When Swathi says, I love Preethi – “You love another woman? Stay away from society,” When Nisha says she would get Ayyappan’s darshan one day – “Climb Sabarimala? No woman in the world would do it.” When Radha says that she is all set to pack her bags and go on a trip – “Going on a solo travel? Have you gone mad?” – Ten years ago, trying to be an independent woman who can speak her thoughts, was not easy.
By this time, you must have guessed why we are talking about something that happened ‘ten years’ back. Yes, like everyone else who takes up the #10yearchallenge on social media pages, which is going viral now, I would like to recall how we (women) have changed, the empowerment we have achieved, the failures we have seen and more.
To be frank, not 10 years back, even two years ago, I would not have expected that young or middle-aged women would be seen in Sabarimala. Of course, women themselves are opposing this act by other women. But, I think all of you must have come across Sati (2K kids, please Google). When the revolution of abolition of Sati happened, you think women supported this? Many of them were against it and most of them, even after the eradication of the monstrous act, voluntarily jumped into the funeral pyre of their husband. But, today, Sati can only be surfed. Like this, I am badly waiting for the day when people say, “Once upon a time, young women were not allowed to enter Sabarimala. Thanks, to the bold people who flagged off this journey.” And this is one major twist this decade.
A rapist can survive in this society. One who supplies bombs and weapons can survive in this society. One who abuses and bullies others can survive. But if you were the one who loved another woman and wanted to live with her, then you have no place here. Such was our law. But not any more. Let people talk whatever they want, at least you have legal support now. Yayyyyy!!! Just go live with the one you ‘love’, girls.
I accept going on a solo trip is still a distant dream for many girls out there. But, in all these years, the attitude towards women travellers has changed a lot. At least, no jaws drop any more on seeing a woman travel alone. More power to our very dear travellers and trekkers.
You think we have gone forward in this decade? Sorry, ladies. There are things that have never changed over the decades – crime against women, objectifying women and body shaming. If you expect we will overcome these things, the answer is a big ‘NO’. These things are never going to change. So, let’s not expect it. Let’s prepare to face it boldly. Be a don, create a dawn. This is the true next #10yearchallenge.