Women was and still important. Werk! Werk!

We often say treat us well, give us recognition, but how can we forget that wars have been fought over women. Epics are glorified myths. Our mythology plays around very well in bringing out the meaning to the world. However, my observation of the same is slightly unorthodox. Whether it is Ramayana or Mahabharata with Sita and Draupadi: two dichotomies, one widely venerated as an icon for wifely and womanly virtues and other beautiful, brave and controversial; or in The Trojan War where a face of Helen “launched the thousand ships”, women were well respected and celebrated (pun intended) in these epics, so much so they were the catalyst to wars. Very conveniently history treated them as the cause of mishaps. Ironically, they were trivial and often objectified (not to forget Draupadi’s stake), how did they happen to hold such a big recognition of being the cause of wars?

Unveiled under the motive of women prestige has always been the male ego. It was the ego clash between Pandavas and Kauravas that lead to Mahabharata, similarly, it was the ego of Menelaus that lead to the Trojan war not that he missed and loved his wife dearly. Ramayana is no less. The highlight of the whole thing here is, whether it was 15^th century or 21^st century, the undercover reality remains the same. Even today much is being done over women. However, nuances to it have changed. We ablas are seen under the same patriarchal glass, a bit magnified now

Talking about rape cultures, we end up luring men with our short dresses, our cleavages, and even our eyes. Hence, the moral policing is justified even though this makes men such a sexual being, who can be easily distracted and lured. Talking about marriages, modern liberal families allow their daughter in laws to work (society is changing, thank you for small mercies) but then there is a certain lot who wish their wives to come home early to entertain and fulfill their womanly roles of daily chores. Even when, marriages fall out, its either because of women, who refuse to compromise (we are expected to compromise more, in anything, any day than men) or the overly ambitious, independent women who thought she could have a life of her own after separation. So not our sanskaars.

The world needs to understand that today women don’t wish to be like Draupadi or Sita, but themselves. We don’t expect men to be like someone, then why us? Educating men about the rape culture, bringing awareness among women about the touch and to speak up and say ‘NO’ whenever required and bringing our stringent laws against the same would do wonders. It's not the dress, that causes it all. Not that simple. There are women in sarees (with the covered stomach, of course), suits and burkhas that were raped. There are children that were raped. Psyche needs brushing. Similarly, gone are the days of Sita where we would abide by our husband's illegitimate commands and prove our loyalty. Men can be questioned too, but we won't do it. Of course. Draupadi rightly said to Yudhistra after he put her on the stake as to who gave him the right to do that when he himself has lost everything. History clearly categorized her in polyandry, but not the smartest one. 

The women of present time wish for equality, individuality, and recognition. We don't wish to be equal to men, there are roles that are best suited for them and vice a versa, all we need is an equal opportunity, say and un-discriminated glance. These days, women who do this and vouch for it vocally are clearly categorized as different, not in the right light. People won’t say it, but that is the undercurrent reality. When a man leaves a woman, subconsciously we would think it would have been because of women, however, if a woman does the same with man, society would still feel it would have been her fault. Finding a second wife is anyday easy than a second man. Such important being we have been to the world, that we have the topic of scrutiny for all.