Morgan Freeman once famously quipped, when asked about the black history month of USA,

Are you going to relegate my history to a month? Keeping this quote in the back of our
minds, lets think why that there exists a scenario where we need to celebrate women, why
we live in a society where we need to acknowledge, and appreciate women for their
achievements solely because they are women, as you are holding the womens edition of
voyage.
Was what Ada Lovelace did more profound than Alan Turings work because she was a
woman? Were Vera Rubins achievements in astronomy more note worthy than Fritz
Zwickys because she was a woman? But yet these ladies and many more like them are
celebrated every womens day. Why? Because these women had to run miles more than their
male counter parts to reach the same finish line. As Charlotte Whitton quoted Whatever
women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not
difficult.
All the sarcasm aside, this is where I disagree with Freeman. He believes the best way to
fight racism is to stop talking about it. I believe, the first step in fighting sexism or racism for
that matter, is to acknowledge its existence. Because you cannot fight something that you
pretend does not exist. So repeat after me. Sexism exists. Patriarchy is not a myth.
Chairman Mao of China said Women hold up half the sky. This is one of the most concise
and powerful statement ever said about women empowerment. The key word here would be
half. Closer home, Swami Vivekananda said, It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one
wing. In the dynamics of human species, each gender is entitled to precisely the half of the
spectrum. Neither more nor less. Something patriarchy conveniently ignores. Instead, it
creates the glass ceilings. The invisible chains. The extra miles for women to run.

Where does sexism exist?

The sad answer is it is there everywhere. Inside you and me. Sometimes it is overt,
outrageous, offensive and dangerous. Sometimes it is minor, socially acceptable, barely
acknowledgeable and equally dangerous. Because it is these small niggling instances of
sexism that prepares the way to apathy and in many cases to more despicable forms of gender
harassment.
Sexism exists in more covert ways than this though.. And it is not always about violence. In
fact gender violence is largely a fruit of trivializing more minor and common place
occurrences of gender discrimination, developing a culture of silence and internalization. It
starts small and it starts young. Boys dont cry. Girls should be seen and not heard. It grows.
You are a girl. So no you cant play football, stay out after dark.People have written entire
doctoral thesis on sexism in primary school textbooks.
Sexism in not always about restrictions though. Misogyny is so ingrained in beliefs and social
norms that people simply forget to question it. Fast on Sunday to get a good husband. Fast on
Monday for his good health. When is he going to fast for her?

It is there in the media. In this era of information overload, sexism is an ever present factor. It
is there is every fairness cream ad. Every jewelers ad. In fact these are just two of the many
industries that have been build entirely on sexism. But you know objectification has reached
a new low when you see people thinking scantily clad women are required to sell everything
from cool drinks to coffee.

Who loses due to Sexism?

To say only women lose due to sexism is like telling your end of the boat is sinking.
Patriarchy is an establishment so made that everyone loses.
Quoting Bell Hooks, the wounded child inside many males is a boy who, when he first
spoke his truths, was silenced by paternal sadism, by a patriarchal world that did not want
him to claim his true feelings. The wounded child inside many females is a girl who was
taught from early childhood that she must become something other than herself, deny her
true feelings, in order to attract and please others.
Andrea Dworkin quoted Woman is not born: she is made. In the making, her humanity is
destroyed. She becomes symbol of this, symbol of that: mother of the earth, slut of the
universe; but she never becomes herself because it is forbidden for her to do so. And as long
as women dont become themselves, half the potential of our entire race is being wasted.
Maybe that is one of the reasons why 2001 couldnt bring us space odysseys.

What are you going to do about sexism?

Now this is the million dollar question and no one can answer it for you. One good place to
start will be to respect every woman. Not because she is someones mother or sister or
daughter. Respect her as her own person. For her believes. For her principles. Respect every
man too. Because until one stops defining an individual by his/her gender, sexism never
disappears.
And a good time to start doing something would be now. A time when girls are killed in the
wombs, raped on the streets and mutilated over dowry. When women (and men) are
aggressively stereotyped into roles that alienate them from the opposite gender when they are
meant to be compliment of each other.
Maya Angelou wrote, Im a woman/Phenomenally/ Phenomenal woman,/ Thats me.. That
is what we are. That is what we want to be. Phenomenal women. And phenomenal men. Who
are ready to reach out and touch the stars. Ready to boldly go where no man human have
gone before. On this womens day and every other day of this year. And years to come.