when you get home and let your guard down do you realise how stressed you are.
What an ugly truth this is! It shouldn't be like this! Well written, Tulika.
That's the thing – it shouldn't be like this.
perfectly nailed!! I could feel the fear she felt throughout the journey!
Thanks. I've made that journey many times and I'm sure so have hundreds of other women.
Made me cringe. Because it's so true 🙁 let's make it change. For our sake. For the sake of our kids.
It is, isn't it? It's an involuntary reflex – this anticipating trouble and preparing for travelling in public places.
#HeforShe , we need to all come together and fight this…no?
I wish women stopped living in fear, I wish the world was such!
If only.. Naba. We have a long way to go yet.