Do you ever..

Do you ever feel mis-understood?
Do you ever feel no one understands you?
Do you feel like you can't say everything you want to all the time?
Do you feel out of place in a crowd?
Do you feel you don't know yourself sometimes?
Do you feel you don't understand how the world runs?
Do you feel no one cares?
Do you feel no one is worth caring for?
Do you feel upset that you can't do a thing that society won't comment on?
Do you feel chained in your thoughts?
Do you feel captive inside yourself?
Do you feel the world is infested with people?
Do you feel you are trapped in the matrix?
Do you feel...

Welcome to my life..

The Female Eunuch

The Female Eunuch is a book on feminism, written by Germaine Greer – a noted author in the field. It is very insightful for women, as it talks about the biology of a woman’s body, much in depth.. She has also dealt with aspects as romance, love, etc.

My post is not about the book. It’s about the concept of the book– ‘Feminism’, and more so on why in my view there is a fight for women’s rights per say, and how I have come to fight for it myself, but, in a very small way!

Feminism is as much about equal opportunities across gender, race, boundaries, etc.. as much as it is about fighting for a ‘woman’s’ place in this man’s world as well.

Enough reports have suggested that men CEOs draw 5 times more salary than women CEOs – You take any field for that matter- Journalism, Clerical, Management, Doctors (Medicine), even Social Workers for that matter – the men get a larger pay packet, even if the woman is in the same position! Why? (& please, spare me crap on ‘efficiency’ and ‘intelligence’.. yada yada yada!! I am talking about those who are at the same level in the same position in the same company!)

Consider this : I was with an IT company, and after 3 years of doing nothing great there, I decided to join my mom – who is in the service industry of providing training services & works from home. I love her field, and find it most challenging in work!! Most of my friends know of this transition I have made, and I have received mixed feelings from them – some worried, some jealous, some proud, some joyous, and some waiting to see when I will quit this to get into a ‘regular job’...

Recently, a friend called me to a movie for a 3pm show. I denied the wonderful opportunity to watch a movie for free, 'coz I was at work, and since she persisted that I come, I suggested the name of a common friend (who is working in a regular 9-5 job) whom she could try her luck with; to which she said, “Yeah, but, she will be at work”! (& she said this so unconsciously.. a freudian slip..)

Do you think she would have said the same thing to a guy who was working from home? She has many guy friends who work only at nights, but, she won’t dare call them, lest she is made fun of!

Here we are, in this world of opportunities… and here I am, fighting for equal opportunities for all, and my girl-friend against me!

We seem to be living in a world of mindsets that a ‘regular job is more safe & secure’.. that a ‘man can take a risk & start a business, but for a woman to do the same is foolhardy… that only a business which rakes in a lot of money is successful, and anything to do with ‘social work’ is time pass & not regarded as serious enough.. that MBA is more important than psychology… that understanding machines is more important than understanding the person next to you at work…

Sad!!

BP-DR-FP

Life.. is full of BP-DR-FP... (amongst other things!)
B-Budgeting
P-Planning
D-Desire
R-Reality
F-Future
P-Past

Thats all it is about.. Left, right & center.. Lets face it! Most of the time, we are thinking:
"I want a car - How do i buy it"?
"Hmmmm... this month, I can buy that TV, next month, pay credit card bill"
"This is ALL the money I have..and there is mom and dad, whom i dont want to take money from"
"I realllly want this car"
"I cant afford it right now"
"Maybe I will get a good appraisal, and money will flow in"
"But, considering the way things have been in my life, I am jinxed"

We have a lot of desires.. "I want this.. I want that.. I wish I could buy this.. aaaaaaaah! i wish i could buy that..." Nothing wrong there!! None at all!!!

We just don't have enough money to do all the things we want to.. "Maybe its time for a job switch.."

You think then, that our problem is not planning our money well enough? NO..

I say,we have a lot of desires.. and we want to make all our wishes come true.. We tend to think," Hmm... Yeah, so whats wrong with that?" "Well, you know.. once I get the house with the TV, AC,fridge,kitchen, DVD player, car, send money home, plan my taxes, plan my investments and have some money left, THAT DAY, I will be a happy man/woman"! Good luck with that buddy!!!

Life is really all about 'What We Dont Have".. Take my case for example.. I am in Chennai, with my folks - happy! I wish I was in Mumbai every Friday evening! (desire) ..'coz I have no friends here.. doesn't mean I wont make them, rite!? Sure, i will.. Its all a matter of time (planning for future)..its just that i came back to the city i grew up in to find all my friends gone (past).. So, How do i get to mumbai? Lemme see.. (planning).. How much will it cost? How much do i have? (budgeting).. Ok.. I can plan to go to Mumbai in the cheapest & most economic way by spicejet if i book my tickets for end of august (reality).. but, can i wait for one trip to see my friends in Mumbai till then? NO (desire).. AAAND its a vicious loop!!!

We are all caught in this vicious loop for D-P-B-F-P-R!!!!

Think about your desire... Tell me the top 5 desires you have..

Decisions.. Choices.. Gosh!

- Post by Aparna.G
- Post shifted to Philosophy Section

Philosophy Section