Few Years
Ago.
BA First
Year
First day
of class. (I was there on third day only. It was quite different experience to
go to public college. It was like maze for me. I was not sure about the roads,
the buildings and classes. As it was first day I had allocated around 25
minutes margin before the classes started. It took me full 20 minutes to locate
my class. I was completely exhausted by the time I was able to find my class.)
First
period was just over. Suddenly everyone started moving out like crowds.
Everyone was rushing as if there was disaster. I could not locate, what went
wrong? Though, I did not leave my seat, I was like pushed by the students who
were jumping out of their desks. I learnt later that they were actually rushing
to get seat in next classes for next period so that they can learn with better
lecturers. That sounds funny. I continued to continue in same space and learn
at same class; hmm I was better with good lecturers as I hesitated to rush. I
noticed that there were more boys in class than girls.
BA Second
Year
By the
time our classes of second year were concluding, I realized boys were
disappearing. (Don't worry, it's not magic, they were
either queuing up for taking foreign study consultancy services, joined Korean
Language classes, trying to find reliable Manpower (they still call it
manpower) and had dropped due to some other reasons.
BA Third
Year
Classes
were running faster than ever before. And tuition classes were on full swing. Finding
more students in tuition centers than in college was not a surprise. Be that at
regular classes or tuition classes, I felt there were more girls in the classes.
---------------
I
finished bachelor course. Life continued moving, I enrolled into Masters. One
day, we were attentively listening lectures from our Lecturer on 'Feminism'.
He
stated, 'I think we are doing better. On
Masters Classes, there are less boys and more girls, not just girls but lot of
married women as well. So, people are no more hesitating to send girls to
school/college, in fact they are sending their daughter in laws to College.
Well, this is amazing."
Why
should anyone stop just being married? Why Masters classes can't have more
girls?
I tried
to understand what notion did his statements carried in depth. Somehow I
realized our lecturer's connotation was in positive tone. He was not
complaining on the presence of more girl students, but was happy that more
women have access to higher studies. He left in a while. I felt quite happy; in
fact I felt like celebrating girl's power and treat ourselves as we could made
up-to Masters. I took a while to have a look at time. As I noticed last class
had went on for extra 10 minutes. I waved my friends on my bench and rushed to
catch bus so that i could reach office in time.
Soon, I
was busy settling lot of papers at my desk and mails at my inbox. By afternoon,
I was trying to prepare a cup of Coffee Office lobby. I could hear two of my
colleagues (Bhim and Arogya) giggling out loud. Till the time I had creamy
Coffee ready, I was quite upset to overhear the conversation.
My ethics
told me not to join the colleagues' conversation, whereas my inner heart
suggested me that I need to intrude in between these gossips. I decided to
join. Arogya was continuing to listen remaining in his revolving chair and was
bit careful and his wide giggling face somehow compressed when I joined them
with a cup in my hand. He opened his specs and wiped it with the pink fabric.
Bhim was standing and speaking while leaning on working table.
Bhim
tried to conclude, 'So, this is
the reason that we should have no womens. No additional women staffs on our
section for the time being'.
I tried
to remain at ease and asked politely, 'May I know the reason why women staff should be strictly not
recruited in your section? Ah.. Let me correct, our section.
We are in
same section right, Admin and Finance?'
'I am
fine with women staffs working in Admin. But for Finance, no way.'
'Can you
elaborate this further, Bhim Sir?'
'See Sima
Miss, we have to work after office hour as well. We need to rush to banks and
tax offices. We may need to work till late evening; we may need to work on
weekend and holidays as well?
'Oh, I
see. Are these all reasons sufficient or you have more?'
'Ah..
Women staffs can't work like donkeys as male staffs do?'
'Are you
going to recruit donkeys to carry loads or human resources?'
'Of
course, we are hiring human resources'.
I
responded, 'Well, I am aware that nature of our work demands extra hour works
often and out of office movement as well. But women staff can easily do all
these if we provided enough support. We just need to be cooperative'.
'I am not
here to cooperate with women staffs. Simply, they will work less than me and I
will have additional jobs. I will not simply allow my boss to recruit women
staffs.'
I was
feeling quite uncomfortable by then. Yet I did not give up. 'Do you think some
of my assignments has been incomplete just because I am Woman'?
'No'.
'Do you
think my quality of work have been degraded because I am Woman'?
'No'.
'Do you
think the performance at my current position would have been better had there
been man doing this job'?
'No'.
'Why it
is so?'
'You are
doing good job. I think good enough. I think you are doing exemplary work.'
'Then why
have you problems if we hire women staff in our section?'
'Because
women can't work as men do in Office'?
Gosh.. I
was annoyed by his statements. Yet, ensuring enabling work environment was one
of my primary task. So I could not let him go with his 'Anti women thinking for
his section'.
'You have
been working with Ms. Neelam for couple of years, do you have any instance she
could not complete her work because she was woman'.
'No,
never. In fact there is no single room of defect in her work. She can easily
handle multiple tasks. In some situations, while dealing with service
providers, though I am not dealing with them directly, I am quite irritated. I
feel like slapping service providers for all stupid demands. But she handles
them with much comfort.'
'Do you
feel you could have done job better had you been doing the functions/roles
which Ms. Neelam is doing right now.'
'No. She
is more than perfect for her job. She is role-model'.
I now
knew how I can convince him.
'See, you
yourself are telling that women staff in our section is doing their jobs
perfectly. No work has been hampered just because they are women.'
'But both
staffs you referred are good ones including you.'
'If you
have already two women staffs who are doing excellent jobs right at your
section, you can't deny that upon hiring another women staff she could do even
more excellent jobs. Please don't just negate on women's ability to work.
Together we can create better work environment and work for achievement of
organization's goal. We are working for gender equity and social inclusion in
our Programmes. This is not achieved without having diverse workforce.'
His face
was not as stiff and his eyes somehow told he was curious to listen. I realized
somehow it's the best time to convince him.
I
continued, 'Diverse staff means getting diverse ideas as well. Not only this,
this is like having more innovations and learning from different culture as
well. When we are diverse then we can better connect with our diverse impact
groups. We always tell our impact groups on social justice and inclusion. They
will believe and follow us if only we have diverse workforce. That's living up
to what we say. Our work can be easily done by women staff, we should not have
such biases, otherwise, we will never have enabling work environment'.
'Hmm. I
think I know the notion why everyone else tells we should have diverse staffs.
I just knew the real reason. I am happy to work from whichever background s/he
comes.'
I took
deep breathe. My eyes rested on my colleague sitting on chair who was gazing.
'Are you
Ok?', I asked to Arogya.
He
responded with wide smile.
'I feel
like enlightened. I should thank him for questions and you for the responses. I
am convinced fully and will convince whoever has questions on inclusion and
diversity'.
I was
happier than ever. I believed at least these two friends can now convince
others as well.
We hired
women staff in Finance Section. She is continuing to perform excellent job and
all of her colleagues including Bhim are providing her ample cooperation.
------------
I have
friend who have been teaching in same Private institutions for long time. Not
only this, they have been teaching for same level throughout their service
period. As I ask them on why it is so, they simply answer "being women,
our School Management thinks we can't control students as Men do. I keep on
arguing with them, yet, none of my friend attempted to convince School
Management. Some of my friends have completed Masters Degree. They have rich
knowledge yet they are limited to their primary level still from where their
career started. At times, I feel I may be trying to tickle in their problems
when I ask them if they were able to go beyond their assignments and stop
myself from asking question.
------------
'Have you
ever been denied from some opportunities just because you are women?
This was
the question put forth by me to women applicants during job
interview. Somehow I felt like restless to hear the response of
interviewee. I somehow felt like while asking that particular question, I felt
like nervous. Don't know if someone noticed me or not.
The
responses were quite different. Some were never denied, some were often and
some were denied for few times. Some were denied at home, some at school, some
at college, and some at work-space. While some were denied to eat what they
wanted, some were denied to dress on the way they intended, some were denied to
have friends as they wished, some were denied to visit places they wanted, some
were denied to study what they wanted, some were denied to work where they
wanted, some were not offered job just because they were women.
Yet these
are lucky girls who could at least make up-to here. Several should have dropped
their wish and let it go. Some would have struggled and continued and some
would have felt tired of struggling and just let go the things in the manner
they go simply. The selection process was over, the results were amazing. The
selected list had diverse, competent, committed and confident perspective
staffs. We were happy to receive young professionals including women staff
committed to do best in job with firm decision to work in some of most remote
districts.
As the
new staffs joined duty, we had brief introduction and welcome programme at
Office Meeting Hall. After returning from welcome programme, I was working to
finalize presentation for orientation for the recently hired colleagues, Bhim
was there. As I asked him if he wanted any help from me.
He
responded, 'You had briefed me on the importance of diverse work force. Seeing
these young professionals and their commitments to work I am feeling delighted.
I was like surprised to see on how they introduced themselves on such different
and meaningful way. I feel it will be great to work with diverse people and learn
from their experience and background.
I was
more than happy to see complete transformation in him.
Yes, more
opportunities to work with diverse people and learn from diverse ideas.
