“The best protection any woman can have is courage” - Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Women make half the population of the world and yet life has never been equal for them. Looking down the history, a woman’s life only surrounded in pleasing her counterpart, the man. In a patriarchal society, a woman has been looked down upon, not given the opportunity to shine and was never enough. We came a long way from the extremist views of women, at least, in many cities of the world but the image is very different if you walk down the streets of the rural areas.
Being a woman myself, I recently had the opportunity to go to rural areas for a survey project. The idea of women working in the rural areas was still a taboo in Bangladeshi rural areas and we had just been at the closest Dhaka outskirts. Their whole lives revolved around the thought that women were better off at home, taking care of children and taking care of the household. Definitely it’s the duty of any family man or woman, but not just women and any women who want to be free spirit face extreme consequences, known as domestic violence. A study of 2002 (Raj and Silverman Study) reported that 42 percent participant out of 160 participants admitted to have been physically or sexually abused by their current male partners. We have passed sixteen years since the study but the numbers were staggering even back then. The abuses still happen, behind the doors, the taboo is still there.
In 2013, a UN study (UN Multi-country Study on Men and Violence in Asia and the Pacific) found out that in six countries at nine sites, 23 percent of men admitted to at least one rape. Another staggering figure. In the South Asian region, rape is increasing and all this calls for an action that starts from home. NCRB data shows that in India 93 women are raped everyday. We hope to dedicate a few words to all the women on self defense and how to be safe.
Self defense is a newer idea in the South Asian region and is one of the most important things to learn now. That is why, Colorss Foundation brought about a program that encourages women to learn new techniques of self defense. Their aim is to conduct workshop six days a week and/or ten days self-defense workshop. They hope to increase the intensity and rigor of these workshops gradually. The benefit of self defense is just not learning how to fight rather it’s to improve body flexibility, shape, control and discipline.
Now, this opportunity is easier to access to everyone around the world now because Colorss Foundation created an app for Android users [Quick Self-Defense] with an access to all the quick self defense techniques at your finger tips. The app consists of 9 different and useful techniques. These techniques have two separate options - first, learn and second, practice. Each technique is guided through by pictures and instructions down below. This gives every girl out there to have a good look on how it’s supposed to be done at any place, at any time. This handy app is like everyone’s go to book for protecting themselves. The availability of this app is what makes this very preferred. You can download this app from Google Play.
This app is an initiative that takes women one step closer to safety and also one step closer to achieve Gender Equality under SDG. The motive isn’t to just help women from India or from South Asia, rather the app tries to connect with all the women around the world. These techniques can be used against anyone who violates a woman’s rights and abuses them. Do not be afraid to raise your voice and to raise your hand on your aggressor.
Therefore, being a woman strong enough to handle any situation is infused within us, all we have to do is take the lead. We came a long way and we have a longer way to go. We have to remember to teach our sons from home because the action comes from both ways. If we talk about equality, both the genders need to understand the retrospective. Taking a small step forward could make a huge difference in empowering women and helping them get their rights. It always starts from here.
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