International Women's Day - Women Power
by Khurshid Khoree
(Bangalore, Karnataka, India)
Women’s International Day is fast approaching (8th March), and people start to question and discuss about women power.
Women rights organizations and NGO’s are fighting for equal rights for women, and are pressurizing the government to bring about the change in giving women equal opportunities and equal rights by bringing in new laws to give women equal opportunities in marriage and family wealth, is one such issue fought by women. Women are suppressed, tortured, burnt, and raped almost every day in our society. So then what are women’s Power?
Is it about women openly displaying their power of knowledge and skills? Or is it about some women in high position receiving public recognition and awards?
Being powerful is inherent in a woman. It shows when a woman puts her mind and heart at proving to herself and others that she is a natural leader and has the power to handle any situation or pressure, be it at home or at a work place.
If we look at it closely, women have determined the course of events and the forms of human culture. The rise of women to greater power in our society has long been cast as a struggle towards equal rights and opportunity. But now, in certain areas, women are actually outpacing and outperforming men. Women have more power than ever. There is a major cultural shift under way in our country, and it is destined to make our society stronger. One basic reason for this change is education. Education plays an important part in giving a woman the power she needs. When a female is given the right to education nothing can stop her from reaching the heights her heart desires. As a woman with power you have the potential to make positive changes for yourself and others.
Our great grandmothers and mothers were kept away from working outside their homes. Women were treated like second class citizens who did not have the right to speak up and give their opinion on financial matters. But that is all changing with time. More and more women are coming out of their homes and seeking financial independence, and holding high ranking posts at their work places, even heading big corporate businesses with élan, grit and determination. Today, we make up just over 51 percent of working professionals, and many women bring in a better pay cheque than their husbands. More and more women are in position of power, in the workplace and government. Take some of our very own powerful women who have made India proud and are known internationally. Indira Gandhi our late Prime Minister, First women President - Pratibha Dev Singh Patil. Sonia Gandhi - President, Indian National Congress. Leader of the Opposition - Sushma Swaraj. Speaker of the Lok Sabha - Meira Kumar. Indra Nooyi - CEO, Pepsico. Chanda Kochhar - MD & CEO, ICICI Bank. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw - Founder Chair, Biocon Limited. Kiran Bedi - first woman IPS officer, and many more such names come to my mind, the list would go on. Even in the fields of Literature, Film making, Sports, Computer Programming, Chefs, Finance and Investments, Banking, Research, they have shown their power and now women are gradually paving their way into the Forces.
Some of the internationally powerful women that come to my mind are Oprah Winfrey, Queen Elizabeth II, and Hillary Clinton to name a few.
Women power is not a new thing which has suddenly come into existence now. We had many women of our time who had displayed Women power not only in the society they lived in but also as valiant and fierce warriors defending their country and home land.
For example, we had our very own Razia Sultana, a 13th century female warrior who was defiant and courageous. Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, a fierce fighter with great courage and skill.
Nakano Takeko, 19th century Japanese female warrior, who was fearless and brave. And how can one forget Joan of Arc, who led the French military into several victorious battles.
Then the question arises what is it that gives a woman an edge over man? What are these qualities that make a woman stand out?
As it has been proved time and again, that, as female leaders have reached the highest levels of government and business, it is becoming apparent that they exercise their authority differently than men do.
Women are generally more collaborative at work, and as a result all employees experience improved communication and interaction. They are diplomatic, empathetic, problem solvers, and have a natural ability to think, act and innovate.
Women see opportunity in everything and everyone. They have the ability to see and give their ideas life and inspire others to do the same.
Women are much more strategic, focused and keep their eye on the goal they set for themselves. They are not easily distracted and don’t get their egos in the way. They build up a strong networking system around them, be it at home or at the work front and generally good at multi-tasking. They are good at cultivating relationships that are purposeful, genuine and meaningful. Most importantly, women are not quitters. Their attention to detail and their ability to track, evaluate and manage change is inherent. It is not that women are better than men.
It is that women bring different life experiences and problem solving skills to the table. A study shows that companies with women on the board of directors perform significantly better than those without women in high positions.
Women have come a long way in proving themselves and fighting for their rights in this male dominated world. We salute all the women who have made exceptional strides in the business world and have proved that woman are no less than a man. We women can be tough but at the same time be tender.
From being the first woman in space, to charting ground breaking innovative ideas in building a business empire, or fighting for women rights, braving all odds. We have done it all.
**** About the Author: By profession, Khurshid is a therapist and is a founder trustee member of a counselling centre Sparsh Foundation in Bangalore, and is actively involved in its various activities. Writing is her passion and has published several stories/poems/articles She has also contributed to two anthologies - Bhelpuri, and Door in the Wall. https://www.facebook.com/khurshid.khoree Note: If any one wants to copy this article please copy it with the author's bio.