- A woman should be able to recognise “micro aggressions” in a relationship and not sacrifice her individuality
- Being in love does not give the man the freedom to violate a woman
- What a woman will wear is for her to decide
College students of both genders discussed what love means to them online at One Billion Rising (OBR), a mass action to end violence against women.
The global campaign was started on Valentine’s Day in 2012.
The Kolkata chapter of the campaign celebrated this year's OBR while keeping the focus on “raising voices against hatred and exploring the meaning of love”.
“A woman in love should be aware of the micro aggressions and not normalise it. Anger is a valid emotion but it is important how it is being acted out in love,” said Astyartha Das, a student of Jadavpur University.
She spoke about small things in everyday life like getting angry if the man is not served food on time and how that anger is being manifested.
“Freedom in love between two people is important and the woman should not have to sacrifice her individuality in the relationship,” she said.
Another student, Kahkasha Shakil, said “self love” is important rather than waiting to get love from others.
Kahkasha spoke about the woman’s right to her body. “I have right over my body. What I wear, when I decide to marry and when I have a child is my decision, not someone else’s,” she said.
Youth can initiate change by reaching out to many, digitally and through other means, said those who work with them on upholding the rights of the woman.
“It is important for youth to identify and recognise consent in a relationship. We see youth as potential cadres to bring change because they bring new thoughts and ideas and have the potential to reach out to the masses,” said Seema Sreeniwas, senior programme officer at Swayam, a women's rights organisation.
Sreeniwas said there are many boys who do not conform to the idea of manhood or masculinity.
“There is a pressure on them from families, peers to behave in a certain way… though they themselves do not conform to that. We tell them it’s good that they are identifying that and that will help bring a change,” she said.
A counsellors’ collective in Kolkata, which launched the NGO Ek Daake on Valentine’s Day, spent the day with residents of Bodhana, a home for special children in New Town. Ek Daake will focus primarily on elderly care. It will also offer counselling to individuals, couples or groups facing various challenges, especially in the post-pandemic period.
