IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Whether it is mother, sister, wife, or friend, I am concerned about the well-being of the women. They are the fulcrum of society. One who does not know how to respect women cannot respect anyone. I write this article with this concern in my mind.

Till the beginning of this century,  women were not given their due place. They only played the role of a mother or sister or wife. While the man earned the money, the woman looked after the home. The work was thus shared among them. They got children, brought them up, and lived happy lives. 

The women were timid, shy, passive, and reserved. They were not allowed to mingle with boys. They were restricted to the house.  They were advised to adjust with their husband and not to spoil their marriage as divorce was not accepted by society. The women lived like slaves.

The next generation arrived. The number of children was reduced. The children were well educated. The girls even excelled at the boys. Education was given importance. The outlook of girls and parents changed. The women went for higher studies and took up employment. There was the empowerment of women.

The women were given an equal share in the property. Their salary was more than their father's. The daughter became an important member of the family. According to Dr Lakshmi, a psychologist in Chennai, some women became assertive then authoritative, and aggressive. There was total liberation for women. The parents had difficulty getting a suitable alliance for them.

Meanwhile, liberalization came, foreign goods arrived, greed for such goods developed and the cost of living went up sky high. Lifestyle had changed. There was more demand for luxuries. People spent less on necessities but lavishly on luxuries. There was a competition to live in luxury. To meet this, both the husband and wife had to work.

Women found it difficult to manage both home and work. They expected cooperation from others. Few husbands understood this. Credit/debit cards,  EMI, repayment of loans, etc. had become the daily mantra. Due to stress, women developed problems like BP, diabetics, depression, migraine, obesity, infertility, etc. 

Life is not as peaceful as before. Meanwhile, parents are unable to live independently. They want to settle with the son.  In India, the parents are part of the family. The parents are expected to contribute but they are unable to. Are they to go to old age homes? What is the remedy for these problems?  MAY GOD BLESS YOU.