Decades of life

Decades of life

I am on my way to my native place after nearly 8 years and while travelling I just came across the stark contrast between life then and now

Love, before in the 90s, was a luxury affordable to those who had time and money to lose. Technology hadn't invaded our lives then and it was really difficult to run down time. Television still a luxury and not yet an important living room asset. Feminism was an after thought and so were women rights. Women had a hard time pursuing their ambitions as "The needs of the household" came first. If women went to work, how will the household function! This was a way to curb the flight of a bird desperate to make a name for itself. In this age, women were made to believe that they were inferior to men and this very much defined the relationships in that era.

Relationships or rather marriages, were dominated by males. Women were subjected to harrassment and domestic violence yet they were asked to be supportive of their husband and children. Their voice was neither considered nor heard. Even with all this oppression, they used to devote their life and concern to their family and its well being. It was very rare for any woman to forward and abandon her family for the cruelties she has faced. But, her love was pure and dedicated. They had been told that their main job is to make sure her husband and children are well fed and healthy. And women would willingly accept it under societal pressure. Relationships were simple to understand but very difficult to carry on for the female as the males would also indulge in infidelity and adultery.

Then came the 00s and suddenly, technology was booming. Tv now was a necessity and every furniture in your room now pointed at the TV. Computers were slowly making their way into offices and homes. And the internet bubble was about to be burst. Suddenly, love assigned a new meaning. With more luxury to be had and with the cost of living rising beyond a tolerable level, intelligent men allowed women to start working and earn sone extra income. They still didn't have a prominent role yet it was a start for the launch of future Indira Nooyi and Chanda Kocchars.

Now, women were seen everywhere not just at parks on weekends or the local market. They were visible in offices, in trains, etc. thus making men fawn in return. The attraction was meant to happen and slowly we saw couples roaming around. This used to happen before but was a pretty rare occurence. All the love songs started making sense and every couple wanted to live out their fantasy. Slowly, the joint families started to break and more nuclear families began to take shape as differences in opinion surfaced from the couples viewpoints. Men still were chivalrous but equally disloyal. Adultery was still prevalent which caused women to address their grievances and deal with their husband's/fiance's misdeeds. Women now were earning and played a part as a second bread earner. Rights came quickly, which just made understanding relationships a bit more complex.

Finally, after 2010, we have come to see that women are taking a more active part in choosing their partners and careers. Though, they always had the talent and capacity, it took time to break away from stereotypes and rise to the occasion and fulfil their prophecy. Now, females are much more shrewder. How often have we heard of a female cheating on a male because she found someone better or how often have we heard of a female moving on from a failed marriage because the groom found her to be dull and ugly or how often has a female rejected a male for being incompetent in terms of salary or physical satisfaction.

Women created a wave of freedom for themselves under which they can finally achieve their dreams. No longer the victim, the women branched out and showed men a taste of their own medicine. Adultery was prevalent among both genders yet both genders had a role to play in earning the bread at home. We are seeing women manipulate men sometimes for their own good or sometimes for the welfare of the family.  Men, on the other hand, are at the disposal of women and wondering still where they lost their control and dominance. As more and more men complain of being kept in the 'friend-zone'. it is quite evident that men are no longer the sole decision makers of and in relationships.

Women have risen above all stereotypes, from physical to mental and are rubbing shoulders with men in every way. Women are going to dominate relationships and careers, (if they are not currently doing so) and there is little men can do but appreciate and follow their example.