The Hand That Rock The Cradle Rules The World

My speech at the Toast Master's Club-

When I was asked to speak for the ICE BREAKER session I spent the first 3 days just looking for a topic to speak on… Something that was interesting yet thought provoking, informative but not boring and most importantly something that I was passionate about.And what better to speak on than Who I am? Who we Are? And what we have become? Today I speak about WOMEN – The transition from the homemaker of yesterday to the multi-tasking bread-winner of Today. 

I believe that any discussion about women is incomplete without and insight into history. Hindu Mythology bears testimony to the fact that Lord Shiva gave up half of his body to his wife Parvathi to attain the name of Ardha- Narishwara. Shakti, the power and energy with which the Universe is created, preserved and destroyed is a FEMININE power craved by gods and demons alike. The Khorana mentions that the heaven on earth is in your mother’s feet.  Christianity believes that Mother Mary as the nurturer of creation. Why even the controversial Mary Magdalene is either the only person to have witnessed Christ’s crucifiction, burial and resurrection OR his companion and wife whichever you choose to believe. The point is that women who have played such pivotal roles in our epics suddenly they were disintegrated to mere entities of lust in the middle ages.

Homer's Iliad and Odyssey describe the beauty of one woman Helen-of Troy which changed the history of the world and brought about the greatest battle witnessed by human kind. Why go far… the Middle Ages for the Indian women was marred with scars of Sati, Child Marriage and female feticide. A woman is the mother of mankind. Despite holding such an important and unquestionable position, role of women has been defined by men over millennia and ages. They are treated as second class citizens. How did this ‘battle of sexes’ begin? How did the men get an upper hand? I personally believe that economics had a role to play in the scheme of things. When man took on the role of a bread earner, and woman took the natural role of a nurturer, these roles suited their intended role by the Creator. Man was physically strong, while the woman was inherently strong. Over a period of time the man started believing that his role was superior to that of the woman as without him there would be no food at the table. Woman’s role was taken as for granted.

Someone as respected as Socrates said that the only reason he put up with his wife, Xanthippe, was that she bore him sons. He said it was like putting up with the noise of geese because they produce eggs and chicks. Amazing Anology- don’t u think?

Today at the dawn of the 21^st century the women across the world are placed at a position of advantage. They are literally on the move. They are paying heed to their inner voice. As we successfully juggle the responsibilities of work and home with ease and comfort it actually makes our Y chromosomed counterparts wonder- How does she manage to do it?

Now I am one of those women who feel that God created man before woman. After all you always make a rough draft before the final masterpiece. No offences meant… 

Now before you guys push me off as a staunch feminist lemme tell you that I do have certain complaints with my kind….I believe that women  by and large maintain double standards…MYSELF INCLUDED

·         We believe that we are expert multi taskers but we crib and cry to do just that – MULTI TASKING

·         We demand equality yet walk into a bus and make men vacate the ladies seat.

·         We say our emotional quotient is higher than men and yet we have no control over them.

·         We do not want to be seen as WOMEN but as HUMANS but if we get certain benefits for being women… Bring It On…

·         I don’t see women complaining about the 33% reservation  or tax rebates.

·         We say we like men who treat us like equals but we still feel nice when a man holds a door open for us to walk in….

I could go on and on and on… but the point is- This is what we are focused, hardworking, determined, strong-weak, emotional... I could go on and on but the fact remains that mu words would never do justice to to what I am. Thus to all my male counterparts my only advice is -

To her virtues be very kind,

To her faults be a little blind.