A brief round-up of blogger posts on Women’s Day, which is being celebrated today.

Chandni introspects on feminism, following the recent controversy in our blogosphere over the role of women, and questions female chauvinism.

Coming to the fundas of women’s emancipation, feminism and equality…how come this issue reeks of some sort of female chauvinism?How come women are the first ones to belittle another’s choice? Ridicule them? Aren’t we branding “feminism” as some sort of monolith “owned” by certain individuals who view it as something specific and leave absolutely no room for anything else?

Archana Pande asks us to spare a thought today for the domestic help that makes us enjoy Women’s Day

[..]many of us grudge the smallest pay hike for our ‘bai’. While we ensure weekly holidays are firmly incorporated into whatever work we do, not many household helpers have this luxury. In fact, her request for a holiday often meets stiff resistance. I have found that in many homes kids speak rudely to household helpers. She is often addressed by her name giving no respect to her age if that is the case. Surely adding a simple ‘ben / didi’ would not hurt too much?

Maria Rossi, originally from Oslo and currently in India, relates a personal incident that happened to her today

This morning when I walked out on the street two men sitting on the sidewalks shouted after me: “Happy Women’s Day!” I smiled and said “Happy Women’s Day” back and kept walking. I turned the corner and three rickshaw drivers were loitering, as I think the term is, (“drive dank”), waiting for their next customer. One asks me if I want a rickshaw and I politely say no.
“All right bitch, good bye bitch.”

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