On this International Women's Day 2021 on 8th March, Monarose Sheila Pereira spoke to senior male professionals on how they can participate in creating a better world for women.  

Advocate Anthony D'Silva 

Firstly, and before anything, men should stop the discrimination that happens to women in their own homes. It is not about giving women a pedestal, or an unfair advantage, but rather the same opportunity and respect that is given to male members in the family. Like charity, this too should begin at home. 

Framroz GhaswaIa, Consultant 

I think women in urban areas are doing pretty well for themselves, career wise. However, they are often denied their rights at home and by their own families. This is what needs to be looked into. We need to break this negative attitude society has built around them. We are proud to give them good education and careers but are we ready to give them their rights to property, inheritance, dignity and respect? I think men should break their patriarchal mindset to ensure a just and fair society. When we talk of women's issues we usually have the urban woman in mind; but what about the women in rural areas and slum pockets in cities? Life must be even tougher for them.

Dr. Akshay Batra, MD - Dr. Batra's Healthcare 

Organizations need to acknowledge women and their contributions. I believe women are walking at pace or maybe even faster.  At Dr. Batra's, 70 percent of our workforce are women and so is the head of Medical Services and most of our doctors. I don’t believe we are unequal, but we are different - on many fronts they’re more capable and it helps to accept and realize that they’re much better at multitasking. I believe women are more passionate and loyal with whatever they take up. In fact it is the men who need to learn from women, to become better at multitasking and sharing work at home.

Prof. Amir Ullah Khan, Director Research, CDPP 

Men must realize that their women colleagues have many more responsibilities. Therefore, to expect them to do most things that come easily to men is unfair. Staying back in the evening for an extended meeting or joining in on weekend outings is often difficult for women. If they are unable to join for these reasons, they should not be excluded. Morning timings too should be made flexible. Women are particularly busy early morning, cooking, cleaning, and getting children ready for the day. If this means they reach offices late, it should not matter. The whole world now works on flexi timings, and organizations should note these requirements.

Ramesh Tekwani, Film Maker and Media Educator 

What can men do to help women move forward? If we are talking about educated, urban audiences, the question is almost rhetorical, and could be followed by a tongue-in-cheek question: “Is it even possible?” But if we are talking about the bulk of Indian men, there is a need for basic education before that question can be asked. These guys must be taught to recognize and acknowledge women as co-humans on Earth, let alone as individuals with dreams and aspirations, capability and talent. Start training girl’s young, at home, let them discover themselves as persons with guts and gumption; not as girls who must and must not do this or that. Do not differentiate between them and their male siblings. Create an atmosphere of healthy respect for wives, mothers and sisters. Having done that, we will have created a level playing ground and an atmosphere of sustainable synergy. Women don’t just go ahead, they instinctively take along everybody associated or connected with them when they move ahead. We need to create the right environment. Everything else follows naturally. 

With these enlightening thoughts let us pledge to create a better environment at home and at the office, for our women; be they our mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, friends or colleagues.