Is a woman like a flower ? What is their purpose? - Page 6

Originally posted by: Rehanism

An interesting thought I came across on FB:

"Festivals like Raksha Bandan (brother vowing to protect his sister) are another sexist attempt by the patriarchal Indian society to condition its men and women to believe that women are weaker elements of the society that need protection from men. Have you ever heard of a ceremony where a sister vows to protect her brother? If you think about it, the whole concept is fundamentally flawed. In a fair and equal society, why would women need men's protection or vice-versa?

"Men love to think that women are beneath them; that they are vulnerable commodities that need protection. This also leads to the notion that any woman who is "unprotected" is everyone's game. There is no need for Raksha. All they need from men is respect. Respect for women, whether straight or queer, cis or trans, regardless of community, class, caste or religion. Respect for women's rights and freedom. Respect for women's choices and decisions. Respect for women's spaces and right to exist with dignity and as equals in life's journey."
- Shridhar Sadasivan, Writer.

Originally posted by: Heart

@red: With all due respect, I disagree with your Raksha Bandhan statement. Although, I completely agree with woman are looked down upon by men as "everyone's game", Raksha Bandhan is a completely different concept. It is not about showing how weak a woman is, but is about celebrating the holy bond between a brother and sister. A brother vows to protect his sister, but it also symbolizes a sisters love and care for her brother. So in a way, it is like both are looking out for each other, both are protecting each other no matter what, and that is how the a brother sister relationship is.

Before our independance, when Britishers decided to divide Bengal, people (Muslim, Sikh and HIndu) came together to celebrate Raksha Bandhan to show that they're not divided by caste or religion, but united by brotherhood and humanity. So, Raksha bandhan, in no way is meant to decline the position of women in the society but is a different concept overall 😊

Originally posted by: Heart

@red: With all due respect, I disagree with your Raksha Bandhan statement. Although, I completely agree with woman are looked down upon by men as "everyone's game", Raksha Bandhan is a completely different concept. It is not about showing how weak a woman is, but is about celebrating the holy bond between a brother and sister. A brother vows to protect his sister, but it also symbolizes a sisters love and care for her brother. So in a way, it is like both are looking out for each other, both are protecting each other no matter what, and that is how the a brother sister relationship is.

Before our independance, when Britishers decided to divide Bengal, people (Muslim, Sikh and HIndu) came together to celebrate Raksha Bandhan to show that they're not divided by caste or religion, but united by brotherhood and humanity. So, Raksha bandhan, in no way is meant to decline the position of women in the society but is a different concept overall 😊

Originally posted by: Rehanism

First of all, its not my statement. I have mentioned the writer's name below the statement.

And secondly the Banga-Bhanga Raksha Bandhan organized by Rabindranath Tagore was very different from this one - I don't think anyone would doubt that. The basic point of this guy is that even up to this day our idea is man is in charge of woman and its man's duty to protect woman and a woman must lean to a man's side in any trouble. And such institutionalized customs actually make women even more vulnerable. Despite claiming to be a legally equal society, one is required to write his/her Husband/Father's name in official papers whereas mentioning Mother/Wife's name is either unnecessary or optional.

There's difference between claiming to be a fair society on papers and actually being one and India has lightyears to go before it can actually be a fair and equal society.

Originally posted by: seoulbeats

While I do agree that Raksha Bandhan is not meant to decline the position of women in society it in some ways does that.

Consider this example- A girl is 11 years elder to her brother and yet the brother is the one who vows to protect her.

Shouldn't it be the other way round? Can't the sanctity of the relation still be maintained if the Rakhi is tied around the sister's wrist?

Originally posted by: Heart

Oh I am sorry, I did not notice that you had mentioned the writers name.

Raksha Bandhan is a tradition that has been celebrated since so many years; there are stories related to Raksha Bandhan in Ramayana and Mahabharata too. Back then it might have meant to protect the fragile woman, who is dependent on you, but just look at the position of women in the society back then! Traditions like Sati and Dahej was considered normal back then.

But situation has changed now, and woman are more independent now. So what I am saying is, now Raksha Bandhan is now continued to celebrate the brother-sister relationship, which I think is important and not to show any kind of inequality of any kind.

True gender discrimination still exists, but celebration of Raksha Bandhan is not one of them. It can be at looked in a more positive way, that is all I am saying.

@bold: Agreed with that point.

Originally posted by: be-happy-always

hey Summer,[DIV]
[DIV]Visited IF after a long time!!!
The moment I saw ur post, the first thing that striked my mind was the paintings from my favourite fantacy artist which will hopefully relate to the topic (woman ~~> flower~~>woman) (nothing to write today😊)...

Originally posted by: Rehanism

Do you really think things have changed for better? That women enjoy better status in our blessed culture and society? That men view women with more respect than a domestic animal?
Read this then:
http://tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Ne140412Coverstory.asp

Let me tell this in clear words. Indian society and culture are one of the filthiest in the world when it comes to treatment of women and I don't know how long it will take before Indians, who never stop gloating about their supposed great civilization and culture, get a clue what a civilized society is all about. And with increasing religious fundamentalism and cultural nationalism, things are getting worse with every passing day.

Don't tell me that this Tehelka report is just an isolated case and doesn't represent India at large, because it does. We few netizens who advocate liberty, independence and individualism are an insignificant minority in this country of 1.2 billion neanderthals. Most Indians don't even know what these words mean. India is as bad as any Taliban dominated society - the only difference is that we are good actors - we have put up a nice facade of globalization and progress to fool ourselves and the world - precisely, we are better hypocrites.