Constitution amendment: Our position on women's freedom

Or do you think women already have same freedoms as men and we need not do anything about it?

I changed the topic to women's freedom from women's safety. Is it better now? I agree these restrictions should not be there. But should we not consider the proportion and severity of violence against women compared to children or other genders into consideration? Are you saying violence against men and women happen equally? My intention in this discussion is to come up with some basic principles and frameworks when we talk about women's issues. It is not to add even more restrictions but explore challenges to realizing women's freedom. What all do you think we need to do for women to get the same freedom as men?

I am not sure that there are safety issues only specific to women. But for sure, the society play this scare tactics and use those terms to make stupid laws like time restrictions for ladies' hostel. If it is about sexual violence against women, then the name of the topic is not women's safety. Sexual violences are also not women specific, unfortunately children and other genders also suffer from that.

My attempt here is to come up with some basic principles and direction to help in our campaigns. What do you think those basic principles should be?

Safety of women from 'whom' or 'what' is the question that troubles my mind. The whole point of the discussion was to stop blaming women for being 'unsafe', then instead of blaming each other let's start an awareness campaign to give more power to them.

That's a good writeup, thanks for sharing. Let me make it clear to you that my intention was not to blame anyone, but I think I had a point when I said the mentality matters. The mentality like, the safety of a prison is better than the freedom you get in an unsafe world, must be changed. The whole society has set it a norm that women are unsafe everywhere and its her responsibility to make sure she stay safe. Whom should I blame here? I don't think all men are rapists, but ofcourse the state that anyone can easily get away with whatever they do is highly dangerous. This is what we should change, that assurance of being free and safe at same time is what we need to provide. Yes, the cost of rebellion is high, but most of us giveup without knowing it was a war. Well, I can't talk for everyone but only from my experience, which is limited.

Also do you see the words suggested for inclusion in constitution problematic?

Thanks for sharing. It'd be great if you can encourage more girls you know to participate here. I don't think blaming women entirely for it is not good. Isn't the cost of rebellion too high for women? Do all women get exposure to see what it means to be really free? When someone is told all their life that they should be caged for their own safety and they see the same behaviour all around them, how can they be blamed entirely? I think they need exposure to these ideas and role models that inspire them. Read https://livewire.thewire.in/gender-and-sexuality/have-your-cake-but-do-not-eat-it-feminism-and-indian-society/ for another perspective.

Hi, myself Anupa Ann Joseph. For those who doesn't know me I'm a 'woman' currently working at River Valley Technologies, Thiruvananthapuram. I'm taking part in this discussion as it was brought to my notice that the women participation in this thread is nil. As I am part of the community activities to support Women in Free Software, I've come across many girl students at various engineering colleges who couldn't get out their safety boundaries drawn by the society. I had personal discussions with women who would like to come out of this golden cage, but couldn't due to the safety concerns of their beloved ones. They have restrictions for travel, for late night outs and even jobs that may have night shifts, all of which the male citizens of this society enjoy without any restrictions. But I do agree with Abraham, all these discussions raising concerns about 'Freedom of Women' end up being the discussion between some men who have concerns about their fellow beings. Not just women, everyone should be safe. Everyone should have the right to speak up and to be heard, if their Freedom and Safety is violated. Unless women value their Freedom and right to stay safe wherever they are, 'we' are happy within the safety cage we are bound to be in. The fear of being judged by others can be a reason. Well girls, you should speak up to be heard.

PS: I don't have any intention to generalize my opinion, this is based on the discussions I had with Women across Kerala, where I have met some strong Women who enjoy their Freedom to the fullest as well. That makes me think its something related to our mentality towards this. And I do appreciate the effort by Indian Pirates to raise this issue to the public notice. We can work towards a better society.

Pardon me for the long note, couldn't make this any shorter.

A series of toots on this I found today https://mastodon.social/@zigzackly/103237775008784698 we can take some from it.

Original blog post from 2012 https://zigzackly.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-problem-is-us.html?m=1