Bitter Truth
Men and Women are like two wheels of the same cart.” How many times have we come across this saying? It is also a famous point made in debates in favour of women. Regrettably, the quote is applicable only in words. In reality, one wheel is a tractor wheel while the other belongs to a bicycle. The first president of Nepal was a male. The first prime minister of Nepal was a male. The first doctor of Nepal was a male. Even the First person to climb Mt. Everest was a male!
Before elaborating on the gender discrimination at home, let’s look at the international scenario as well. ALL presidents of the United States have been males. The first person on moon again was a male. The first person to invent telephone, cycle, fountain pen... again a male. Now the question arises: Why not female? A common answer might be: the dominant males confined women within the four walls of the house. Or that the women have not always been literate. Yes, that might be the case. Because to do most of the abovementioned tasks, one has to be literate. But let’s ignore the days gone by for a moment and come back to the present days. Times have changed. Most women are literate now. It is getting increasingly hard for males to challenge females: there are more women graduating from U.S. colleges then men. Imagine that even a couple of decades ago! In my school, one girl outscored all of us boys.
And yet, the gender divide remains. Why are all top posts in Nepal occupied by males? Why Nepal, why is the United States still ruled by a male? And why don’t we have more women in every business? It must be that women either don’t dare to aim high or they are simply not interested. Call me a misogynist, but it has been my experience that while most of my male friends are well aware of what is happening around the world, my female friends struggle to name Nepal’s prime minister. But if I ask them anything on Bollywood, they don’t have to think for two seconds to come up with the answer.
They can tell the sari colour of an actress in a particular film, the style of their earring, even whole length of dialogues. Who is to blame for this state of affairs? After the success of Jana Andolan II, many new parties were formed. Why didn’t Nepali women band together to form a party which looked after their interests? I cannot speak for the rest of the world, but in Nepal, I believe women are often their own enemies. I speak from my experience. Is your experience any different?
Published in The Kathmandu Post 'Post Platform' on NOV 16
Men and Women are like two wheels of the same cart.” How many times have we come across this saying? It is also a famous point made in debates in favour of women. Regrettably, the quote is applicable only in words. In reality, one wheel is a tractor wheel while the other belongs to a bicycle. The first president of Nepal was a male. The first prime minister of Nepal was a male. The first doctor of Nepal was a male. Even the First person to climb Mt. Everest was a male!
Before elaborating on the gender discrimination at home, let’s look at the international scenario as well. ALL presidents of the United States have been males. The first person on moon again was a male. The first person to invent telephone, cycle, fountain pen... again a male. Now the question arises: Why not female? A common answer might be: the dominant males confined women within the four walls of the house. Or that the women have not always been literate. Yes, that might be the case. Because to do most of the abovementioned tasks, one has to be literate. But let’s ignore the days gone by for a moment and come back to the present days. Times have changed. Most women are literate now. It is getting increasingly hard for males to challenge females: there are more women graduating from U.S. colleges then men. Imagine that even a couple of decades ago! In my school, one girl outscored all of us boys.
And yet, the gender divide remains. Why are all top posts in Nepal occupied by males? Why Nepal, why is the United States still ruled by a male? And why don’t we have more women in every business? It must be that women either don’t dare to aim high or they are simply not interested. Call me a misogynist, but it has been my experience that while most of my male friends are well aware of what is happening around the world, my female friends struggle to name Nepal’s prime minister. But if I ask them anything on Bollywood, they don’t have to think for two seconds to come up with the answer.
They can tell the sari colour of an actress in a particular film, the style of their earring, even whole length of dialogues. Who is to blame for this state of affairs? After the success of Jana Andolan II, many new parties were formed. Why didn’t Nepali women band together to form a party which looked after their interests? I cannot speak for the rest of the world, but in Nepal, I believe women are often their own enemies. I speak from my experience. Is your experience any different?
Published in The Kathmandu Post 'Post Platform' on NOV 16
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