Proud to be A Woman

Growing up in a single child household, I was always the peak of attention of both my parents, both in a positive and negative way. My parents loved me but were overly worried about my safety. My parents loved me but my extended family kept nudging them about how I should be raised like a man to be better in the society. The thought of being raised like a man has always made me cringe. As sexist as it sounded, this was a day-to-day conversation in every household. According to my father, specifically, he wanted me to be as responsible as a man and very often found himself in an avert position of dreading himself that I, one day, would be married off. I never really understood why this was such a necessity. Why couldn’t I be a woman and be brought up like one? That’s when I realized that to them, being brought up as a woman meant to cook, manage the household and take care of the children. So, I got their point, they wanted me to be independent - emotionally, financially and in every other way possible. After so many years of gender equality movement, we are back at the image of independence being equaled to men.

But as I grow up, I realize that I am proud of being a woman. I don’t think of myself as better or worse than men but I just want to be unapologetic as a woman. I can be strong and efficient. I can take care of the household (even though maintaining household should not be gender biased) and my work. I can take care of children and serve my passion at the same time. I don’t think, as a woman, should stop me from being who I am or who I want to be. Every woman should look at the positive, rather than the negative. We have to deal with too much stuff, from home or the world outside but that’s what makes us unique. We have the capability to turn the tables and be who we are. We have the strength to fight for what we want. We should never be sad for getting lesser trips than men or feeling more chained than them - rather we should focus on how to find happiness with what we have and who we are. We should help others to accept us and believe in us and it all starts from right now, today. Take

a moment, breath and enjoy being a woman - without any fear, without feeling like a burden and definitely, without feeling guilty of being a woman.

~Raisa Rahman

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Volunteer: Is it a mind-game?

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A very common notion around volunteering is that it is about helping others and to ease guilty feelings. It is thought of as ‘more privileged’ people giving to those who are ‘less able’. Our brains are trained to measure everything based on something that is tangible or quantitative. We quantify privileges or abilities also in similar fashion. For example, we measure physical strength by appearance; we estimate the level of education or intellect through degrees/diplomas. The mind is also efficient and inclined in estimating financial strength of a person through visually available signs. To summarize, we are programmed to define ‘more able’ in a limited way. The intangible benefits or strengths which we lack lie in the blind spot zone. We create a self appealing picture to protect our illusive ‘more privileged’ image of ourselves and assume we are positioned to help others. 

After volunteering we feel good which might be due to the heightened feeling of self-worth or self-power associated with this act of ‘giving’. But we turn a blind eye to the ‘taking’ involved in the process. Volunteering is not just about helping others, it’s about helping oneself. There is a lot more one is left with while volunteering than what one gives during the experience. Everyone needs help, everyone needs a volunteer. 

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With the advent in technology, it’s even simpler to volunteer, by volunteering online. A few take-away from volunteering – 

• A unique experience
• Understanding of social, economic and legal factors
• Connections across the globe with volunteering network’s
• Learning new skills
• Knowing yourself better

Volunteer

On

Line for

Understanding socioeconomic factors

New experiences

Teaming up at volunteer social network’s

Empowering yourself and others

Engaging others

Re-inventing yourself

Volunteer not just for others, volunteer and do something for yourself.

~ Ashpreet Dhillon

A woman’s safety under a fingertip : Quick Self-defense Application

“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.

By Raisa Rahman

Source of GIF:hapkido-defense-system.com/standing_assaualts_frontal.htm