Ever heard yourself being called a ‘Super-Woman’? Yes?
Welcome to the world of hypocrites. This misnomer is nothing but a garb to
exploit you that extra bit more. I pen down the honest confessions of my heart,
without meaning offence to those of my tribe who REALLY believe they are super.
For myself, I do not want to be one. But I have no option.
Giving up a lucrative pay packet in this rising inflation is impossible. Taking
care, even increasing, my family, as a part of my social obligation, is
necessary. Raising up the kid is my duty. As you see, caught up in this mesh of
all such parts of speech as ‘necessary’, ‘impossible’ and ‘duty’, I have turned
out to be a super-woman. Do I enjoy it? NO. I don’t. I know some of you will
opine that I am a selfish mother, a non-obliging wife. But to make you
understand the predicaments of the modern day SW is exactly what I wish to do.
Getting up late is a wishful thinking. Not even on holidays.
Prepare breakfast, plan out the menu for the day, leave instructions to the
cook, get properly dressed to work, get the kid ready, prepare all her meals, grab
the tea, pack food, drop the kid off to
the day-care and phew!! I just narrowly miss my train to work. Reach office
late, handle cases, draft agreements, get clients to sign deals. And not to
forget the occasional screams from the boss for absolutely no fault at all.
Attend the invariable client calls which ALWAYS happen to be scheduled just 15
minutes before 6pm. Sit back late, worrying all through the call if the maid
has done the right number of chapatis, or if the kid is getting cranky. Catch a
late train home, rush to pick up the kid, play with her for whatever time the
left-over energy permits, freshen up and serve dinner. And lo! Even before I
realise, it is bedtime. Office tomorrow so switch myself off. I complete my day
as a SW.
Sunday, the only day the kid gets the mother and the husband
gets the wife. Devote all the time and energy to them. Do all that they want
you me do. And I spend my perfect Sunday as a SW.
Vacation. The husband needs to unwind. Beautiful places,
memorable moments need to be photographed. The kid wants to be carried on the
lap everywhere. Well, the SW in me comes forward. All throughout the vacation,
I tend to everyone’s needs, undertake all the physical exertions possible. And
it is a perfect vacation for everybody.
Yet, if I grumble, I am to be ostracised. How can I
complain? Is it not a part of my duties? I am to suffice with kind phrases
like, ‘I know it is difficult for you. But what can be done?’ Or rebuked with
ones like ‘You are so irritating nowadays!’ Even ridiculed by saying, ‘We in
our times have worked double this hard. We never complained. What is wrong with
this generation!’
Well, friends, do you still believe SW is justified? Would I
have been one if I had the option? Do you not feel respect, adulation and
appreciation is what is required instead of this SW tag?
For those of you who have mothers, wives, daughters, sisters
or friends working equally hard, just take time off from your busy schedules to
say ‘Thank You’. No gifts. Just hug her tight and tell her you value all that
she does for the family. She is not super. She is not a wonder. She is just
another woman who works round the clock to let that smile on your face be. If
she nags, be patient. Lend her a shoulder to cry on. Open up your heart to take
in her frustrations. Encourage her by saying how good she is doing. Do not be
judgemental neither take her for granted. This is the least you can do for your
SW.
Men do not need to be supermen and women do not need to be super women,Actually the problem is in our socio-economic system or better say-this capitalist, consumerist -western coutry like social and economical system.
ReplyDeleteFor once, just go back to the early age of human civilization when humans were hunter gatherer.Men need to go for a haunt, collected food, and women need to reside in house , look after children and family.This is exactly what natures wants human being to be and its the most beautiful . I may sound but can you oppose my logic?
Women are not supposed to have life struggle , it is mens duty.it is mens resposibilily to get food for women.But as in other respect, our so called modern civilization tends to oppose nature.Women fighting a life struggle.Economy has been changed, but attitude towards women have not been changed.As in other fields , to get something one must sacrifice something.So if a woman wants to take the responsibility meant for man, then she must sacrifice her responsibility for meant for herself.our society, so called modern society must accept this.