We live in a male-dominated world. I have realised this truth since I was a young boy. One cannot question this premise since we do live in a male-dominated world. The male member is supposed to be the breadwinner of the family, providing with necessities, mobilizing resources for a better standard of living and generally, providing support to all members of the family. It was believed, not so long ago, by one and all, that women have a passive role— they remain inside the house and attend to a variety of household activities like cooking, housekeeping, and taking care of children.
Since it did not affect my lifestyle, I happily lived with the above belief till my engineering college days. I spent a long tenure of about six years completing my graduation and post-graduation. Higher education proved to be transformative for me! In those six years, I learnt and adopted several newer ways of living my life – including but not limited to improving on my communication and shedding of my somewhat introvert nature. Thanks to the people I was surrounded by my classmates, close friends, seniors, professors at college and many more in the immediate external environment.
Unfortunately, however, my so-called transformation did not bring any worthwhile change in my attitude towards girls. Whenever it came to connecting with girls, I was attached and detached at the same time. If I reflect further, however, I was comfortable and felt secure in the company of elderly females and loved talking to them.
At the age of 24, I started my first job. My circle of influence was now steadily growing, and I had started connecting with many persons from different strata of society. If the work situation demanded, I had to interact with strangers too. In this period of my life, I had many occasions to interact with grown-up girls, young women, housewives (I would love to call them home-makers instead), and professional females like school and college teachers, company executives, and entrepreneurs. As a young man, I was interested and curious about them too!
I think of this period, from 1972 until I married two years later in 1974, was the time that broke all my misconceptions. My discussions and interactions with women from all walks of life had opened up all the closed valves inside my head. I was now clear of all my mental blocks that any matured woman – in any role in society: a student, teacher, homemaker, business executive, entrepreneur, or social activist – can be a fantastic change agent for our country. Until that moment, I used to look at every problem, program, or project through the lens of the POV of a man but now my perspective changed totally. But now, I look at everything from the joint perspective of a male and female both.
GENDER COLLABORATION
If we accept the above concept of “joint perspectives,” it opens a new window of opportunity for us. Let me explain. If we have an important project to execute – we can build the project team by including both males and females from different social, ethnic, and demographic backgrounds, cross-cultural orientations, and skill-sets.
For the last several years, I have seen women successfully take important roles as businesspersons, organizational leaders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs. I read a Forbes article once that discussed how enterprises run and managed by women folks make more money. Women have a strong self-belief, exhibit extreme faith and are passionate about whatever they do. Women generally are very good organizers, have a strong sense of purpose, show patience and persistence and are more than willing to leave their comfort zones to reach their goals.
IN A WOMAN DOMINATED WORKPLACE- MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
In my third inning – as a retired professional – I have been working as an Adjunct Professor with a renowned film, communication, and creative arts institute in Mumbai. I teach business and management subjects in their School of Media and Communication (SMC). SMC is headed by a qualified and well-experienced media professional. I take pride in saying that our department is led by a woman.
She is a wonderful person, a master of her craft, and knows how to get the best from her team of over a dozen young and middle-aged female faculty members plus three academic coordinators. She has only two male teachers in her team, and I am one of them!
We work in SMC as a close-knit family under the umbrella of our lady-boss (not citing her name for the sake of privacy) who treats us with frequent gifts and small but cute celebrations within the department. She practices the creative fusion of assertion and affection excellently. Work is like play and fun at SMC because all members respect each other and love what they do. If they do not love what they do, they can always ask for a change under our flexibility-loving culture.
A DEDICATION ON THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
We celebrated International Women’s Day this week and I wanted to put on record my respect and remembrances to all those wonderful females with whom I have worked recently and who have had a significant impact on my life. As you all know, I am working as a freelance professional for the other institutions also. Through this post, I also pay my regards and respect to all those females in these institutions who have been working with me. I am grateful for their work and positive presence in my life.
Showing my gratitude to these wonderful women who have positively impacted my personal and professional life…
Wow,so beautiful msg, yes I agreed women’s have back side stage roll, with women’s I feel no one can achieve they dreams.
Feel proud to be a beautiful woman ??
Thank you very much Shewta Ma’am for supporting my blog and articulating your thoughts so well. I am grateful to you for your engagement with the blog.
The article that you write is a gift for readers. So much knowledge and learning one can have reading your articles very well written sir and again an amazing article.
Thank you very much dear Subham for your lovely feedback in so sweet and respectful language…
I appreciate your covering the topic of women in and around your life so well. I just finished reading and am already on top of the world. In short, it was most enlightening.
Yes Jyoti…my intention in writing this post was to bring about the importantance of
the crucial that females play in our lives….. and as to how they can contribute to the larger vision of growth and development at national level. I wanted to present this post as my gratitude to all lovely women….
Very nice article ..I really appreciate everything you do..You always inspire me to be a better person and i always feel a positive energy in me while talking to you..Thank you for always speaking up and providing a unique perspective..
Nice comments from a nice young lady whom I admire so so much. Deepti – you are dply a superb person doing and managing so much at home front and still finding time to engage with the blog…..thank you and God bless!
Excellent article Sir. You have covered the topic as warmly as the person that you are. it is heartwarming as it comes from.someone who understands people so well. What a way to acknowledge and honour ladies who you feel have contributed in some way in your incredible journey. It’s so humbling to see myself in that circle. An absolute honour indeed. You have been a cheerleader Sir. Wishing you the very best always.
Than you so much for your lovely comments, Laxmi Ma’am…You have always appreciated my work; and have motivated me to do more sand more. I am blessed to have a friend like you….thanks again…
Loved this article sir! I’m glad that we keep exchanging our student-professor role with each other, at different aspects of learning. Again, a very well written article. ?
Nidhi…you have always engaged with and supported my blog in several ways….Time and again I seek help from you in so many ways and you are always ready to provide the same. I have no words to thank-you for all that you are doing for me…
Liked it!!
Glad that you liked the post. Thank you very much, Ma’am…
Indeed, when there are woman there is magic!
This could have been a very good title for the post. Very aptly articulated the gist of the article, Ma’am. Thank you for your interest in my blog. Regards.
Loved the article ♥️
Thank you very much, Himani Ma’am for your interest in my blog….Kindly keep reading and helping me with your valuable feedback…
Thanks for an article about woman.its awesome and true…
Thank you Smitha Ma’am for your interest in my blog and your prompt and heartfelt comment. Regards…
Being the student of the very institution being spoken about in here I feel so attached with the write up. Along with that I couldn’t agree more with involvement of genders part. I like to call myself a feminist and this piece of writing is a food for thought for everyone else who does so.
Excellent Prashant!
I am glad that you identified with the blog post and enjoyed reading it. Thank you very much for engaging with my blog…
So well written sir! It was so good to read this article!
Thank you Keertana…
An wxtremely delightful article sir!!!! ❤️
Thank you very much for being a regular reader of my blog. Please keep it up.
Thank you Sunishka!
Very nicely articulated appreciation of the women folks. World will be a better place if we respect each other and appreciate others existence n their contributions.
I am glad Shruti that you are finding time to engage with my blog and offer your comments almost regularly. Thank you very much…
Loved the way you delivered such an important message …!!!
Thank you dear Sonali…
Good Evening Sir.Today I am reading this article which you had written on the Occasion of International Women’s day which was a month back.This shows your respect towards women and a great thinking relating to gender equity and equality.Yes there should be a teamwork of both males and females involved which will bring a new discovery of ideas as well as revolution.
Yes…Damini….here I have touched upon the aspect of gender collaboration. Hope you liked that.