Dear readers, today I take on the “despite being a woman” remark recently uttered by the current leader of our nation. I would honestly try to see if there were a possibility that the message was garbled or somehow misconstrued it happens all the time with famous personalities and the media after all but there was just no looking around it.
Without meaning to make light of such utterances, it does possibly stand testimony to just how cavalier the attitude of most men is towards women. And a prime minister, apres tout, is still a man. In fact, if you look carefully, most of them are. India, in that sense, is pretty advanced to have had a lady prime minister much before other countries were even ready to accept a woman leader. Which is also mighty strange considering just how many men willingly enter into that lifelong contract of bonded servitude, also known as marriage. Sure, it has its perks that make it interesting enough for men to stick around and toil over but even then, to accept feminine supremacy at home and to shun it at a political level definitely reeks of a double standard.
So, as the US of A readies for possibly its first female president (because nobody wants a Donald to come up ‘trumps’), I am drawing up a list of three professions where men must take a backseat and let the women show them how to do it right in the first go.Teaching: Men can train, women, teach. If it is a pup, call a man, but with young tots, women always fare better. Sure, there are male professors and they do a darned fine job but they are the exception. If you have any doubt, think of your favourite teacher from school and chances are that it was a lady.
Psychiatry: It’s funny that a field that is all about listening has even one man working in it. We should make way for women and all male psychiatrists can henceforth apply for jobs where listening isn’t so valued, where it doesn’t matter what your customer wants, like say at a call centre or as a steward on board a low-cost airline. Indigo and Spice are already exploiting it only too well.
Bespoke Tailoring: Have you ever bought a garment that wasn’t ridiculed by your lady boss and then, after a few wears, you realised that she was spot-on with her observation? Savile Row has managed to remain a male bastion long enough. It is high time it passed the baton to the abler of the sexes. Hopefully, we men shall come out looking better dressed. As for the displaced shop-floor salesmen and tailors, they are doomed. Nobody wants to hire the lot, not even call centres. Who knows, though. They could always become fashion designers.
The writer is a lover of wine, song and everything fine
