Reservation is not a substitute to equality and equal participation
Dr Asangba Tzüdir
How would the menfolk feel and react if they were fighting for 33% reservation in the Urban Local Bodies? How much hurt would it mean to the egos of men to be placed in a category called reserved within the ‘power,’ ‘control’ and ‘dominion’ of women. So, have we the men pondered upon the ‘feelings’ of women living as ‘Subordinate’ to men?
The existence of a patriarchal system requires the production of certain ‘gendered spaces’ which are politically, socially, culturally and morally ‘justified’ thereby leading to the production of stereotyped spaces like ‘domestic’, ‘private’ and ‘public’ which reinforces and thereby legitimates patriarchal power and control. Thus, men find it unacceptable to surrender his ‘power’ and ego and to allow equality and freedom to women. Notwithstanding the progress of Naga women today, this can be one reason why the Naga Hoho thinks that it is still premature to introduce 33% reservation. The idea of women is constructed in male centric discourses both oral and written, which privilege male as essential, adequate and complete while women is considered inessential, inadequate and incomplete as compared to men. Certain social perceptions and constructed norms become dominant and get ingrained in the minds of the people. More pressing is the process of normalisation, which slowly becomes naturalised wherein she becomes a subject of “benevolent subordination” as Temsula Ao aptly puts about the Naga patriarchal condition.
It has become so naturalised that women often fall prey to patriarchal notions of freedom because her understanding becomes based on patriarchy being the dominant social structure of our society. This leads to a very shallow and narrow interpretation of rights and freedom. Today, the many forms of violence inflicted on women only casts their life throughout on both mental as well as physical strain. Culture and oral traditions have always played a damaging role on the free being of women; religion has subjugated and oppressed women; media particularly the film industry keeps portraying women as an ‘object of pleasure’ for the ‘entertainment’ of man besides making her vulnerable; and so on.
As such, popular refrain from menfolk on the need for ‘women empowerment’ and ‘gender equality’ are nothing more than cosmetic slogans because in reality women are misrepresented and denied of their rights to assert and express themselves. In tune with this, the Naga Hoho has made a very ‘diplomatic’ move by advocating for ‘women empowerment’ by creating ‘various opportunities.’ But, women can be fully empowered only when they are given ‘equal opportunities.’
The 33% reservation may seem to be a gateway to women’s political participation through a ‘bracketed’ category called ‘reserved.’ The ‘floor’ is open for deliberation but in a true democracy that vouches for equality, freedom and equal participation, reservation is never a substitute to it. It is an ‘insult’ to Naga women and considering their potential and capability, to be classed within a reserved category.
Naga society should progress and an ideal model will be to dismantle the phallocentric social constructs and merge the bracketed spaces so constructed for women with the patriarchal spaces. Therein lies equality and freedom. Further, it is important to listen to the feelings of our women and to hear the different voices from every section about their desires, tales and aspirations and their idea of a ‘free’ life. It is time to break out and share the ‘spaces’ and share our responsibilities, for harmonious living and for a shared future.
(Dr. Asangba Tzüdir is Editor of Heritage Publishing House. He contributes a weekly guest editorial to the Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
