Written by: Katyayani Mishra
The world is wilder than the jungle; survival of the fittest doesn’t sit well with the way Charles Darwin made us believe. It’s a man’s world as I was told… And here’s my take on it: You give anything beautiful to man, they know how to destroy it. You provide them with the ocean watch that is being polluted. Give them land, watch that it becomes commercialised… Give them anything and watch that being destroyed. This isn’t about any sex. It’s about how you give anything to a human, you watch that being burnt to ashes literally. I wonder how many people have suffered throughout centuries and across societies. I wonder how many children and women have borne the brunt of it? I wonder how it’s affected everyone, including the men themselves, who have also been victims in some way, indirectly. Men aren’t allowed to express themselves. They are expected to fill roles and have been conditioned to assert their position, making them more insecure & aggressive.
What is masculinity?
To embrace softness,
To lead without dominance,
To be flawed but not too ashamed,
To be proud but not arrogant.
To be a man without any labels attached.
To be powerful, but not forceful.
To be aggressive but not aggressive
To allow love, softness, and emotions.
And I wonder how many people have had their father say to them, “It’s a man’s world, you’ve got to deal with it”. When you come home crying because you’ve relived the disgust of your past experiences of being groped.
I’ve seen many men, but none have come close to what it feels like to be a masculine man.
Conclusion
Men can pursue what they want. It’s been since historical times ever since society has been formed & evolved. While women had it difficult to pursue their dreams and passions simply because it was tough to be out there, independent and of sound mind (having opinions).
The concept of patriarchy was first examined by social scientists in the nineteenth century, regarded as a more advanced organisational structure in comparison to primitive matriarchies. Friedrich Engels characterised it as the earliest form of domination and identified it as a significant regression for women. The Royal Academy of the Spanish Language defines patriarchy as a social arrangement in which a male head of the family exercises authority, extending to extended relatives. Although social sciences largely set this concept aside, feminist theories emerging in the late twentieth century broadened its interpretation, viewing patriarchy as an unjust system that subjugates women within contemporary societies.
We are still stuck in this system for the past two centuries. Where do women have liberty? We still aren’t free from the burden of societal expectations and fear. That’s what boils my blood sometimes. When will the cycle end? And, if not, when will it get better? Because has it got any better still?
