Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Debate on 'Is it necessary for an educated women to take up a career'

The Women Rights Activist inside me wake up :)

Woman all over the world is undergoing tremendous transformation. She is no longer the doormat she had been for centuries, only raising her family, feeding and clothing them. In the words of Confucius -"The essence of knowledge in having it, is to apply it, not just having it to sit idle!"

But still, at many places parents don't encourage their daughters to take up big careers as they feel that their daughters ought to be good home-makers than good office-goers. But these people don't understand that it is very necessary for a home-maker to take up a career; because it is the woman who makes home, a home! And even if the woman is employed, she has to bow to her husband's wishes by burning her own wishes and make her children skilled by wasting her own abilities. Why should only she make all the compromise in life ? Just because she is a woman! Do you call this justice ? Why should an educated housewife waste her time and talent gossiping in kitty-parties, when she has the capacity to  work and  earn herself small but morale boosting income ? But due to the dis-satisfied attitude of her family her aim of having a successful career is crushed and finally she is back to the kitchen - cooking her degrees along with the food and washing away her marks along with the dishes!

My able opponents may proudly announce that these women have sacrificed their whole life for the sake of their children. But isn't that what all parents, even birds and animals do for their younger ones ? Yes, it is necessary that mothers care for their children, but with slight understanding it is possible to manage both the family and the career. A lot has to be done to make people come out of this despondent feeling that all a girl needs to know is cooking, cleaning and sewing! 

It is almost unavoidable to run into the success stories of individuals who have made a notable impact in the public sphere like Aruna Asaf Ali, Mahadevi Varma, Mahasweta Devi, Mother Teresa, Kalpana Chawla, Kiran Bedi, Lata Mangeskar, PT Usha, Shahnaz Hussain, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Indra Nooyi, etc etc... The character sketch of a modern woman that emerges is of a woman who seeks economic independence. Please give an ear to this - every time you make a career move, you get an opportunity to grow beyond the ordinary. So, unbridled ambition combined with relevant opportunity has metamorphosed the modern woman into a confident person, who not only has her own identity but also creates avenues for modest income. By using her energy in the right perspective, she gets a chance to create and learn. In the process, she chips in some savings to keep up with the ever increasing cost of living and by and large helping improve the status of the women.

The growing number of highly educated women provides a hitherto insufficiently exploited source of skill and innovative capacity, which must be developed and used more intensively. Not surprising that many countries and corporations are now-a-days taking a resolution on 'equal participation by women in an employment intensive economic growth strategy.' If women are to make themselves ready to meet future challenges and develop their full potential, it is necessary that they become more involved in all spheres of society, politics, high ranking business, policy and decision making. The Amul Story is a shining example of how rural women put their skills to good use, while paving the way for their economic independence.

To conclude, women can make a big contribution to the national development by putting their education to good use. Sticking to fundamentals duties and working hard would propel the women to new heights. Beyond that there is no telling what can happen when determination and inspiration collide! Ladies, we need to really know, understand and abide in our callings. Rise up above the average woman of yesteryear, and seeks to be different rather than just molding yourself in the old system. It's indeed noble about a career woman who doesn't merely survive in life, but competes with the world. As the proverb from the scriptures so beautifully states and so does my heart believe that - "Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who has talent and utilizes it, she shall be praised!"
(For the motion: It is necessary for an educated women to take up a career)