Be Selfish

Women must demand their rights and achieve their dreams while putting themselves first

- SHUTAPA PAUL

It's not often that you will find a woman bursting into a room, raising her voice in a meeting, or sitting at the head of a table. It's not unheard of but rather still uncommon. Women are not naturally 'first' in line for things either — first to speak, first to be promoted, or first to lead. They are, however, expected to be the first to sacrifice, compromise, or adjust. We are built that way; made to be more pliable and accommodating. Nature has made us biologically softer than men, our ability to empathize is almost always on a higher rung, many of us take decisions governed by the heart as equally as the head, sometimes the former is a greater decision-maker.

Of course, I would not pass up the opportunity to write about women on the occasion of International Women's Day. I don't believe in restrictive days that serve consumerism more than anything else; but these observance days are not totally purposeless. They build awareness, generate interest and spark conversations. And in my annual IWD column, it's a chance to address my fellow sisters; so here goes.