Gender Balance : If “She-Women” become “He-Women” – Will “He-Men” become “She-Men”...?

GENDER BALANCE – YIN-YANG EQUILIBRIUM 
If “She-Women” become “He-Women” – Will “He-Men” become “She-Men”...?

A Spoof

By

VIKRAM KARVE 

“She-Women” are increasingly becoming “He-Women”

but 

Are “He-Men” prepared to become “She-Men”...?

In modern urban India – at least in modern metropolitan cities of India – I am observing an amusing cultural metamorphosis taking place.

The thrust in professional education for women has done wonders – and opened up increasing opportunities for young women.

Almost all young urban women work – and – they take their careers seriously.

There are hardly any full-time housewives or “homemakers” these days. 

Women are achieving financial independence – and – women are no longer dependent on their “breadwinner” husbands. 

As women work shoulder-to-shoulder with men – modern women are developing masculine traits.

Yes – in order to achieve gender equality – especially at the workplace – women can no longer act in the quintessential delicate feminine manner of yesteryear India.

In order to succeed in their careers and to break the “glass ceiling” – women have to become more “masculine” in nature – and this transformation is visible in their personality.

“She-Women” are becoming “He-Women”.

However – a corresponding reverse transformation is not taking place among men.

Men are not developing “feminine” traits.

“He-Men” are not becoming “She-Men”. 

IS SOCIETY BECOMING INCREASINGLY “MASCULINE” IN NATURE...? 

Yes – “She-Women” are becoming “He-Women” (women are developing “masculine” traits)

But – “He-Men” are not becoming “She-Men” (men are not developing “feminine” traits) 

This is upsetting the delicate “Yin Yang Balance” (gender equilibrium) in society.

Earlier – we had “She-Women” and “He-Men”.

Now – we have “He-Women” and “He-Men”. 

Earlier we had one “SHE” and one “HE” (“SHE-women” and “HE-men” – perfect gender balance)

Now we have two “HE” and zero “SHE” (“HE-women” and “HE-men” – gender imbalance) 

This metamorphosis is disturbing the “gender equilibrium” in society.

At the macro-level – Society is becoming increasingly “masculine” in nature. 

At the micro-level – marriages are becoming increasingly “masculine” in nature (as also all man-woman relationships)

YIN-YANG IMBALANCE

You must have heard of Yin-Yang Balance.

A Woman is Yin.

A Man is Yang.

Yin is passive – oppressed and feminine.

Yang is active – bright and masculine.

“Male Toughness” is balanced by “Female Gentleness”.

Masculine Traits are balanced by Feminine Traits.

Thus – gender balance or gender equilibrium is maintained.

Yin-Yang Balance helps maintain Harmony.

Disturbing the delicately poised “gender equilibrium” may upset Yin-Yang Balance.

Upsetting the Yin-Yang Balance – will – in turn – cause gender related stress, tension, conflict and disharmony in society. 

We are already seeing increasing evidence of such disharmony – and its consequent ramifications – which include gender based crime – violence and abuse – and the rise in divorce rates, breakups and marital discord.

What is the solution...? 

GENDER EQUILIBRIUM EQUATION

Well – if you are a “mathematician” – or a “scientist”  – you will say: 

It is simple – just balance the “gender equilibrium” equation.

If increasing masculinization of women is balanced by corresponding feminization of men – gender balance will be restored – and the problem will be mitigated.

All you have to do is: 

Balance the increasing number of “he-women” by a corresponding number of “she-men”. 

Counterbalance every new “he-woman” by creating a “she-man”.

But – this is easier said than done.

In today’s urban scenario – owing to compulsions of the workplace – or as a consequence of cultural modernization in society – women are developing “masculine” traits.

Yes – “she-women” are increasingly becoming “he-women”.

Now – in order to achieve Yin-Yang Balance – and restore gender equilibrium:

Are modern men prepared to imbibe feminine traits...?

Are “He-Men” prepared to become “She-Men” – in order to counterbalance the effect of “She-Women” becoming “He-Women”...?

If this does not happen – Yin-Yang balance will be disturbed. 

Society will become increasingly “masculine” in nature.

The consequential ramifications of this “behavioural imbalance” will not augur well for societal harmony in general – and – it will  affect “gender harmony” in particular. 

This “masculization” of society will be visible at the macro-level – at workplaces, politics, business etc.

It will also have ramifications at the micro-level as well.

For example – with women increasingly acquiring “masculine” traits – there will be two “men” in a heterosexual marriage. 

Don’t you see this happening already...? 

Is this “masculization” of marital relationships the main reason for increasing disharmony in marriages...? 

Does this cause marital discord...?

Observe a few young urban couples around you – and you will understand what I mean. 

Is it good to have two “macho” individuals in a marriage...? 

Is it desirable to have only “macho” individuals in society...?

Is it to have only “macho” individuals in society...?

Think about it – the effect of Yin-Yang imbalance on Gender Equilibrium. 

Do you find merit in my thoughts...? 

Or – do you think this is gobbledygook from a “senile” veteran...?

I look forward to your comments and views – “bouquets” and “brickbats”...

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This blog post is a spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

     

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

 

This is a revised and updated version of my story written by me Vikram Karve more than 6 years ago in the year 2011 and earlier posted online by me in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/02/gender-balance-emergence-of-modern.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/04/when-she-women-become-he-women-but-he.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/04/gender-ambiguity-yin-yang-imbalance.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/09/yin-yang-balance-and-gender-equilibrium.html

WHY DO GIRLS CALL ME “UNCLE”

WHY DO GIRLS CALL ME “UNCLE” ?

When I joined the Navy in the 1970’s – young girls started calling me “uncle”.

I was barely 20 years old and this was the first time someone had called me “uncle”.

Of course, the girls who called me “uncle” were senior officer’s daughters (SODA) and they were following “fauji” social tradition of addressing all officers as “uncle”.

It did not matter that most of these girls who called me “uncle” were almost my age, or just a few years younger.

Last evening we had a get-together in our residential society. 

And most of the girls called me “uncle”.

(of course, the “girls” here ranged from nubile young IT Techies in their 20’s to beautiful young mothers in their 30’s)

In the 1970’s – girls called me “uncle”.

Now, almost 40 years later, in the year 2014 – girls still call me “uncle”.

Am I an ageless wonder – the eternal “uncle”?

All this reminds me of this real life story which I had posted earlier in this blog in 2012.

Here is the story, once again:

AM I AN AGELESS WONDER ?

A Real Life Story – The Eternal “uncle”

By

VIKRAM KARVE

NEW DELHI (1982)

In 1982, as a newly married couple, we lived in Curzon Road Apartments on Kasturba Gandhi Marg near India Gate in New Delhi.

Me, my wife, and our puppy dog (a small Lhasa Apso Puppy Dog given to us as a wedding gift) – all three of us lived in our neat cosy one room apartment with a small kitchenette and a lovely balcony high up on the top floor.

One evening, while on her way back home from work, my wife went to the convenience store to buy milk.

The shopkeeper told her that her father had already bought milk a few minutes ago.

My wife was delighted at the unexpected visit of her father.

So my wife rushed to our house.

My wife did not see her father around, so my she asked me, “Where is Daddy?”

“Your Daddy? He must be in Pune,” I said.  

“No. Daddy has come here,” she said.

“Who told you?” I asked.

“The shopkeeper,” she said.

“The shopkeeper told you that your Daddy has come? Let’s go down and ask him,” I said.

So we went down and asked the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper pointed towards me and said, “He took the milk. I thought he was your father.”

“He is my husband,” my wife said, pointing at me.

“I am sorry, Sir, but I was really mistaken,” the shopkeeper said apologetically to me.

Then the shopkeeper smiled at my wife, and he said to her, “Madam, you look so young, like a schoolgirl, so I thought he was your father.”

It was true. 

When we were married, my wife looked very young, just like a schoolgirl. 

She was 21 and I was 25, and though the shopkeeper hadn’t spelt it out in so many words, I did look a bit older than my 25 years, with my “healthy” build and my formidable beard.

Unlike the so-called “metrosexual” men of today – I like to be who I am – so I don’t believe in “cosmetic engineering”.

I believe in the “old-mould” idea that a man must look like a man, tough and masculine, and though hygiene and grooming are important, there is no need for a man to be excessively obsessed about his looks.

Of course, whereas having an appropriate dress sense and wearing good quality clothes is a must, there is no need for a man to “deck up” and titivate.

That’s why when the first strand of grey hair appeared on my head when I was in my mid 40’s, I never used hair dye, nor did I colour my copious beard when it started greying.

Of course, I must say here, that my wife too has a natural look and she hardly uses any cosmetics and nor does she colour her hair.

The fact of the matter was that my wife did indeed look much younger than me. 

Period.

So, even in those days, when a pretty young girl called me “uncle”, I did not mind it very much. 

Maybe, to young girls, I did indeed look like an “uncle”.

30 Years Later

PUNE (2012)

This happened a few days ago in Pune.

My wife was getting off an auto rickshaw. 

The fare was 52 rupees. 

She gave the auto-rickshaw driver a 50 rupee note and was desperately searching in her purse for a two rupee coin when the auto driver said magnanimously to my wife, “Never mind Ajji – it is okay if you don’t give me the two rupees.”

Now, in Marathi, the word AJJI means GRANDMOTHER.

I cannot begin to describe the emotion I felt when I heard this.

And just imagine, pretty young girls still call me “uncle”.

Disclaimer: 

Maybe the auto-rickshaw driver needed an eye checkup. 

My wife still looks very young – maybe not like a school girl like she did in 1982, but certainly like a college girl. 

And me? 

Well, I am an ageless wonder – The Eternal “Uncle”

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer: 

This story is a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in this story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Revised Re-Post of Blog Post Posted Earlier by Vikram Karve at 8/28/2012 12:48:00 PM at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/08/am-i-ageless-wonder.html