These days woman empowerment is on the top of every agenda. I definitely do not wish to be skeptical about it in any way. But some experiences makes one introspect the whole concept of it. How far is all this genuinely true. Hailing from a family with no brothers I was never taught to believe that these’s a gender difference in anything.
Over a year back my father was admitted into the government hospital where I work.He was treated with all care and recovered. I was definitely thankful and expected nothing more. On the day of his discharge I got a small bill from the office. I was happy to pay it instantly. When I got to the payment desk I was astonished to know the laid down rules. With no queries from my end I was told “Ma’am sorry that you have to pay this bill”. I replied why sorry?. To my surprise I was informed that because I am a daughter I cannot claim that my nonagenarian father is my dependent. But had I been a son, it would be taken for granted that he’s my dependent and the bill would be waived. Gosh!! I thought great, this is the empowered Indian woman.
My father has no sons, so is he supposed to be ever independent? The amount due was meagre. But the message carried was traumatic.
What are we empowering our women folk for. Only to make them work at par with men.
I felt bilittled and disgusted. If you have rules fine follow it with no gender bias. Only then will every Indian woman feel empowered.