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Impressions
The
Culprit
Eating
the Forbidden Apple
Elita
Karim
 Reflecting
on my growing-up years, I remember the strong urge I had
to be like a boy. I would sulk at the yards and yards of
navy blue hair-ribbons with which my mother would tie my
heaps and heaps of curly and messy hair with every morning
before school and would always be the last one to get excited
about a Barbie. At the age of 16, somehow, I felt a sense
of comfort and security in having my hair cut short and
wearing old faded jeans, even to formal family dinners.
My stubborn approach towards a possibility of being accepted
and treated by society as a strong and intelligent male
had rewarded me with the accolade "Tomboy". I
assumed that I would be left out of one of those traditional
and cultural orientations that a young girl is made to go
through and live a simpler life like the other young boys
around.
Eventually,
nature took its course and somehow made me appreciate the
finer things in life, including being a woman. I realised
that for a man and a woman to be absolutely equal in every
aspect of life is virtually impossible, since their differences
would always come in the way. However, I, like many other
young women, somehow captured the essence of being a woman.
It feels great to grow up amidst the many grandmotherly
myths about girl children being married off at the age of
10 and to actually break out of the century old traditions.
It's a wonder how, even after getting an education, our
mothers were made to think that their sole purpose in life
was to raise a family and follow in their husband's footsteps.
We,
in turn, have been exposed to much more, owing to the growing
awareness of the pride created within, and also the whole
romantic notion of being the culprit behind the eating of
the forbidden apple! I sometimes thank my stars for being
a part of this generation, where more women in our country
have begun to think for themselves. Compared to the past,
there are women today who actually prefer a successful career
and a self-satisfied life, rather than a family filled with
grocery shopping and cooking dinner for the hubby's boss
in hopes of a promotion.
 Women
have surely come a long way, breaking the many barriers
of customs and traditions, and yet are just a little slow.
Even today, several women do not get to compete fairly against
men, in terms of education, sports, social developments,
the arts and also employment. Even now, women are thought
of as merely a supplementary help in the household, with
regards to earning the bread. Even though women today have
taken up "wearing the trousers in the house",
she still has to question herself over her intentions and
sometimes even fulfilling her dreams of becoming someone.
Even
today, a woman thinks it right to forgo her family title
and adopt a new surname after marriage. It's really a shame
to see educated women going along with the choices probably
made for them even before they were born, women are caught
in the vicious circle designed by man. And the saga continues
fed by a rellay of the images seen century after century,
passed down from one woman to the next.
Copyright
(R) thedailystar.net 2004
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