[Afshan Iqbal]

#34626

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What Is the male Gaze? The male gaze describes a way of portraying and looking at women that empowers men while sexualizing and diminishing women. While biologically, from early adolescence on, we are driven to look at and evaluate each other as potential mates, the male gaze twists this natural urge, turning the women into passive items to possess and use as props. This concept is not just about how women (and their bodies) are used to satisfy male fantasy but also how this gaze, whether it’s directed at them or others, makes women feel about themselves. Naturally, the influence of the male gaze seeps into female self-perception and self-esteem. The pressure to conform to this patriarchal view and endure being seen in this way shapes how women think about their own bodies, capabilities, and place in the world. In essence, the male gaze discourages female empowerment and self-advocacy while encouraging self-objectification and deference to men and the patriarchy at large. The male gaze objectifies a woman’s character. Especially it is promoted through movies. Men writing the films, men making the films, men being the protagonists, and men being the target audience all combine into a unified male perspective of female characters. In other words, we have all been conditioned to adopt the male gaze because that is the way we were “raised” by traditional cinema.  Female characters must perform their story function while also adhering to the male fantasies, being beautiful or sexy is all that’s needed. Girls are constantly asked to sit properly, straighten their posture, dress up to attract people and cover up what displeases them. As women, this discomfort with their bodies continues. Studies have repeatedly found that the mere anticipation of the male gaze leads to higher levels of self-objectification in women and subsequently, increased negativity about themselves. Like with everything else in the patriarchal society we live in, it is time we took this gaze back. The only gaze that matters is your own. The concept of the male gaze should be varnished because it’s a curse to society.

[Afshan Iqbal]

#34625

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The times have changed and it’s not just a man’s world anymore. Women are making an impact in every field and they are leading in every way. There is no place where we find women any less than men. Women are making an impact everywhere. From Politics to sports, women are shining from every nook and corner. Women are proving the predominant notions of society wrong. Each one of them fights for gender equality by simply, and powerfully, excelling in their chosen field.

Let’s take a look at some women who by their zeal are inspiring generations of women to come.

Jacinda Ardern- Prime Minister of New Zealand (2017 –) She is a woman I personally look forward to. She was the world’s youngest head of state when she was first elected Prime Minister of New Zealand in 2017, or that she is a new mum – youth and maternal instincts are only a small part of her appeal. She chooses to exhibit everyday – empathy, authenticity, tolerance and kindness. But while she might lead from a place of emotion, she is always decisive and strong in her decision-making.

Kamala Harris- Vice President of the United States of America (2021 –) When she was inaugurated as Vice President of the United States in January, she became the first woman and the first person of colour to hold the second-highest office in, arguably, the most powerful country in the world. Harris’ continual shattering of glass ceilings has not been without controversy but there is no denying her ambition, intelligence and tenacity have helped her forge a momentous path.

Tsai Ing-Wen- President of Taiwan (2016 –) Tsai Ing-Wen, the first female president of Taiwan, is a well-known admirer of Margaret Thatcher, she continues to defy all expectations of a single female leader in Asia should be. Tsai has forged her own path, making her one of the most inspiring women in leadership.

Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw- India’s richest self-made woman and first female brewmaster, Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has a lot to thank the humble ale for – her study of brewing beer and the fermentation sciences has led to some of her biotechnology company’s greatest discoveries.

Sheikh Hasina- Prime Minister of Bangladesh (since January 2009) – Hasina said “We believe that education is the key challenge for the nation. If we could provide education to the women and enable them with financial freedom, they would be able to face many challenges.” Enough to know her zeal.

The list of inspiring women leaders is long and never-ending. Women are equal to any gender and such women are living proof.

[Afshan Iqbal]

#34621

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Feminism is the belief that men and women should have equal rights. It’s about acknowledging both the genders equally, none more or less than the other. It’s about assuring that girls and women get the same opportunities that boys and men get in their lives. It’s about learning, unlearning, and relearning the basic concept associated with women’s equality. It’s not about hating men. It’s not about women’s superiority. It’s about accepting women as equals whether in a political, economic, or social context
The first wave of feminism generally refers to the nineteenth and early twentieth century in the western world. This phase revolved largely around gaining basic legal rights for women that today we cannot imagine reality without. Politics and business were completely dominated by powerful men who didn’t consider women capable enough to be a threat. Women were confined to their households and didn’t retain any control there as well. Unmarried women were seen as the property of their fathers, and married women the property of their husbands. They couldn’t file for divorce or be granted custody of their children. Women had no right to vote in elections, calling them second-class citizens was an understatement. For 70 years, the first-wavers would march, lecture, and protest, and face arrest, ridicule, and violence as they fought tooth and nail for the right to vote. As Susan B. Anthony’s biographer Ida Husted Harper would put it, suffrage was the right that, once a woman had won it, “would secure to her all others.” First-wavers fought not only for white women’s suffrage but also for equal opportunities to education and employment, and for the right to own property. And as the movement developed, it began to turn to the question of reproductive rights. In 1916, Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in the US, in defiance of a New York state law that forbade the distribution of contraception. She would later go on to establish the clinic that became Planned Parenthood. In 1920, Congress passed the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. (In theory, it granted the right to women of all races, but in practice, it remained difficult for black women to vote, especially in the South.) The first wave came to a close in around 1920 when some white women (of a certain age and economic background) had been granted the right to vote in the US and the UK.

[Afshan Iqbal]

#34620

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Water is a part of our life that we cannot live without. About 71% of the earth is covered with water and the rest 29% is a part of the land, of which only 0.3% is potable water. And every living life needs water for survival. Scientists and researchers gave the warning sign to the whole world, if we wake up not right now, then only regrets will be left with us. The quality of water is degrading day- by- day, because of water pollution and the wastage of water is at an all-time high. It is predicted by researchers, that by the year 2050, water stress will double, because of global warming. As per the data, from less than a year ago. Clean Drinking Water & Hygienic Sanitation Facilities Continues to be a Distant Dream in India. Why? More than 163 million Indians do not have access to safe drinking water, about 78 % of 1.7 million rural Indianhabitations have access to the minimum required quantity of water. It is also ironic that despite having spent more than Rs 89,956 Crore on the project so far, the government has failed to reap the benefits of the project. The audit report produced by the government that was produced in August 2018 said that the policy even failed to provide two buckets of safe drinking water per person per day which was half of the complete target that was set. The report said that the project had failed to deliver because of poor execution and poor management. Water tables, the level below which the ground is saturated with water, are falling in most parts of India. Minerals like fluoride, arsenic, mercury and uranium are present in groundwater. This is when groundwater contributes to 80 per cent of India’s drinking water and nearly two-thirds of irrigation needs. Even in the case of cleanliness, the situation is fragile. Despite all the hype, our country’s lack of cleanliness remains a major challenge. The issue of garbage disposal is also associated with cleanliness. Today due to the rising urbanisation, waste management has emerged as a major problem in developing countries like India. We have built mountains of trash near our cities, the height and width of these dangerous mountains are increasing day by day. This garbage is dangerous, for both the health and the environment. As a society, we need to change our attitude towards cleanliness and put efforts into saving water and should not pollute water. Let’s make this dream a reality for the sake of our future generations.

[Afshan Iqbal]

#34616

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What are women’s property rights? Women’s property rights are property and inheritance rights enjoyed by women as a category within a society. Property rights are claims to property that are legally and socially recognized and enforceable by external legitimized authority. India doesn’t have a Uniform Civil Code, which means the law in matters pertaining to inheritance and sharing of property differs for people from different faiths. The two important laws in regard to property share are the Hindu SuccessionAct, of 2005 and the Indian Succession Act, of 1925.
An intestate person is one who dies without writing a will. In that case, the property is divided equally between all his children irrespective of gender, according to the religious laws:
Muslim Law: In inheritance, the daughter’s share is equal to one half of the son’s in keeping with the concept that a woman is worth half a man. She has, however, and has always had full control over this property. It is legally hers to manage, control, and dispose of as she wishes in life or death. In Islamic law a woman’s identity, though inferior in status to men is not extinguished in him when she marries thus she retains control over her goods and properties. She has a right to the same maintenance he gives to his other wives, if any, and may take action against him in case he discriminates against her.
Christian law: Daughter inherits equally with any brothers and sisters to her father’s estate or her mothers’. Wives are entitled to maintenance, from their husband, but his failure to provide the same is a note by itself ground for divorce.
Hindu Law: Daughters have equal right of inheritance as sons to their father’s property. They also have a share in the mother’s property. A married daughter has no right to shelter in her parents’ house, nor maintenance, charge for her being passed onto her husband. However, a married daughter has a right of residence if she is deserted, divorced or widowed.
Anyone fighting a property dispute case requires a legal heir certificate. You can getit from the Tahsildar. The court should issue a succession certificate. Considering the hearings, verifications and other court procedures, the case may go on for at least two years. 
Daughters are equal to sons and they shouldn’t be discriminated against on the basis of gender.

[Afshan Iqbal]

#34615

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What is homosexuality? Homosexuality refers to the attraction between people who are of the same sex. It is a sexual orientation, as opposed to a gender identity such as male, female, and non-binary. People who are homosexual could refer to themselves as gay, lesbian, LGBTQ, queer, or a number of other terms. The most common synonym is “gay” or “lesbian.” Gay usually means a man being attracted to another man, while lesbian means a woman is attracted to another woman. Unfortunately, there is a lot of homophobia around the world. In India, there is a perception that homosexuality is a curse, our society has never acknowledged it as gender and always seen it as something awful and unfortunate, more like a curse. Homosexuality was such a big taboo that it was a crime to be homosexual in India. In India, homosexuality is considered against the culture. Why? Because it’s not a normal thing? It is very normal for those homosexual people and it’s very human. Just like men and women, homosexual people are humans too and they deserve equal love, respect and opportunities. The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgement on September 6, 2018, unanimously struck down part of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which criminalised gay sex, saying that it violated the constitutional right to equality and dignity. It was a huge step towards supporting homosexuality. Although people in India have still not accepted homosexuality as a normal gender and a human nature, things are changing for good. There is awareness and it’s only growing. Same-sex marriages are not legally recognised in India nor are same-sex couples offered limited rights such as a civil union or a domestic partnership. We have a long way to go. Let’s not forget that homosexuality is a human right and it’s normal.

[Afshan Iqbal]

#34610

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Best Job Oriented Short-Term Courses after 12th For Girls? There are a lot of courses that are present for girls in today’s time. Gender has nothing to do with courses because we are no longer those girls who should let others stereotype us based on our gender. I believe whether it’s girls or boys, everyone should choose their courses according to their interest. As said by Van Gogh “What is done with love is done well”, so to do anything whether it’s a short-term course or a degree course. It should be done in the area where the interest of an individual lies. In today’s time, free online courses are the best option for learning new skills because it comes with the comfort of a home and it’s also flexible in time. This means that when a person gets free time from their work, they can do this course and it won’t take a penny to learn new skills and no effort of travelling from one place to another. Isn’t it great? Girls can be highly benefited by these courses and it will help them in getting good job opportunities. Let’s see the number of courses that girls can do for upskilling: Content writing, digital marketing, interior designing, web designing, foreign language course, graphic designing, MS excel, search engine optimization course and so on. With these suggested courses and more, girls can upskill themselves and can enrol for free through sites like Coursera, Great learning, Internshala, Google garage and more. Keep learning.

[Afshan Iqbal]

#34609

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Mental health is equally important to physical health. YES, YES YES!!!!! We often hear people say, take care of your body but nobody ever says, take care of your mental health? Nobody considers mental health as a health-related issue. Everyone talks about exercise, jogging, hitting the gym, etc. But they never really talk about their mental health. Mental health includes our psychological, social, and emotional well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and how we act in our daily lives. There are some reasons why mental health is just as important as physical health. Our mental health can affect our physical health, our mental health can affect our work/education, our mental health can affect our families. Untreated mental illness and its connection with violent crimes and the use of drugs and alcohol, etc. Nurturing mental health doesn’t just let us perform better in our daily functions but can also help us combat some of the physical health problems directly linked to mental health conditions. For example, heart disease and stress are related, so managing stress might have a positive outcome on heart disease. Mental health isn’t just something we can deal with once and then get over. It’s important in every stage of our life. From infancy all the way into adulthood, mental health is something we need to be cognizant of and handle with care.

“Our mental health is something that impacts our eating and sleeping habits and has a lot to do with our physical health as well. It is important to address our mental health needs, or oftentimes we will feel the impact of it in other areas of our health as well.” Bisma Anwar, LMHC

Mental health has remained a taboo in India. Our society never talked about mental health importance and it was always stereotyped but now we know that mental health is as important as physical health and it should be taken into consideration. When you see a person struggling with mental health -help them, when you are struggling with mental health issues, ask for help. Your Mental Health should be a priority.

[Afshan Iqbal]

#34596

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It’s the 21st century still, we see people being told to do things as per society’s wishes. Gender stereotypes are the reason for it. Gender stereotypes are present in every household we might name it as something else but it is there and we are ignoring it. It is present among us in so many ways like the concept that a man is supposed to work outside and be a breadwinner for the family while a woman should work inside and take care of the household. In a household when a boy grows up, he is expected to take an interest only in sports or careers like engineering, piloting, finance, etc. In the mindset of society, God has made males for these solid tasks. However, when a girl is born, the first toys she gets is either a doll or a kitchen set, she is likely to only focus on learning how to cook or clean which sets a base that when she grows up all she has to do is work in the kitchen, take care of her family and do household chores. Even if a girl is allowed to work outside it is limited to certain parameters. She is considered “too emotional and sensitive” for hard work. This nature of our society has confined our capabilities. Why does a person have to kill their passion because of these gender stereotypes? We often hear statements like “you’re a woman, so sit straight, talk politely, dress properly, don’t put your perspectives because nobody is going to listen to it” and whatnot! Women are considered either “too young or too old” for most things, for instance, a marriage where a man can decide whenever he wants to get married and nobody will judge him but when a woman decides to marry late, she gets a label. When it comes to the workplace, sometimes there are traces of women falling prey to misogyny. When men witness women doing better than them, they hardly accept a woman’s leadership and as a result, she is required to work in a tactful environment where her opinions do not matter as much. She is required to be shy and quiet. People at the workplace expect women to be less intimidating, to not participate in decision making and thus when a woman is dominating or she takes good decisions and is applauded. The misogynist people could not digest this. They show hatred towards women and tries to put women down. Women are equal to men and that is the fact that every gender on this planet should keep in their mind and instead of misogyny, they should show compassion.

[Afshan Iqbal]

#34595

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The times have changed and it’s not just a man’s world anymore. Women are making an impact in every field and they are leading in every way. There is no place where we find women any less than men. Even though the world is moving towards change, still some people are finding it hard to accept that women are equal to men. Women were always supposed to work at home and the fact that women are working outside homes is still not digested by society. From suffragettes to modern-day feminists, women and men have fought long and hard for women’s right to vote and hold office. While women are excelling everywhere, there’s a lack of representation of women in Parliament. Why? When we talk about women’s political participation, it is easy for us to imagine the empty seats around the decision-making table, and a little more difficult to picture the many obstacles and challenges women face to get into those seats. Women are putting themselves forward for elections more and more, yet their numbers are still far behind those of men. Even though it is widely accepted that development in societies cannot be achieved without women, still they continue to be sidelined in decision-making. The stigma against women in politics is still alive and isn’t gone. They continue to face barriers in the field of politics. The Women’s Reservation Bill was initially introduced in the parliament on September 12, 1996. The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha by the United Front government of HD Deve Gowda. It is still pending to be passed in Lok Sabha but I don’t believe in reservations because it’s a way of declaring women as a weaker gender. The fact is women weren’t given equal chances at Parliament but things are changing for good now. Women are getting good chances of decision making in Parliament still we need the equal representation of women in Parliament.

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