A Topnotch Writeup by Dr. Bhavana Jain.

 

Title - Voice for Women 

Silence is one of the most important characteristics that is often expected of women. It makes women into whatever someone else wants, accepting a particular kind of liability that is often required for women who wish to survive. Silence occurs in many ways for many reasons; each of us has his or her own sea of unspoken words. Words bring us together, silence separates us, leaving us bereft of the help or just communication that speech can solicit or elicit. Being unable to tell your story is a living death and sometimes a literal one. If no one believes you when you say you are in pain, if no one hears you when you say help, if you don't dare say help, if you have been trained not to bother people by saying help. If you are considered to be out of line when you speak up in meetings, are not admitted into an institution of power, and are subject to irrelevant criticism whose subtext is that women should not be here or heard.

Stories save your life. And stories are your life. We are our stories; stories that can be both prison and crowbar to break open the door of that prison. We make stories to save ourselves or trap ourselves or others- stories that uplift us or smash us against the stone wall of our own limits and fears. Liberation is always a part of the storytelling process: breaking stories, breaking silences, making new stories. A free person tells her own story. A valued person lives in a society in which her story has a place.

A husband hit his wife to silence her. A date rapist or acquaintance rapist refuses to let the "no" of his victim mean what it should: that she alone has jurisdiction over her body. Rape culture asserts that women's testimony is worthless. Anti-abortion activists also seek to silence the self-determination of women. A murder silences forever.

These are the assertions that the victim has no rights, no value, and is not equal. Women's rights are vital for equality. When women have the same rights as men, societies are fair and more balanced. Violence against women is often against our voices and our stories. It is a refusal of our voices and of what a voice means: the right to self-determination, to participation, to consent or dissent; to live and participate, to interpret and narrate.

" Sometimes just being able to speak, to be heard, to be believed are crucial parts of membership in a society".

Having a voice is crucial. It's not all there is; there are human rights, but it's central to them, and so you can consider the history of women's rights and lack of rights as a history of silence and breaking silence. Speech, words, voices sometimes change things in themselves when they bring about inclusion, recognition: these actions are the opposite of the process that leads to dehumanization. Sometimes they are only the preconditions to changing rules, laws, and regimes to bring about justice and liberty.

Sometimes just being able to speak, to be heard, to be believed are crucial parts of membership in a family, a community, a society. Sometimes our voices break those things apart; sometimes those things are prisons. And then, when words break through unspeakability, what was tolerated by society sometimes becomes intolerable. Those not impacted can fail to see or feel the impact of segregation or police brutality, or domestic violence; stories bring home the trouble and make it unavoidable. 

By voice, I don't mean only the literal one- the sound produced by the vocal cords in the ears of others- but the ability to speak up, to participate, to experience oneself and experience as a free person with rights. This includes the right not to speak, whether it's the right against being tortured to confess, or political prisoners are, or not to be expected to serve strangers who approach you, as men do to young women, demanding attention and flattery, and punishing their absence.

Our voice matters and is important because oftentimes our views, opinions, and ideas are brushed off or deemed insignificant just because we are girls living in a male dominated society. Even though the laws protect women's rights, it does not mean that people respect our rights. Girls and women are treated differently because of their gender, and their rights are nullified just for being born female. Even today, many girls are judged or looked down upon just because of their gender.

Our voices matter because we should be able to speak up if we are being treated unfairly or if we feel something is wrong. We shouldn't let people disregard what we are saying. I cannot recall how many times I refused to do something and asked, "Why can't Dad do it?" My mom replies," Because that's what girls are supposed to do". It goes on and on, and finally she says, "That's just how it is". But that's not how it is. Why do girls have to be stuck in this gender role? If girls continue to brush aside actions that go against their rights, then the cycle will go on, and nothing will change.

At the end of the day, we are all humans. So why differentiate between males and females? If we were able to speak up and not be looked down upon, then maybe things would change. This is the reason why women need to speak up and let our voices be heard so we can empower other women around the world to stand up and voice their opinions. By taking advantage of the resources available to us, we can make and achieve social change. That is why we communicate our ideas, opinions, and experiences to other women through media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Sometimes social media is a great tool to convey your thoughts, opinions, and experiences. It is the best way to reach out to other girls around the world with the hope of influencing and inspiring them to stand up and speak up for themselves.

WHY WOMEN'S VOICES NEED TO BE HEARD??

• We can have positive female role models- to help us, motivate us for inspiration, give us guidance, and to see positive reflections of ourselves in society.

• We can celebrate being women- Stop apologizing and people-pleasing. We are women, and that is wonderful!!!  And that includes all the good and not so good bits- we are human after all.
• Becoming a bad woman is not a shame- Sometimes being bad women does not make you wrong, it makes you right, it makes you strong, it strengthen you to keep moving forward, it helps you to make your own decision, it helps to do things as per your choice, it strengthen you that sometimes being taking care of others does not make you wrong by putting ourselves first. It makes you realize that you have your own self-respect. We all have to cherish bad women once in our lives.
• We feel part of a community - It can be hard to go through tough times or situations, but it is always good to talk about them with someone. If it's a female issue, it often makes sense to talk it out with another female.  This can be hard when a lot of things focus on the male story or male problems.
• We learn to listen to everyone- Everyone has a voice, and we all need practice at listening more to one another.
• Because Women Rock- There are so many incredible women who have inspired you, e.g., Mother Teresa, Rani Laxmi Bai, Indra Gandhi, Kalpana Chawla, Manuelita, and many more. Let's learn about them so we can rock all over the future. Now, "YOU" are also included in the list. Why not start with you? 
• Don't be afraid to stand alone- Be passionate about what you believe in, and do not be afraid to be strong alone. When you know it's important, don't be afraid. If you feel strongly about a certain position, and certain value, or a certain view, then you should be able to stand alone.
• Empowerment Circle- Organize an empowerment circle where girls and women take turns sharing their strengths, accomplishments, and future goals. This activity helps them recognize their potential and the power within themselves, while also fostering a sense of community and mutual support.
• Learning To Speak Up- We have a right to speak up for ourselves in the free world, and when we do not use it, we give up our power and freedom. We also have a responsibility to speak up for equality and fairness in society. The freedom we enjoy today is a result of the voice of women who fought for our rights. And the onus is on us to do the same for the next generation of women.
• Talk Show- There are many talk shows like podcasts, radio FM, Voice of Women, and many more, where women can participate to share their feelings and raise their voice.

DR. BHAVANA JAIN.