For over a decade the year 2020 was earmarked to be a milestone year in both business and politics. However, no one could have foreseen the horror that hit us. The world was unprepared to deal with a pandemic of this proportion. The official figure states that approximately 80 million people have been affected and over 1.75 million have died. Plenty of people have lost their near and dear ones. In the process, we have also lost some global icons like Diego Maradona, Kobe Bryant and Sean Connery. However, the two who have left an indelible mark in public sphere were Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Helen Reddy. I want to take a moment and reflect on the latter, a woman who became an representation of the second wave of feminism with a single song.
Some people have an impact which goes beyond their actual work. They inspire a generation. Helen Reddy was such an inspiration. When most cultures of the world were still stuck with prehistoric myths about women, the counter culture and the feminist movement made huge strides in taking civilisation forward. The civil rights is much more than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and “I have a dream”. The free speech movement is much more than Mario Savio and “Bodies upon the gears”. The feminist movement is also much bigger than Helen Reddy and “I am a woman, hear me roar!”. However, both the individual and their work had a significant impact in shaping up an entire generation.
The biggest mark of respect for Helen Reddy is what we can learn from the woman who roared. Her songs and voice have already been immortalised, thanks to our ability to record and play them. However, as I mentioned before her work signifies more than the construct of the creation. There are two key learnings I want to highlight from the works of the lioness.
Showcase strength not weakness
Constant fighting can be sapping and will easily pave wave for self pity and weakness. The trend these days is to infantilise every community when they are affected. However, the battle for equality cannot be left to infants. There are some key values I want to share in order to showcase the strength.
It is fine to be the first
Humans innately seek patterns. We look for people who share our traits. This is especially true if we think that trait has been historically discriminated. The most common ones are physical ability, gender, religion, sex, race and nationality. We don’t hear about the first bald Nobel Prize Winner. That is because no one associates with baldness as their key attribute. One key value we should learn is not to find precedence with the characteristic we associate with ourselves.
Equity is not a means for equality
To give every individual adequate support so that they can do well is paramount in a civil society. To give every individual different advantage so that they can all reach the same destination at the same time is discrimination. The former is equality. The latter is equity. If I had trained alongside Usain Bolt all my life, it doesn’t guarantee me achieving the same result in sprinting. Equality is where I get all the necessary facilities to be the best sprinter possible. Equity on the other hand is ensuring I get a head start to ensure I finish the race at the same time as Usain Bolt. It is a dangerous idea. Equity is often thrust as a tool for equality. It is completely contrary. It sidelines people and in a passive aggressive way also denies them the opportunity to live their life with grace and respect. We should showcase enough strength to reject equity even if it sounds tempting.
Act sensibly, standup immediately if you can
Safeguard yourself first. Once you are safe, then do not be a silent spectator to an injustice. If one doesn’t act at the first possible opportunity, then one invariably allows the injustice to propagate. Think of the number of Hollywood stars who didn’t open about either Bill Cosby or Harvey Weinstein. These starts who preach morality to us sitting in the comfortable beach houses could have highlighted the issue years in advance. They were in a safe space. Instead they quietly watched as the predators kept counting their victims.
Prepare the next generation
Every individual is a victim of their situation. Not everyone has the courage to face and fight back. However, everyone can prepare the next generation for a fight. It is crucial that we teach our kids to question, standup and fight for their rights and everyone else’s rights.
Do not become the monster you hate
Perpetuating community hatred
What is the difference between the below sets of assertions?
“Women are too weak to be by themselves”
“All men are horrible”
“White race is superior”
“All white people are racist”
Both these sets have two opposing views and all arguments are non sequiturs. It is a generalisation from one example. These assertions will only propagate further division and violence in the society. However, what we see today is a strong movement towards the second assertion. It is almost like the pendulum has swung too far to the other side.
Belief shouldn’t circumvent due process
For centuries the word of a woman has been either ignored or undermined in the court of law. This has resulted in men getting their way with the judgement of their choice. For example even today in most islamic courts, the evidence of a woman is only weighed half as much as a man. This horrific situation where justice is based on barbaric laws and incorrigible beliefs has caused havoc to societies which practice this. We all need to fight for due process, facts and verification of evidences.
The same due process should apply if the roles are actually reversed. An accusation against a man which is based on preconceived notions established by the stereotypes is just as horrible. It isn’t justice but an inappropriate revenge. Such behaviours will only send the civil societies spiral into anarchy.
Liberty is a freedom to choose not a mandate to change
A woman should have the right over her reproductive cycle. She needs to have the right to go back to work when she chooses. She needs to have the right to choose the career she can excel. The key word in all this in choice. This means the woman has the right to choose a path which can be stereotyped. For example, she can decide to quit her job and raise the child. She can decide to be a teacher over an engineer. The mandate to have diversity in a field shouldn’t come at the expense of forcing a woman out of her comfort.
I increasingly see woman who decide to have a family, go into creative arts or in some extreme cases just be soft spoken looked down by the fellow women. This isn’t liberalism or feminism. This is unadulterated discrimination. It is the unforeseen result of people who have become the monsters they hated.
To conclude, I strongly feel we need to go back to the principles which stand out of the famous song. Rest in peace Helen Reddy. Your words are immortal. They will last till we have language. The words will resonate in my ears till my brain can process sound.
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an’ pretend
’cause I’ve heard it all before
And I’ve been down there on the floor
No one’s ever gonna keep me down againOh yes I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
You can bend but never break me
’cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
’cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin’ arms across the land
But I’m still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand
Oh yes I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman
RIP Helen Reddy
Demystifying a skeptic's world 