Dr Mitali Gupta India is a country rich in diversity, with its cultures, languages, and religions thriving under one roof. Yet, while agriculture and traditions hold their own beauty, communication often falls short in sensitivity. The way we label and address people, particularly women, reflects deep insensitivity and perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
For example, calling a woman a “widow” after the loss of her husband reduces her identity to her loss, when in reality, she deserves empathy, not a title that carries pain and stigma. Similarly, women who cannot have children are unfairly labeled with terms like “barren,” ignoring their emotions and struggles. These terms are not only insensitive but dehumanizing, as they disregard the personal circumstances and biological reasons beyond a woman’s control.
What’s even more troubling is how society excludes these women from cultural ceremonies, labeling them as “unlucky.” This mindset stems from deeply ingrained superstitions, failing to recognize that a woman’s worth is not defined by her ability to bear children or her marital status. These are life events, not choices, and they should be met with compassion, not judgment.
It’s also deeply concerning how society turns its harsh gaze toward women who choose not to marry. Instead of respecting their autonomy, people often weaponize this decision, using it as a tool for humiliation. In disputes, the first insult thrown is often that a woman couldn’t “secure.