women have learnt to talk tough and walk rough

Macho girls!

Assertive and hard as nails, women have learnt to talk tough and walk rough. Sudeshna Chatterjee reports on the won't-be-second sex

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

    EARLIER this year, at the passing out parade of a fresh batch of Mumbai's police commandos, the audience was struck by the skill and strength of women commandos who remained unperturbed as a motorbike loaded with four men sped over their stomach!
    Admirable! But, why just cops? Slowly, but surely, women in every sphere have come into their own in the last two decades. Assertive and authoritative, they're clear about their desires and drives; they talk tough and walk rough.
    Says entrepreneur Saujanya Shetty, "Women have become stronger and more vociferous. They have always been good managers and decision makers, but earlier these skills were largely relegated to the home. Their economic independence is changing equations, perspectives and outlooks of both men and women."
    This is reflected in changing workplace scenarios too. Sangeeta Singh, executive director, KPMG maintains her younger male employees are now more comfortable accepting her as boss.
    Anindya Mukerji, a corporate leadership coach, says "After the opening up of the economy, post 1991, you see more self-driven women entrepreneurs. New companies are less weighed down by the baggage of gender bias and women enjoy a more equal footing." It's no longer embarrassing if a woman is the breadwinner or, as in Singh's case, offers the necessary supplementary income. "Thanks to my wife Aporajita, who is an online art dealer, we could holiday in some of the world's most exotic locales. With my income alone, living the good life would not have been possible."
    The workplace also offers healthy indicators. One, women are getting more professional, even in government offices —once picked by women for being 'more flexible'. "More women today are willing to work late," says Basanti Roy, divisional secretary, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Mumbai. The other factor is that women are
increasingly seen marching into male bastions. In the credit card industry, they are manning the once all-male collection division, points out Mukerji. Actor-producer and BJP member Smriti Iraani observes more women are politically asserting themselves. Singh tells of women CAs coming from littleknown hamlets in Rajasthan. In early November, for the first time, about 200 young women were inducted into the Border Security Force (BSF) after a 36-week rigorous training, to patrol the Indo-Pak border.
    Media gives a fillip to a woman's tough image. In Don and Drona where actor Priyanka Chopra plays bodyguard, the camera zeroes in on her fighting acumen more than her svelte curves. Take commercials; whether it's the Hero Honda ad with the tagline, 'why should boys have all the fun?', Airtel promos, where educating the girl child gets a pat on the back; or teleserials like Radha Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi on NDTV Imagine, and Balika Vadhu on Colors, women are unapologetic about claiming their rightful due.
The power suits make a powerful statement. Appearances are changing. More working women are comfortable in trousers, jackets and business suits. While Singh maintains business suits are more to do with practicality, she points out that "Indian women want to follow a Western dress code as they want to keep it businesslike. The focus is on performance, particularly during international meets."
And, it's no longer men who have the muscles, women want them too! Fitness expert Leena Mogre maintains that in the last year alone, 40 per cent more women of all ages are showing keen interest in exercising their biceps and triceps. "Thanks to the Madonna influence, they want defined arms, something that was earlier only demanded by men," observes Mogre.
Women are choosing to be on top even in their sex lives, speaking openly about it, where earlier they had little to say. Sexologist Dr Raj Brahmbhatt has seen women change over the last three decades and maintains it is women who now fix up appointments. "The women are more upfront about their needs and problems; more informed and aware. In the last five years, 60 per cent of calls to me have been by women for problems faced by their partners and the queries focus more on pleasure," says Dr Brahmbhatt.
Singh observes, "Economic independence has made women feel more confident about their personal lives. Hence, they are taking more personal decisions or forming their own support networks. Similarly, a housing society is okay with renting out to single women. Today, it's okay to have an unmarried daughter who is 30; her education and career goals are as important as the son's."
Actor Shilpa Shetty, the first woman in her conservative community of Bunts to have entered films, agrees it's about taking control of your destiny. She says, "It's still the upbringing that counts. Parents are evolving and kids are more mature. They come so prepared about their futures." Woman power has come into its own.

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