Feminist Dating - Complete

Feminist Dating, Daily Mail, 19^Th December 2017

'Dare to disturb the universe'

J. Alfred Prufrock was a wise poet, he dared to ask; dared to question; dared to ponder. So I thought why not ponder some more. We have been discussing feminism for a while now; be it at work, at home, on the bus or even on holiday.

How can a woman stand alone? Now that's the question, we have been focusing on for a month, and I can gladly say we have received many measured answers. I got thousands of DM, messages and emails last week, disusing the same:

Ameera from Delhi 'let her mind be the voice'

Can't-be-asked from you-know-where 'not again, feminism; feminism; feminism. I don't get what all the hoola is about, you pull out a chair and you're hurled for being a male chauvinist pig, you don't pull out a chair and you're accused of being rude. Where do we, men fit into all this? If we are discussing equality, why not for all and while you're at it, please print out a list of what a man should/shouldn't do?'

Hiten from Mumbai 'male or female, both are as important for the ecosystem'

Nikky from Calcutta 'we should form a committee, like the women institute but for the younger generation so we can empower each other'

Anonymous from Unknown asked 'last week I saw a guy I'm interested in but couldn't muster up the courage to say hi, never mind ask him out. How can we break free from the feminism of dating? Why can't a woman approach a man without being teased by his friends or wolf-whistled by random strangers?'

While Ameera's comment was thorough and wise, Hiten sounded more like a science teacher. Not to be taken as an offense, science it a very INTERESTING topic; particularly ecology. Hoping that is redeeming enough. Nikky's plausible solution to empowering women was also notable. But it was Cant-be-asked and Anonymous that caught my eye, you both seem frustrated and highly secretive about it. But let me tell you, I don't think you two are the only people with those question. My telepathic senses tell me this is BIG problem.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but what you both are asking is why can't, let say Jack be saved by Rose in the Titanic?' Ok, I probably got that all wrong and possibly missed the spot. But I think I get the point! Male chauvinism and gender-specific expectation have been a part and parcel of society forever. He is the bread-winner, he is the decision-maker and he is the leader in a relationship. That is, forbid me for saying it, is the gender norm!

Let's be honest, we all have been guilty of it, both males and females. How many of you expect the man to pop the question first? I'll raise my hands to that; I also fall into the same category. I don't know how but somehow we stumbled onto something new and untold.

And aha a new subject! Feminist Dating

--XX--

'Blooming heck, this just keeps on getting better' the sarcasm wasn't missed nor was the eye-role. He had been following Feminism and the World on the Daily Mail for long enough to know that it's another attack on the male population. Well the word follow, might be wrongly constructed, he actually got stunned into it by mistake. He had flipped the paper when pink caught his eye, but luckily he hadn't bothered after reading the title. But soon after, he was told specifically by every woman around him; lightly pointed towards, friendly suggested and then his Dadi literally smacked the paper in his face saying 'you better read this'. Of course, not in a friendly tone; Maan Singh Khuranna's dadi was a fork stabbing into he's personal matters far too often. And unlucky for him, he had no words to say about it. What makes it even worse, is that his Dadi expects him to discuss the matter of so-called feminist importance' to her after work like any other business meeting.

Hence, here was making notes of the fricking article before dashing out of his office door to attend an important 'formal' meeting.