To break the cookie-cutter gender stereotypes created by our patriarchal society first and foremost everyone needs to change their mindset and get rid of the rigid traditional views that have been going on for years. Women can never be viewed as an equal to men unless we start to openly discuss the prejudices we face and how harmful these stereotypes can be. Stereotypes such as women should be ladylike and soft while men should be emotion less and macho might sound overly simple but are actually considered normal in most cultures.

1. We need to get rid of the idea that women are the weaker sex and are emotionally sensitive and dramatic. This confines women to a certain box and takes away opportunities from them. I think same goes for men, since we have been told that real men don’t cry. Such stereotypes can be harmful towards their mental health.

2. A working woman can also be a great parent. Men in high positions like a CEO are never questioned if they are a responsible parent or not but woman juggling both house work and job and constantly shamed and judged if they make even one mistake.

3. Woman are much much more than their physical attributes, face and body. Men with battle scars are celebrated while women  have to hide surgery scars cause it’s deemed “ugly” The extreme difference in treatment of men and women’s body is something we need to overcome.

4. The power imbalance in marriage specifically in out country needs to be talked about. It’s not a woman’s job to take care of the household and do the chores and a man’s job to take all the important decisions while the wife only gets to have opinions on which crockery set to buy. If both the husband and the wife works they should be able to rotate schedules to do their chores so it’s fair for both.

5. More films or books in india needs to have a strong female charecter. Diversity needs to be added and not just the man saving the day. Because media is consumed so widely a lot of progress can be achieved if the harmful stereotypes are broken. History books in schools need to celebrate not only the male freedom fighters but how both the genders have helped and talk about the women’s contribution to important historic events.

6. A woman who shows defiance or acts dominant (read behaves more like a man than how a woman should be) are berated and face backlash because woman as usual are expected to be sensitive and submissive.

These are just some of the few points i can think of right now but there are so much more that can be said on this topic. Women in male dominated environments need to stand and speak up for themselves when facing any sort of discrimination. Most woman are so used to the misogyny they face that they can’t even comprehend that they are unequally so we must raise more awareness.