What Women Want

International Women's Day 2014 is themed on 'Inspiring Change'

Centuries after neurologist Sigmund Freud failed to psychoanalyze what it was that women want, and more than a hundred years of International Women’s Day celebrations later, modern man is still clueless about what it is that women want.

Maybe be it would help a little if we began with what men want. Peace, love, joy, money, power, sex,success and adventure would wrap all that an average man would desire in his life. The truth is, women are no different and require all of the above equally.

But here is where the rules of the game differ when it comes to men and women. She goes through PMS, labour and childbirth, yet is called the weaker sex because she is naturally inclined to be more emotional and sensitive. She runs home, hearth, handles saas-bahu issues playing both the roles, and raises the children while he is called the man of the house. She multitasks and steps out to earn but has to constantly protect her reputation in doing so. Men who go about womanizing are called ‘dudes,’ women who find it in their heart the capability to love more than one man are immediately branded being sluts. If he raises his voice for anything, he is a hero, if she has the courage to do so, she is a ‘burn the bra feminist who wants to be a man ‘

International Women’s Day is a special day designated for women to come forward seize the day to pledge and promise themselves first, and their mothers, sisters and daughters that they will be the change they need to see. Whether it is women in space, more lady pilots, more leaders, more activists amplifying for women’s rights to issues ranging from abortion to commercial sex workers, with every advancing generation, women are getting one step further towards their goal, breaking barriers the globe over.

What women need to do is think global and act local. Even as they love to adorn themselves , they need to be beyond being just an object of beauty seeking appreciation. Women need not cite a hero among them, for they all are one, just the way they are, all they need to do is realize it and never give up on themselves ,especially when all others do.

 That is why IWD is important. Happy Women’s Day.Celebrate being you, just the way you are.