“You are a journalist and I am a prostitute!” This powerful line from the film Gangubai Kathiawadi encapsulates women empowerment. Of an individual, who is aware and doesn’t hesitate to proclaim a choice albeit unhappy, foisted on her by the world. This line screams the need for rights, recognition, respect and most importantly a need for opportunity.

There was a Mother Teresa, Indira Gandhi and also a Phoolan Devi,all powerful famous womenwith good or bad tags attached. Why did a Gangubai or Phoolan Devi become what they were? They were the products of patriarchy and an insensitive male dominated society. This same society witnessed the atrocities on Nirbhaya, Asifa, Priyanka many years later.

There have been arguments about women not needing a Women’s Day which sends a message that we are weak and need support. Perhaps not, yet again? Ironically India started out aeons ago with courageous women like Lakshmibai, Ahilya, Padmavati. There were women who made valid choices and expressed their sexuality. Kunti, Ahalya, Draupadi stood tall among men.

Somewhere along the way women became subservient, relegated to homes. They were burnt at their husband’s funeral pyre, the girl child murdered or deprived as boys were valuable assets. They worked, they brought in dowry with the girls they married. The boys studied and the girls did the housework.

The Right to vote and be elected is the mainstay as only women can highlight appropriately the importance of reproductive rights, rights against sexual harassment, equal pay, equal economic opportunity, equal legal rights, subsidized child care and the prevention of violence against women. An important issue which goes under the radar isthe outcome of armed conflicts or occupation whereby women are brutalised. They are the losers as men go to war and sacrifice their lives for a cause not often their own. ­­­

Many years ago a group of women hurled mops, lipsticks and high heels into a “Freedom Trash Can”. They burnt bras. The idea was to symbolically throw away things that oppressed women. The term “glass ceiling” refers to the sometimes-invisible barrier to success that many women come up against in their careers. Management consultant Marilyn Loden coined the phrase almost 40 years ago but says it is still as relevant as ever.

This year the theme for this milestone Women’s Day is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, looking to highlight the contribution of women and girls around the globe, who participate in their communities promoting  climate change adaptation, mitigation and response, in order to build a more sustainable future for all.

Let’s remember the Mahatma who spoke of Khadi. It is handspun, local, protects the environment. Most importantly he dreamt of making women the cornerstone of the handloom industry.  They are the spinners, the spinners of dreams.