Patriarchy and Sexism- A disease.

If you’re a female and reading this, I can absolutely guarantee you that you have hated the color pink when you were younger. So did I! I would never wear the color pink because it was too ‘girly’ and being too girly was not cool. I grew up in a society that taught me if a guy hits you, they like you.That told me, Men can and will get away with anything. I grew up hating everything about being a woman. when I got older I understood that this was a product of Patriarchy, it was never about women, it was about structuring a society that only benefits men.

(1953 Ketchup bottle Ad “Without a knife blade, a bottle opener, or even a husband.’)

Brown cultural sexism is still a massive issue in our society. A woman is obligated to eat only after her husband has eaten. She has to cook, clean all day for her husband to come home and taunt her for 'being lucky for staying home all day' and if she works, she is still expected to do the chores all by herself. When a woman is raped, she is shamed and blamed for it while the man walks free. Honor killings are increasing day after day. There are parents that send only their sons to schools, with the mentality that he will grow up and take care of them while the girl will be of no use to them because she will get married. A woman is interviewed for a job by judging her looks rather than her abilities. A woman’s self worth and her whole being is judged on the fact that she adheres to these cultural norms.

(1980-81- Usha sewing machine Ad)

'Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression.'

- Nelson Mandela.  

Sexism and patriarchy doesn’t only affect women, It also enslaves men. Men are taught to act a certain way in order to be considered a man. Men grow up hearing the phrase 'be a man' 'why are you crying? Are you a girl?' As though expressing natural emotions or being a female is humiliating. The idea of ‘boys will be boys’ gives root to rape and abuse. Men are expected to suppress their feelings in order to be respected and be seen as a man, this is the core reason for how high men’s suicide rates are. The irony in this is that some men have created these standards in order to be more powerful than women.

(1970: "It's nice to have a girl around the house.")

It’s a shame that our entire entertainment industry is profited by belittling, sexualizing, assaulting, objectifying women. Every other drama show depicts a married man who is 'manipulated' and 'trapped' by an evil vicious woman. The man is portrayed as a new born baby, innocent, with no knowledge about the world.  Every other song talks about how 'skinny' and 'fair' she is. A poor character for a woman is shown as one who covers her head while the rich girl in the show/movie is the sleeveless girl who has many boyfriends and doesn’t care about anyone in her life. We live in a patriarchal society, these types of sexist Dramas do nothing but help promote Misogyny and Patriarchy. It is so deeply rooted in the industry that an independent, hardworking woman is called Wahiyat (Filthy)

(“Women are soft and gentle, but they hit things … She can jab the hood. Graze the door. Or bump the bumper”-1964)

Patriarchy is a disease that can destroy and even kill many lives, in order to be immune to this deadly disease Men and Women should become allies and fight against these sexist gender expectations and inequality. 

‘Do not wait for someone to come speak for you, it’s you who can change the world'

-Malala Yousafzai.