00:00The point always to be proven and maintained is that the woman is weak and fragile because that
00:07exactly. In Karnataka they are going to implement menstrual leaves for women. Just wanted to
00:14understand how that is going to really help women. On one hand we talk about gender equality.
00:21We want to be equal to men in all respects. Coming from a man it will appear harsh and
00:27the disclaimer is that obviously I have no first-hand experience of the menstrual process.
00:34But being a human being, much like a woman, what I can broadly say is that I will not trade
00:41away my freedom for the sake of avoiding physical inconvenience. God made her that way. That
00:50was always the point. Man is the provider and the woman is the caretaker because that's
00:55the point that they wanted to prove. In fact, a lot of women will be angry at me for saying
01:01this. Even if favors are offered to you for free, refuse. There are no free lunches.
01:09I am joining from US. My name is Vaishali. I recently read in the newspaper that in Karnataka
01:31they are going to implement menstrual leaves for women. Just wanted to understand how that
01:39is going is going to really help women or is it really going to hurt them. On one hand,
01:46we talk about gender equality. We want to be equal to men in all respects. And on the other
01:55hand, we are being given or asking for menstrual leaves. Are we going back in time? That was
02:05my question. Are we only body even now? It's a good question to raise. You see, it's not that
02:22the traditional patriarchy won't ever promote women. It would. But it would keep them in ornamental
02:41roles. It might even put them in the front, but would remain the silent driver behind.
02:58The point always to be proven and maintained is that the woman is weak and fragile. And in whatever
03:17way, the point can be proven, it is worth attempting. No? So yes, women are welcomed to the workplace.
03:40And they are so deeply welcomed. That even a menstrual leave is provided as a bonus. But what does that prove?
04:08What does that prove? That helps prove the same old notion that the woman does not quite belong to the workplace because of her biology?
04:36So she is better kept indoors. She better manage the house. But you see, we are magnanimous people.
04:52All the men. We are quite generous towards the woman. And these days, there is this passing fad called feminism and all that.
05:07But you know, but you know, we are also broad minded and large hearted. So we will accommodate the woman. Let her come. But you know, we, as we had always known, she is frail. She is weak.
05:28She is actually meant to nurse the baby. Have lots of them and keep nursing them all her life. That's what she is built for.
05:42So you see, she comes to her. So you see, she comes to the workplace and starts having menstrual cramps. So very generously, we give her a day of menstrual leave.
05:55And sometimes the women might actually celebrate that without realizing that a huge point has been scored against them.
06:10Because that exactly is what patriarchy always sought to prove. She can't work. She can't work. And by availing that menstrual leave, the woman too has affirmed, yes, I cannot work because you see, I menstruate.
06:40The man wanted to prove she cannot work. So let her be confined to the home. Let her take care of the kitchen and the bed and the baby and the diaper. God made her that way. That was always the point. As basic as that.
07:00And by accepting all kinds of concessions at the workplace, the woman has reaffirmed the man's point. Yes, yes, of course. I mean, how do we work? We have to take care of the body and the baby and the house, the entire family.
07:25So give us more leaves. Give us softer postings. Give us fewer working hours. And the men will just smile, rather wins.
07:55And keep giving the woman all these things that she is demanding. And by giving her more of these things, they are only proving what they have always asserted.
08:16Man is the provider. Man is the provider. And the woman is the caretaker. Let her be the caretaker. One day they will give you so many leaves that you will find yourself permanently at home.
08:33And they will be very happy giving all those leaves. Because that's the point that they wanted to prove. The woman must be left at home.
08:45So that's why the leaves are being given. Now you have been left. Stay at home. Happy periods.
09:00That's not a progressive sign when it comes to women. Please understand.
09:08Yes, it feels good. You see, the men around me are such caring folks.
09:15One day of leave. One day of leave. Now they are ready to give five days of leaves. What a work place.
09:23But if you have leaves and such things, who will give you responsibility? Please tell me.
09:34Please tell me.
09:34And they will be very happy to let you off at 5 PM, 6 PM.
09:40They will say, but you know, she is a mother and a caregiver and a wife.
09:46So she has to be at home early.
09:50So let her go early.
09:52And the woman might actually enjoy that.
09:59I am being let off early.
10:00But if you are being let off early.
10:05What does that mean for your career?
10:09Please tell me.
10:12The men all stay there and work till 8 PM.
10:16And they are allowing the women to go home at 6 PM.
10:19What does that imply for the woman's career progress?
10:24Please tell me.
10:24The men are working 7 days a week.
10:32And the woman is being told, you can work 5 days a week and also take menstrual leaves.
10:39What does that imply for her career?
10:41Please tell me.
10:46Please tell me.
10:47Instead of taking 4 or 6 leaves, if the woman takes 30 leaves.
10:59The men would be largely elated.
11:02Wow.
11:03Finally, she has disappeared from the workplace.
11:07Exactly.
11:07Now she will do the kitchen and the linen more meticulously.
11:26Now they can't keep her confined to the home in the name of tradition.
11:35So now they are sending her back to the home in the name of employee welfare.
11:45And this is more vicious because this time the woman is happy.
12:08They care so much for me.
12:12They care so much for me.
12:13In fact, a lot of women will be angry at me for saying this.
12:25Does he understand how it hurts?
12:32Had he been a woman, he would have realized what menstrual pain is like.
12:36This guy is envying one or two leaves that we are set to get.
12:50You are grudging us our basic privileges.
12:53Now being a man, being a man, I know how that mind works.
13:06The boy of the family is punished for getting poor grades.
13:23And the girl is told you go to sleep early, otherwise you'll get dark circles.
13:27Who will marry you then?
13:28And the girl says, papa loves me so much.
13:35The brother keeps getting punished.
13:37But papa says, no, you are my pari.
13:43You sleep at 10pm and you remain lovely as a lily.
13:49So that I can marry you off early.
13:53But the girl is pleased.
13:55Papa loves me so much.
13:57He doesn't punish me for poor grades.
14:01No girl, you need to be punished.
14:03And put yourself in environments that punish you.
14:11Because that's where your welfare lies.
14:14Don't ask for soft bosses.
14:18Ask for taskmasters.
14:19In fact, the moment you detect gender-based leniency in your boss's attitude.
14:31Confront it.
14:33Ask your boss, are you being soft towards me because I am a woman?
14:37No, please don't be soft.
14:39Please come down.
14:43Harder upon me.
14:44I am prepared to take it all.
14:54Harder than upon the men.
14:59I want to test myself.
15:02Don't kid me.
15:05Don't pamper me.
15:07Don't handle me with kid gloves.
15:17If the man does 6 days a week, I can do 7 days a week.
15:23If the man offers X productivity, I can offer 1.1X.
15:27Raise your expectations and come down harder on me.
15:36Give me stiffer targets.
15:38If the women have not all turned off their dreams, I can do that.
16:08My advice is in anger and are still logged in and listening.
16:15My advice is, don't accept leniencies.
16:24Even if favours are offered to you for free, refuse.
17:09It might even mask issues like, you know, people might not have proper working toilets in their workplaces.
17:22It will mask those kind of issues as well.
17:25So we are trying to surmount an issue with something else.
17:33You see, coming from a man, it will appear harsh.
17:54And the disclaimer is that obviously I have no first-hand experience of the menstrual process.
18:14But being a human being, much like a woman.
18:23What I can broadly say is that I will not trade away my freedom for the sake of avoiding physical inconvenience.
18:48But that's a personal and subjective statement of value.
18:56Right?
18:58Right?
18:59I cannot prove it.
19:00It remains on the woman to assess the trade-off and make that assertion.
19:13Unless I have better options, I won't quit my job.
19:26Because the washroom or the sanitary conditions are unhygienic or not up to the mark.
19:43I'll try to find some kind of way around the problem.
19:48But I'll not let this become an alibi.
19:53Why don't you go out and work?
20:00Or why did you quit your last job?
20:03Because the washroom was not proper.
20:10Yeah, I have heard those excuses.
20:12While I fully understand that can be a solid irritant, that can be a major inconvenience.
20:25I acknowledge that.
20:28But I also know the value of freedom.
20:30And when it comes to freedom, I'll be prepared to make compromises on the front of convenience that can be compromised.
20:47Yeah.
20:49Not only compromise, but ask for one.
20:51Definitely, definitely, definitely.
20:54So, when I said I'll find a way around that, that includes fighting for one's rights.
21:02That includes very strongly demanding from the employer certain basic human conveniences.
21:13Yeah.
21:19Thank you so much.
21:21Hello, everyone.
21:26My name is Vivek.
21:28So, I have been associated with foundation since last three years.
21:32And that is a continuous involvement and a continuous journey of having more clarity, becoming fearless.
21:40The main thing which I see, what I have learned is not to base my identity on the world and the situations outside.
21:50So, I have become more centered, more anchored, and more clear in my decisions.
21:55Also, I was able to guide my daughter as she is pursuing a psychology master's in Nottingham University.
22:05When you, you know, enroll in Gita, you know, what is the right thing to do.
22:10And all the falsehood from your life begins falling off.
22:18And that, that is what gives you freedom.
22:20I have been a non-vegetarian for 40 years.
22:24And as soon as I started listening to Acharya Ji, I was able to, you know, do away with the non-veget food.
22:32And then also, I became a vegan that has given me a, you know, healthy weight loss.
22:39And I have become more energetic.
22:42These are all the physical aspects.
22:45And the internal aspects are more important.
22:48So, Gita or Vedanta should be the center of our life and I don't think there is any other source currently existing which is delivering the message and, you know, the concept of Sri Krishna or Vedanta so clearly and so profoundly.
23:09So, please join in regular Gita sessions, the asking fees has been reduced to almost nothing.
23:19The only thing which is asked is your dedication and your true, you know, love for Krishna.
Be the first to comment