Women today - are we really considered equal?

Yesterday was International Women’s Day. Wikipedia says it’s ‘a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.’ Women have come a long way from 1909 when the first IWD was celebrated. Women presidents, scientists, Nobel Prize recipients – we’ve done it all.

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In India, we pride ourselves with saying that women hold an equal place as men, doing everything they do and being treated fairly in the home, workplace and society. As I left the house last night to go celebrate with some friends, cocktails and jazz music my aunt advised me to wear a shawl over my outfit so that I wouldn’t draw attention to myself.

That moment made me recall a recent train experience from Bhopal to Bangalore. Suddenly I found myself questioning whether we are really in a position to can say a woman is treated as equal to a man.

It was early morning when I boarded the train in Bhopal. In the compartment with me were all men, much older – probably in their 50’s and 60’s - around the age of my father. We made some general conversation about where I was going and all. It was all normal till then.

As I was reading, I noticed that my fellow travelers were beginning to get too inquisitive…what are you reading, where are you from, are you alone? Now this was getting uncomfortable. I didn’t want to get rude, at the same time didn’t want to give out too many personal details. So I put on my headphones to let them I know I don’t want to be disturbed. They stop talking, but start gawking at me completely unabashed. Here I was squirming in my seat, trying not to pay attention to it.

When we reach Nagpur, two youngsters get on the train. After I while, I go over and we make general conversation. We ended up sitting together the whole time enjoying each others company. After a while we notice that older men in the compartment are leaning over their seats to look at me. It didn’t stop there; men in other compartments and even railway employees didn’t hesitate to gawk at me without a rest.

After hours of ignoring and shuttling seats and trying to get away from the piercing glares, I finally felt compelled to put my jacket over my conservative long sleeve shirt even though it was really hot. All this in the hopes of not feeling uncomfortable with the looks I was getting.

Now, how is it that we talk about women’s liberation, when I, a young Indian woman cannot travel in a train alone without having the eyes of older men on me watching my every move. I understand that in most parts of the world men look at women, and there’s nothing wrong with it. But shoving and pushing to see, and leaning over each other and staring open-mouthed. That’s enough to make any woman uncomfortable.

So, I ask you the reader… is a woman really considered equal to a man? Or are we pretending that we don’t see the reality as it exists…