‘Women need to go from fear to freedom’

Chennai

The violence against girls in India is escalating despite stricter laws. Why and what are the solutions?

Laws alone cannot change the society. Women need to muster the courage to say ‘no’ to abuse or violence. Crimes against women go unreported for that very reason. Further, violence against women is very often accepted as the norm in a society where a woman faces discrimination at every stage. Changing this mindset will take time and continuous effort. Introducing gender equality lessons to children is an important step in trying to educate a society towards positive change.

How important is it to have men part of women empowerment initiatives?

It is not enough to enlighten and empower women and expect men to follow. We must also empower men — to change misogynistic archaic practises and behaviour that prevent a woman’s liberation.

A message for women on this special day

I hope women go from fear to freedom. Apart from the shackles society has imposed on us, a woman’s mind is one of the main barriers. Women get locked inside a cage that is held together by the misgivings we have about our ability to succeed and handle the demands of the outside world without sacrificing our other responsibilities back home. They need to realise and trust that their greatest strength lies in their innate resilience, endurance and determination.