Pennu Orumpettal ( as the lady wills)
Women are usually considered the meeker, less aggressive half of population. We all have a seterotype for the woman, not essentially an ideal one at that. Her standards are exemplary skills.
But in general, women are the nuturer, hearth care taker, and biologically too she is equipped that way to be the “mother”. In addition, society has had certain seterotypes pushed on to her to be an all bearing person who can do it all or provide it all. This could be a ploy over the years to keep her busy and also get all the work done to keep the hearth going.
This obviously is getting redefined and modern society sees woman in a more wholesome way. But this development does have its flip side of she having to be nuturer and a provider and most times working double to fill all the roles.
In recent times, there were some developments that troubled us all, which came as a series of events as RK hospital and also some revelations after the hema committee in malayalam film industry. In the first case, the nationwide protest to bring a systemic change, which constitutes corporal punishment for crimes, is still ongoing. More intruiging is the courage of women in malayalam film who fought a long drawn battle to bring the report out. This report not only brought out the sexual harassment that women go thru in the workplace but also about other important aspects like pay parity, facilities in sets and security. Although sex scandals got the most attention when it was reported, as usual “the sex” sells. Hope with that initial attention to it, other issues which are equally pressing for all at a workplace gets some respite slowly and steadily.
What is most intriguing is that in this battle, which was triggered by an abuse case reported by a female actor and then a group of her coworkers who got together to help her. In the process, those set of women realised that there is more to it than just this abuse case. It’s known that most of the front runners who contributed to bringing this report out have had a tough run through these almost 7 years. Most of them have lost opportunities and have been shamed with different labels. I’m glad to see though they held the ground and fought. They just needed some assurance from the system that they would be heard, and there is a safe place where they can express their concerns, and there can be some hope to find solutions. Most of the members of the this group where emphasising of further actions to be taken to get things moving than to dwell on what has happened and make it a place of nurturing talent, art and a great environment to work. Of course, the perpetrators who had been benefitting from the existing system denied the charges and even alleged them the girls to be the ones who were malinging the system.
As there is a popular saying goes…. Once a woman is pushed to that limits, she would take her kali avatar, and clean up. And it’s time for that change. Here they come on their brooms…
“Pennu orumbittal oru pottanum thadukkan pottula”
Once the girl wills, no one can stop her.
