I came across this poster on Facebook today and thought: Bingo! There you have it.
Yeah, I know. I have used this space many a time in the past to diss Facebook posters. For a change here I am sharing something that I feel puts it across brilliantly. Kudos to whoever made it and also to those who shared it. At least it is different from the really dumbass ones shared so enthusiastically and defended even more fiercely.
Anyways, getting back, why are women so fond of describing themselves in relation to others? A daughter, sister, mother, wife. Why can’t we be just plain ourselves, a ‘someone’ on our own without leaning on those around? Look around you on the internet and you will find only a handful of bios that don’t do the I am a daughter/sister/mother/wife routine. I am not saying it is wrong to (or that you shouldn’t) get joy out of flaunting your relationships of being a daughter, sister, wife, mother or even grandmother to someone or other. But is that all what women are?
How about being just plain ‘someone’ without affiliations and insisting that the world also see you thus, a person first and everything else incidental and later? If we don’t see ourselves as ‘someone’ rather than someone’s, how are we going to convince those around? I believe that’s something this poster wants to convey (and actually much more, which I would have enunciated too if not for the fact that I just got home after a whole day of travel and am dead tired and already half-asleep), and I so agree.
©Shail Mohan 2014
You are so right Shail! If we don’t give respect to ourselves nobody is going to respect us. I am a woman and human being first and then somebody’s daughter, sister, wife, and so on the relations continue!
Absolutely, Swati.
Thought provoking Shail. I always have difficulty in coming up with a brief introduction about myself. I tend to say that I am a mother first and my husband asks why are you doing this, why don’t describe you as you. I think I have lost my identity as time passes by. Your post is making me to think. Maybe I will find the me in me.:) Thanks Shail..
I think it is that subtle (and mostly no-so-subtle) indoctrination right from birth that makes us think of ourselves only in relation to others. A habit we have to shake ourselves out of.
Brilliant!!! These “ghar mein maa/behen nahi hai kya” and “woh kisiki ma / behen / beti etc” irritate me to no end!! This picture and of course your post is just what was needed today!! Thanks 🙂
Ohh I hate those observations too. Makes absolutely no sense.
I simply loved the picture. Thanks 🙂
Among all the blogs I read, the ‘about me’ section of most of the female bloggers has ” a daughter, sister, wife, mother … ” and none of the male bloggers have “a son, brother, husband, father…” I have always wondered about this…
I have noticed this anomaly too, Seena. I have also noticed how married women proudly proclaim their status and also link to their husband’s profile on Facebook, but very few, really very very few husbands do the same. May be that will be a topic for another blog post 🙂
Bang on Shail! the post was certainly a mood booster! Thanks for sharing:)
You are welcome, M. 🙂
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