December 21 came and went and the world did not end. and yet 2012 left most of us feeling numb, pained and frustrated by the violence. This violence is not new, our response to it was. The response was unprecedented and while I felt good that we responded, I do hope that we persevere and sustain the movement. What I would like to write about is about violence done by us, the near and dear ones … us, who are supposed to protect the children. Day in and day out we are senstitized by the news coverage. Be it in print and through other media about violence on children, women and the weak. And, not just by the men, also by women, by mothers.
Author: Sarbari
Gender and our Identity
The meanings that we give to being a man or a woman are significant in how we look at ourselves, and how we perceive and relate with others in the world. Traditionally, the meanings given to gender were predominantly defined by the social roles associated with one’s sex. However, advancements in technology have influenced social fabric in a way that has considerably reduced need for one’s sex to be a significant determinant of these roles. The polarities here are traditional values and new possibilities, for the self and collectives. In other words, our social identity is becoming increasingly gender neutral. This brings in a welcome relief from the traditional stereotypes of gender roles. It is therefore not surprising that many people today feel more comfortable being a ‘person’ rather than being a ‘man’ or a ‘woman’. However, since this transition is not seamless, people also find themselves struggling with values that have been inherited and new ones that are being
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