Gender Equality: Are Women Still Being Held Back by Stereotypes? (Opinion Piece)

For centuries, women fought and fought to make this world a better place to live. They opposed the world to end all discrimination, its stereotypical nature and the old beliefs along with the pride of men. But was their struggle even worth it?

Centuries later, here we stand; still being held back by the world because of our gender, still being afraid to step out of our homes at night in the fear of being raped, still being anxious of all the rejections we're going to get just because we are of the female sex.

This world is not an easy place to live in, and this society is not easy to deal with.

From birth, girls are given a list of all the do's and don'ts.

When girls are given a barbie doll to play with, boys are asked to ride their bikes in the backyard. While girls are taught to become a perfect housewife and mother, boys are taught to pursue their interests. While girls are given the instructions to behave in front of the world, boys are just asked to act tough and not show any weaknesses.

This is where the sexism of the society begins. This is where the world sows the seeds of difference. This is where people form a void for girls to fill in order to fit. This is where females are being held back.

The preconception that men are superior is what’s holding females back. The patriarchal expectation that men are supposed to support the family financially while women take care of the children and household is what’s holding them back.

These old stereotypes and expectations act as a rope that does not let women move forward. This toxic masculinity mindset of society is the sole reason why some females never explore the outside world.

In India, women are considered as the incarnation of goddesses. They represent wealth and prosperity, and yet are treated as the most underrated creatures. If they are meant to be the reason for everyone's success, then why are they killed in their mother's womb? Why are they not given a chance to see the world?

I’ve not met a single girl who hasn't once heard the statement, “This isn't meant for girls.”

We have always heard that rockets are meant for boys. What if Kalpana Chawla’s father has raised such a point? Or Geeta Phogat was told that girls aren’t meant to win a gold medal? Would it be possible for India to achieve such heights?

The thing is, even after girls have proved themselves a million times, for some people, they would always be a liability. They will always be a toy meant to suffer. They would always be a midget that brings bad omen to the family.

Even though women had a part in creating this world, they are seen as a pawn in the chess of life. They are seen as someone who needs to be controlled, someone who can dance as king’s puppets and someone who can sacrifice themselves just to save the pride of the king. For instance, Arunima Sinha - a survivor who was pushed out of a train just because she didn't obey a man. Is that what women are living up to? Slaves to a masculine hierarchy?

Apparently, this is the type of world we live in. This is the harsh reality girls have to deal with everyday. And this is just a quarter of the whole reason why females are still being held back by stereotypes.