Be the Change!

"Oh it's pink..that means it's for the girls..why didn't you get me something blue?..I am a boy!!"

Source : everypixel.com

This is what my 3-year old nephew told me the other day. This sheer understanding of division of colors on the basis of gender in a child who is still so young and has not been much exposed into the public domain yet, perplexed me to the core. Undeniably, in the world of grown-ups, there are innumerable bifurcations in things as petty as the handkerchiefs, wherein you get 2 different types on the basis of your gender, but to have such distinctions appear in young and impressionable minds clearly elucidates the heights of it's normalization in our society.

Put more simply, from the very conception of our lives, we are incessantly socialized into being masculine/feminine respectively on the basis of our gender, by each and every factor influencing our life, including institutions like family, religion, schools and therefore the society at large. From the beginning of life, the kind of toys and games played by children are segregated along the lines of their assigned gender. The type of clothes worn, the behaviors and the fields of excellence are all classified according to the gender, among other aspects. There is no two-way about that it is all based on the sociological concepts of gender roles. 

Although, it is true that there do exist certain biological differences in the physiology of human beings on the basis of the sex they are born with, which may instill specific characteristics into the personalities of people, distinguishing them from the other group of people. However, such differences must be seen just like the many other factors which determine our respective individual identities. In no way does these characteristics, and for that matter, any characteristics given by birth, can provide people the leeway to behave disrespectfully to the other person.

Consequently, the society must come together to rework on the set paradigms about the gender and it's associated roles, rights, responsibilities, expectations and the way of life.

First and the foremost, the language that we use should be consciously adapted to be gender inclusive and it must be taught to everyone, specially the younger generations, so that there is considerable reduction in the normalization of one gender's dominance over the rest. We need to incorporate the understanding that every human, irrespective of the gender, must garner equitable respect and dignity. Furthermore, the abusive language, which mostly tends to refer to sexualizing and violating the sanctity of women and the third gender must be forfeited by each and every constituent of the society. Such terms and acts essentially reinforce the hegemony of males over everybody else, reducing others as simply the objectified and sexualized beings. This really needs to stop as there is absolutely so much more to an individual's identity than his/her sexuality.

Moreover, the seclusion in everything, from clothes to lifestyles, on the basis of the gender, is very disturbing. So many young children, as a result, grow up and become overtly distant as well as develop a sense of being 'othered' from the people with a gender different from their own because of this over-segregation of every aspect on the basis of the genders. Eventually, many people fail at developing meaningful relationships with the people belonging to other genders as there is a total lack of understanding, mutual respect, sensitivity and emotions for them. This is definitely not desirable and can impede one's self-worth, ability to develop relationships and may often cause isolation and loneliness for such people. Therefore, it is only wise to willingly re-calibrate the echelons of society, making space and acceptance for all sorts of varieties, without typecasting and kindling feelings of hatred and inferiority/superiority for the other. 

Practically, it is now high time for us to see through the prism of equity in all the realms of life and introduce or encourage practices which promote gender sensitive behaviour. 

After all, how will we reach our true potential as an individual as well as a community, if we do not let everyone live and explore their share of life without inhibitions?

We all need to accept that change is inevitable and hence change must be adapted to live a fulfilling life.

"We are products of our past, but we don't have to be prisoners of it." - Rick Warren.