Being born with a vagina in India is an incessant battle. Being born is the first half of the battle, clinging on to life the other.
Inside urban families: Women in this framework are relational appendages to the male-headed household. They occupy critical roles, but structurally subservient ones. I have met educated families lament for boys and esteemed academicians shunning down girl prodigies. Though the educational level is on the rise, this is not translating into larger female labor as the gender pay gap widens and jobs offered are low-level. Unless already crushed by society; workplace harassment, discrimination, safety concerns like increasing rape, sexual harassment, and acid attacks lock them inside the fear of their own minds.
Under the veil of ignorance: sex-selective abortions, marital rape, domestic violence, dowry, child marriage, genital mutilation, honour killings are run-of-the-mill occurrences in rural India. There are more underage brides in India than any other country in the world. They are considered no more than objects for domestic work, childcare and carnal pleasure.
The norms are so entrenched in society that it is very difficult to pull oneself out of this conundrum, but one of the issues I’m irked to write about is the abysmal state of reproductive and sexual healthcare.
As a girl starts menstruating, irrational taboos and myths begin to encompass her. My own friends have been continuing the practices of skipping school, not entering the kitchen, temples, or attending festival processions. I cannot recall one instance when a sanitary pad wasn’t given to me wrapped in black polythene. Only a fraction of women use safe sanitary products, rest resort to old cloth, rags, and bark. Sexual health is a concept that Indians are largely ignorant and aloof about. The dearth of access to contraceptives and safe abortions results in deteriorating health and unwanted pregnancies. Women brave enough to consult gynaecologists are often slut-shamed. Schools usually skip topics on reproductive health, resulting in unhealthy sexual practices and early exposure to pornographic content, which plagues the youth and takes a toll on their mental health.
I am a part of a community that is a choice-less, voice-less horde of mothers and sisters in service of a patriarchal nation. Some amongst us aspire to be the voice of many who feel suppressed under the patriarchal bondage of society that restrains us from expressing ourselves. These problems are robbing many girls of their adolescence and healthy transition to womanhood. Bringing change is nowhere synonymous with far-reaching worldwide movements. A movement can be effectual even when people with a global perspective engage in dialogue, learn from each other’s ideas, reach out to one another, and try to imbibe the same in members of their own community. Nevertheless, It is inexpensive to start from scratch.
- Palak Khanna, NLUD
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