The Child Inside Me

As I watched on to the soccer field today evening, with a cup of coffee in my hand, the rain pouring and the kids going crazy playing soccer or perhaps, I should say football, all I wanted to do was run out on to the field to play football with those kids in the rain and get drenched completely. I wanted to get soaked through to my bones.

I wanted to get the mud all over me, I wanted to fall and scratch and bruise myself and yet continue playing.I wanted to pant till I was completely out of breath and my sides ached till I could walk no more; and yet I wanted to keep running on. I wanted to experience the thrill of not caring about anything else except for that goal. I just wanted to feel alive. I was invigorated. I wanted to be a kid.

Those kids playing football reminded me of myself when I was a kid and used to play for hours and hours. Nothing seemed to bother me. Not the tiredness, not the bruises; nothing! I only used to play football during the monsoons and I wasn't even good at it but it was fun all the same.  The rest of the year was spent playing other sports and games which involved a lot of running around or cycling. It was fun.

Today was just one of those days that made me want to go crazy in the rain. If nothing else, I would have just ran in the rain and rolled in the mud and walked about with my arms stretched out looking up into the heavens and soaking in the rain. I wish I could have it done that day.

If you see me running around in the rain and rolling in the mud, don't worry, I have not turned into a pig! I am just really happy!!!

I don't think so!

I have been fortunate to be raised in a family where equality in all respects is valued. I was never told that men and women are different. As I grew older, I formed my own opinions regarding this issue. Over the years, I have understood that men and women are equally capable as well as equally incapable of doing things. Perhaps the level of capability will differ for each in a particular task but I, myself find no sex weaker than the other (non-physical strengthwise). However, it is a scientific fact that men are usually physically stronger than women; so some tasks are more easily performed by men than women, but mind you, that is no testament to the quality of work/product. 

I felt it necessary to put forth my views before I commenced with my topic for this post. This is an extremely sensitive issue. The world over, women are still fighting for their rights to an equal life in the professional environment. I will be specifically talking about this. 

The 'Glass Ceiling' effect, I was taught in my MBA is still quite a reality. Like in everything else, there are exceptions. I have seen and worked with very successful women and also very unsuccessful ones; the same as for men. If I look at the Boards or the Executive Committees of different companies in the US or Europe, I can many times see women and yet I was taught in my US university that the 'Glass Ceiling' effect exists. I might sound a bit disbelieving here but I am not. I am just a bit surprised. But, when I take a step back and think again, it does dawn on me that majority of the highly placed executives are males. Prof. Thomas Rossi at Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI was my professor for a few courses during my MBA there. It was a pleasure learning from him. He had once told us that if we wanted to know how the top executives on Wall Street looked, we should take a look at him - white middle-aged Caucasians. Prof. Rossi didn't want to scare us but he wanted to make us understand the reality we would have to face when we go out into the world. I thank him for those classes. It is quite necessary not to be naive. 

Personally, I don't care what sex, age, colour, religion, race, ethnicity or whatever kind of differentiator one might ascribe to. For me, all it matters is, whether the job gets done. There are, unfortunately, very few who believe this. 

Recently, I was witness to a very sad occurrence. In my French classes, we had a lesson discussing a woman who had changed professions and had taken up a profession that has been traditionally performed by men. When the class was asked about some occupations and if they thought that those professions were traditionally performed by men, almost everybody agreed. Even more so, some even gave examples of other professions like that. I was the only one who did not find it appropriate. The way that the class had accepted the logic was unfortunate and saddening. It might surprise you to know that there were about 30-35 people in the room and I was the only male!

As I have mentioned before, I agree there are certain professions which are just easier for men than women just because of the primary necessity of physical strength. But in no way does it entail that there is a lack of effectiveness or efficiency anywhere. So, when the class full of girls were agreeing and discussing the topic, the ease with which they accepted the topic was very surprising for me. Not one made a comment saying how women are equally capable or objected to it. The objective of the lesson was to highlight the difficulties faced by women in securing jobs that have been traditionally done by men. Incidentally, although nobody felt it was correct that women be restricted from certain professions, but all the same, nobody talked about the theme of the lesson. 

Women are fighting for their rights and want an equal place in this world. There is not a doubt that they should get it. If I say, they deserve it, I would be demeaning women. When I use that word, it gives me some crooked authority as a man to decide if women deserve something or not. I just find that to be too disgusting a thought. 

My concern is, how will women achieve their objective if they readily accept such ideas? Will that equality be possible if women do not consider themselves to be equal? Especially in India?

I DON'T THINK SO!