Women and Self

Phurailatpam Jayalaxmi *

Generally, in most societies, the culture, knowledge, institutions and organizations are determined by the androcentric dispositions which echo the dominance and power of men. Every norm in the society is formed keeping in mind the perspectives and interests of men. The dichotomy of masculine and feminine is often used to demarcate the biological sex differences and the intention of such differentiation is to maintain a patriarchal structure of power and to create a perception among women that they are naturally better suited to domestic roles.

"Woman's place is in the house," further aggravates the problems of domestic enslavement. Patriarchy, thus, becomes a system of social structures and practices, in which men dominate, subjugate and exploit women. In such society, women have to wrestle constantly to be educated, to have property and to gain access to the materials and intellectual resources. If women accept the roles given to them as mothers and wives, they are exalted and eulogized for being symbols of motherhood and if they fail to learn these norms they are loathed for not obeying the societal standards.

Throughout history women have always been subjected to men. Man is the Subject and the Absolute and woman is the Other. Woman is not deemed as an autonomous being in the androcentric culture. Women's position is identified in relation to men. Woman is not a slave but her position is such that she has always been man's dependent and they never shared the world of equality. The vision of equality among the two sexes is a false ideology. Such ideology entices women into the false consciousness.

A Mother-Daughter scene from the Film "Dharmagi Mingda Imagidamak"

In Manipur, women have played a significant role in the nation building over and above in the history of Manipur. There is a legacy of two most celebrated Nupi Lals behind them. The women groups like Meira Paibis and Nisha Bandh have established many powerful and overwhelming programmes propagating against the use of alcohol and drugs among the youths and simultaneously they have accomplished the tasks of bringing peace to the society thereby combating the armed conflicts of both the insurgents and security forces.

They are confronting every form of violence in the state and contributing an iota of their existence in many peace and social movements. Women as groups are very strong, forceful and dynamic. We have Ema Market which symbolizes the economic independence of Manipuri women. They have proved their collective women's power. In the field of games and sports also they have displayed their competence.

Despite such active participations, the question that lingers on every woman's psyche is whether the collective advancement indicates the development of woman as an individual. If we see the reality any improvement in the life of women is still handicapped to men. If we are asked to analyze the woman as an individual self then both the public and private spheres of woman's life should be considered. The development of woman as an individual is also indispensable for the evolution of woman.

The questions that should be inquired are: Is there an actual change in the position of woman in private life and how far Manipuri woman enjoys the personal emancipation at the domestic level? How many women feel safe and secure in this patrilineal society? Despite their numerous involvements in the social and political affairs, this world still belongs to men where they possess the absolute power. Women in Manipur are the forerunners in every aspect of life but they are also expected to return back to the home once the conflict is over as the woman's liberation is thought to be a real menace to the society. Women still negotiate their position when it comes to their families.

The exaltation of woman as mother, wife and daughter who have to defend the honour of family somehow subjugates the women as an individual. In Manipur, women have occupied an exceptional social position in the family, the society, the culture and the social system which elucidates both the leadership quality inherited in Manipuri women. But no single woman comes out as a political leader and some of the women leaders representing Manipuri women are too weak to raise their voices against the hegemony of male counterparts.

Men dominate the decision making process. In myths and legends, the Meeteis advocate the Manipuri women as having equal companions with men in politics, society, economy, and cultural and ritual practices. The legendary figures like Imoinu, Panthoibi, Thoibi, Queen Linthoingambi, Queen Gomati, Queen Kumudini among others, have been the prototypes of women's courage, valiancy and independence since time antiquity. These women of profound statures have influenced the identity formation of many Manipuri women who so far relate themselves to the qualities of valor, prowess, hard-working and protection of family in time of catastrophe manifested by these figures. In spite of such distinctive attributes of Manipuri women, they could not enjoy the freedom of being born as autonomous being.

Traditions and customs continue to subjugate women in this society and deprive them of individual choice. Women have been dealing with many other dilemmas which obliterate their individual liberty. Recently Manipur has witnessed the rise of domestic violence which compels us to question the state of women at domestic level. Home symbolizes shelter, safety, security and protection however it is within the boundaries of this very home and hearth that women have been silently tolerating the most awful violence and crimes against them.

Manipuri women are circumscribed to the traditional hierarchies where the male head still enjoys the right to marry more than one wife. Polygamy has been always more or less openly tolerated. The beating of women is not a new thing and other forms of violence involve physical abuse, sexual assault, threats, hostility of an individual woman against herself such as suicide, self-mutilation and negligence of personal health, etc. The use of alcohol by men is an important factor accounting for the high prevalence of violence against women.

Rape is another issue which is accompanied by an experience of violation, degradation and humiliation. It infuses the woman with the distress of her own vulnerability and therefore we cannot ignore the predicaments faced by women. Not only minors, the young women as well are molested by the adults of the family. Surprisingly there is little material available in the form of written documentations on crimes against women as only few women come out strongly against such unjustness. Most of the time women remain silence on the issues of domestic violence only for the reason that it involves scrutiny of intimate family relationships.

The crimes against women have been increasing at an alarming rate in Manipur. Women are no longer secure and protected in Manipur. It is not only because of armed conflicts prevalent in the state but other factors also contribute to the tribulations of women. The misuse of technology like mobile is another aspect which harms the women.

It is very disheartening fact that many young women are lured by the married men under disguised identities through mobiles and later they are killed after snatching their belongings like gold and tarnishing their modesty. Several young girls become the victims of the advanced technology which is creating havoc in the state of mind of youths. We have witnessed numerous cases like death of young maidens killed under mysterious circumstances by their so-called boyfriends.

Another reason which shows the dilapidation of women's position in Manipuri society is the increase of child marriage. When the women around the globe are fighting against the marriage of women under eighteen years of age, many young women are getting married very young in Manipur thereby leading to the undernourishment of young girls who become mothers at a very immature age. We cannot also deny the fact that the morality of many young girls are demeaning because of which they have to face the problems of unwanted pregnancy and abortion and even death in case her beau disagrees to marry her.

It is a matter of great concern in contemporary scenario where the youths are enticed by drugs and alcohols which add to the moral degradation of youths. Any forms of violence, both overt and covert, have an overpowering influenced on the construction of feminine identity. The woman's identity and perception of self is fashioned early in her life and every phase of her life has passed through questioning of the traditional norms and standards.

Many women have inquired about the transformations brought to the woman's life but consistently the changes happen collectively but not individually. The individual self-articulation is overshadowed by the collective women identity and the woman as a "self" is repressed and subjugated and the turmoil of woman is being internalized without any enunciation. As an individual, woman is too fragile to fight against the domination of male in family.

Women tend to internalize the culturally conditioned and received image of woman like in the case of Manipuri women who constantly applaud for the collective distinctiveness rather than the individual self and such stereotyping never comprehends woman as completely rounded complex human being.

There is a need to approach Manipuri women from a different perspective to render a new definition to the location of woman in the androcentric world. We require a "New Woman" who can raise her voice against the atrocities meted out to her under the rigid societal structures which constricts the woman from personal emancipation.

For the improvement of women's condition, every woman should have the knowledge concerning women's education, legal rights and her rights of citizenship and economic independence. Women should be aware of existing rules and regulations prevalent within the framework of a democratic polity which include the development policies, laws, plans and programmes to facilitate women's advancements in political, economic, social, cultural spheres.

Women should properly utilize the rights given to them like right to life, right to equality, right to health, right to safety and security, reproductive rights and most importantly right to education. The incapability to read, write and reflect their thoughts doomed them to ignorance so education is an important tool for women's empowerment. The ignorance of such facilities often constructs an impediment in woman's life.

Manipur has produced innumerable educated women but most of them could not come out against the society which imprisons women. The change of society is dynamic subsequently the outlook of women should also metamorphose with the shifting society. Women should not always glorify the past but should do something different from the traditional position to introduce a "New Woman who is intellectually strong, economically powerful and socially vibrant.

Every woman should explore and campaign for the issues like domestic violence, gender, stereotypes, sexuality, discrimination, sexism, objectification, patriarchy, abortion, reproduction, control of the female body, divorce, equal pay, maternity leave, breast feeding, prostitution and education only then she will get her concrete position in the society.