Women with Self-Respect: An Entity of Universe

Promoting self-respect is essential to maintain quality. This article argues the importance of self-respect, a woman should give themselves so that others give them as well. Women and self-respect became a contrast in society. In this connection, media also extends its hand to make the world understand the importance of self-respect of a woman through the movie “Thappad”. This movie makes us to rethink the female voice and the foregrounding of oneself in terms of self-respect. The result will allow to probe into the situation of the struggle for self-respect and respect from others make each women live hell in the world. Women dreaming on free spirit must be addressed in human rights.


Introduction
Men with head and women with heart, men to command and women to obey, men for sword and women for needle, goes an old saying. Women of any generation have thrived under such crucial circumstances in ancient days. But the society of the present scenario witnesses a transformed lifestyle of women. It is not the paradigm shift but it becomes the demand that women have to head, to command and to sword. Within the limits, she is an angel in the house. If she searches or reaches beyond, she is viewed as a mischievous spirit. The matter to be articulated is on humanism rather than feminism. Preferably, humanistic concern is advocated rather than moving towards gender issues. Being a human being is more important than tracing the traits of a female.
Women are no longer objects of materialistic gratification but personification of higher goals. Self-respect is the tool that instigates women towards higher order thinking. Lack of self-respect creates a confidence gap between genders. Self-respect rendered to a woman enables her to provide a stronger and safer society. A woman demanding selfrespect is viewed as an egoistic creature. And seeking dignity is connected with negative notion. If given opportunity, a woman always takes a lead role. Self-analysis boosts optimism that no one can render. Self-respect is a connection between thoughts and actions. Irrespective of criticism, comparison and opinion, mistakes help a woman to grow. Value and trust are the constituents of self-respect.
Transformed beliefs, attitudes and norms generally help the other gender to respect women. It is a call for all fathers, husbands, brothers and sons to take responsibility in preserving women from being degraded. The role of parents to inculcate values in the children becomes a prerequisite to upgrade the level of women community. Better learning outcomes and the societal teaching enable women to oppose disrespect. Women's physical, sexual, reproductive, and mental health is important for the universe to spin. As, it shows adverse effects on historical, political, economical and cultural arenas, sufficient care and opportunities should be given to empower the entire universe.
Societal experience and socio-cultural norms decide a gender to be women. Hence women are not born; they are made by the chauvinistic society. Certain things appear to be trivial like choosing a new saree women would like to wear, go for shopping, pouring out the heart to the neighbor, sometimes laughing and most of the times shedding tears, wanting a shoulder to lie down, preparing sumptuous meals for the family, cleaning the utensils, a lonely walk but these acts relieve women from stress and provides a temporary solution for their evolution. Women are advocated not to be rebellious or submissive but choose their own path to come out from the clutches. Necessary support from the mother, father and consequently the husband enable a woman to face any barrier successfully. They become stable provided with the support and enact shrewdly. Instead of competing between men and women, complementing will surpass the gender issues.

Women in Society
Women are the real architect of the society. It is the reality but the society pretends not to realize. Women with money, idea and power were treated as characterless being sometimes. A woman attains individuality out of the experiences that she has endured. The individuality of a woman comes from within and not by any external pressure. External factor such as legal advice, religious norms, societal pressure, economical background, political upheaval and cultural confusion suppress a woman. Hence a woman follows the intuition of her soul that finally furnishes her personality. If woman tries to compromise with others, fights unnecessarily, behaves strangely, seeks attention in the name of feminism and equal rights without any reason, attaining real freedom is a nightmare. Since a woman becomes a slave of submissive thoughts, the individuality perishes and she fails to breathe independence.
A woman gets strength from various dynamic bodies outside but the light starts from within. Therefore, paying attention to the inner voice raises the standard of a woman and paves way to achieve the 'self'. The perception of a woman holds the power to transform the entire world around her. Hence mere pacification towards dressing, possessing jewels, smoking is not the exact freedom but to think and act freely, that makes her a unique human. This must be the status quo of women. Her mental ability is the greatest possession she should hold.
Society expects an ideal woman to be with a perfect body and conditioned behaviour. The family in its part expects a woman to be beautiful and feminine. Apart from planning meals to be prepared regularly, they should be given the role of decision making. In spite of the richness that a woman possesses, the ability to quench the thirst of driving a car alone shows the real freedom. Therefore, it lies in the hands of women to choose her way to attain satisfaction, happiness, victory and freedom. The community of women desirably should fight for the rights that have been denied from ages past. Though she performs multiple tasking, enhancing the traits, the society remains a hindrance to all the developmental activities. Only with the progress of women in all discipline independently, women can achieve a room of one's own as said by Virginia Woolf.
In connection with the progressive transformation in the life of women, gender issues are enumerated. Gender issues should be addressed as human issues. Women are not merely confined to the gender anxiety but to the societal, familial, political, economic, cultural and historical norms. Women are the complete entity; without whom nothing exist. The relentless struggles of women deserve to be tribute. The society need not create a new path to women, since it already exits. The society holds the responsibility to value the wish of every woman so that women are open to various dimensions of the society. Apart from dealing with gender issues without bias, the female is always encouraged to thrive human race. By availing protection to female, the society is defensive to all types of calamities. A woman sows the seed of fertility by rendering generations. Hence it is appropriate to express that a woman nurtures the entire globe and the society does not nurture a girl child.

Women and Self-respect
Self-respect is not care or attention a woman needs, rather it is the dignity they yearn for. Self-respect is the main anticipation of every woman. Women's struggle to gain self-respect, peer respect and mitigate disrespect prevails throughout the life. Women are always put up in highly contextualized forms, hence were tied not to react. The harsh realities faced for survival sometimes make them to fight back or fall prey of it. In the view of self-respect, the marginalized voice of women should be reconsidered in every aspect. Therefore, every female struggles to frame out the odds against their dignity and selfrespect. Society feels comfortable with disrespecting a woman. It becomes the normal agenda in the world.
Even in the United Nations Millennium development goals under sustainable development, the point on respect and power was discussed. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, argued that "Women with power and respect take decisions that benefit her family and society as whole." If a woman's family and society helps her to gain power, respect and experience then there will be no violence and abuse that leads to achieve their self-respect.
Self -respect of a woman must be focused not for well-being of her family and society but for the sake of herself, her life and her happiness. This attitude of self-respect allows both female and male to realize the insights on female and remove the horizons of limits and struggles for respect. As respect is expectation and attainment of every human being so as self-respect of women must be equally consider as human rights. Now a day's women have been found to search for respect as women. When self-respect is denied for educated women, she courageously approach law and be independent. Whereas when it is denied for uneducated women, they violently engage in struggle.

Women in Media
A soul has no gender but in media it is contrary. A woman is the feasible agent to organize the world. Hence a woman need not be refined but is to be redefined. The society achieves success with the acceptance of women to move at her pace and not discussing about whether to rise beyond or to underestimate her. In association with how to deal a woman has been appropriately discussed in social media.
Media is one of the effective tools propagating the exact condition of the society. Films are the chief caricature through which past, present and future is reflected. They give the world, the glimpse of gender issues prevalent in the society. Movies generally warn, protect, provide awareness, educate and also entertain the public. The story, characters, visual effects ever provide huge impact in the mind and heart of millions of people. Being a widely acclaimed medium to portray the issues related to gender, gender discrimination, violence against women, movies are the best platform to reinvigorate the society based on gender issues. Since movies act as the agents to revolutionize the society against gender discrimination, a notable movie is discussed in this paper picturing the gender issues. It is not always the woman is an entertainment agent in the media, it is time to consider her with self-respect. In this aspect, the Hindi movie "Thappad" is one of its kind.

Women in Thappad
Thappad is a Hindi film illustrating the seriousness of gender issues. The movie teaches the society that silence of a woman is more powerful than words uttered. Anubhav, the director strikes a balance between making a film on a real story and making one that tells a real story. Anubhav quotes, "adjust to…just one slap…it happens" (Thappad). It does not talk about a single slap that woman gets, but about ample unfair silent slaps that women endure for a long time.

Canadian Journal of Language and Literature Studies
Vikram, the central character in the movie is an ambitious corporate employee. Amrita's world spins around the dreams, wants and needs of her husband. Vikram hosts a party in the house to celebrate the promotion that he has been offered with to London. Meanwhile he gets a call over the phone stating that he should work under his junior. When he argues with one of his colleague at that party, Amrita tries to stop him from arguing but gets a slap from her husband. Amrita gets hurt. She leaves the house and moves to her parents' house. Furthermore, she takes the matter to court. The lawyer is unable to figure out the basis for her divorce. It is not the slap but the emotional battle rattling inside her makes her to apply for divorce. It is not a casual incident encountered by Amrita but the fact is Vikram takes Amrita for granted.
Vikram never has thought that Amrita will be so furious considering Vikram's sudden fit of anger. One single slap of Vikram penetrates into Amrita's heart turning her upside down. Though Amrita hails from a loving and upper class family, a thoroughly educated and a classical dancer, she bends herself for the sake of the husband. She always tries to preserve the family's legacy and strives to sustain peace. In spite of the pile of monotonous household chores at home, she remains unchanged but a single slap transforms her. With the mother and the mother-in law on one side expecting Amrita to carry out the matriarchal duties flawlessly, the father is a great source of support. In this situation, Amrita unhesitatingly opts for divorce with the brutal deed of her husband. Even after realizing that she is pregnant, she is stubborn to apply for divorce. The film director tried too hard to make the loud statement in a subtle way.
Vikramis a workaholic career builder who spends most of the time in the office, while Amrita completely ignores her dreams and serves everyone with meals, stands beside Vikram holding the wallet, caring elderly mother, and maintaining the house. She loves being devoted towards the family. Such a profound love vanishes in one second due to the thoughtless mistake done by Vikram. Culture is not only destined for women, but also equally for men. Finally Amrita's inner journey of silence comes to an end with one slap. Her decision has its impact in every single person in her life. Her 'self-awareness' is completely unbelievable and shocking not only to her but to everyone. Vikram never has thought a life without Amrita, not basically out of love on her but to command her just like demanding the juniors in the office. Divorce is not a haughty act but for her it is something so delicate that asserts her 'self'.
Hence, Thappad is a silent slap on the society's age-old belief. Though it is unexpected and uncomfortable to accept Amrita's decision, current environmental conditions allow the audience to introspect the complexity of patriarchy surmounting the society. Vikram is not offensive against Amrita often, but the single act of fury is a sign that Vikram unintentionally misuses Amrita. The question is not the violence that is entrusted towards Amrita but the loss of self-respect that she esteems to be highly essential. The director has enlightened the public that any small act of domestic violence or deprioritizing women is deeply condemned.

Self-respect and Human Rights
Self-respect is a technique to live a life in a disciplined way. When human right is violated, it leads to inconsistency. Denying human rights paves the way of challenging the society. Gender respect must be considered in addressing the female struggle for respect. In other words, respect for women and self-respect of women is "respect for human rights". Despite the means of reaching her intellectually through rational or focusing the feeling emotional, women's self-respect must not be at disposal. Self-respect can be a persuasive force in struggle against injustice of women. For this education, religion, culture and society should accept and welcome the concept of self-respect for women. The strategy to recognize self-respect for women must increase therefore, the subject to violence, oppression and exploitation will minimize underrepresented well-being. The universal value of self-respect for women must be inclusive in mutual respect.
Women's fight to gain self-respect, peer respect and also to alleviate disrespect mostly happens because of the cultural, social and religious taboos imposed on them. Family is the first institution so on respecting the female voice the rest area gets adjusted. Though, it is an old order, only family as fundamental vicinity can bring new social orders. In turn it will become new active approach welcomed in society. Once this self-respect problem is tackled, the true lack of human rights will be eradicated.
The policy makers adherently frame the perception on respected women and respectable women for the sake of self-respect for women. Greater their role in decision making results in high self-respect. Being disrespected was sometimes a motivation for violence. On the other hand, rich women, good looking women, high job women were at least considered. The poor, ugly, jobless and uneducated women were double removed from self-respect. All the inconvenience happens to women becomes a snowball effect against their self-respect.
An individual woman can earn respect through self-development, but the individual development is questionable. Notion of honoring of woman and allowing to perform one's duty paves way to self-respect. Challenge is more to find the productive way to address the respect issues. To educate young women and men to be acquainted with the respect and respectability brings about a great change. Even micro inequalities must be transformed. Search for respect or fight to acquire respect in their own environment and respecting respect is the need of the hour. Women Self Respect should be a critical component of moral education and legal human rights.

Conclusion
Women are ready to handle any situation given at any point of time but with compulsion, they were not allowed to do. The greatest responsibility lies in the hands of a family and the society to boost up the energy that is already prevalent among women. More than a book or a debate, every single human is in a condition to internalize gender awareness and eradicate gender issues. Assault on woman is a serious crime and the society is largely responsible for it. Women come out of all the odds through self-proclamation. She must realize the necessity to relieve herself from the clutches that the society destines. The strength has nothing to do with the physic but by the indomitable will. The society is plastered with gender determined structure. Instead, a society with human based culture readily promotes the livelihood of women. Basically, women do not lose the identity but the society fails to sail along with her, providing equal opportunities.
Domestic violence, mental harassment and verbal abuse are considered as a greatest challenge disrupting the physical and mental strength. Gender sensitization should contemplate what is fair and unfair. Awareness is a hinge to the members of the society to respect women and make women to generate self-respect towards them. Discrimination based on gender difference is unacceptable and can never be considered as a trait of integrity. It is the role of the family and the society to dilute slowly the prejudice prevailing among other gender. Rejection and humiliation meted out only to women made them to moan and groan, finally stand strong. Preservation of culture that completely swallows liberty, happiness and harmony of women is not an accepted criterion to conserve both women and culture. Since women hold the potential to succumb to unconquerable circumstances, she is sure to elevate the humanity. In the present scenario, women are trapped, underrated and tamed that results only in down fall of the society and the whole humanity.
Hence society is in a dire need to reboot against the conventional stereotypes chiefly designed for women. The muted grievances hoarded by women all these days have been a hindrance to the society in accomplishing wonders. As the humanity realizes the efficacy to preserve the emotional imbalances of women and treat women equally with respect, the world gains laurels in any endeavors. The archaic words stating men with the ability to hold sword and women to hold needle is thwarted by the economic, societal, political and the cultural accomplishments of women in all arenas. Therefore, women indomitably possess the attribute to needle, sword and shield the humanity.