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What We as Women Want to Change for Good in 2018

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Yamini Pustake Bhalerao
New Update

The year 2018 is already upon us, and we all want to put the debacles and disturbances of the previous year behind. As women, of a country which watched the year of feminism from the periphery, we yearn for an uprising and revolution like #MeToo, and The Silence Breakers. But this is not the only issue on our list.

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Indian women struggle with numerous issues like their counterparts from around the globe. Be it gender pay gap, gender bias, sexual harassment and casual sexism, our society’s paternal infrastructure hands us down an additional set of problems.

So, what does a modern Indian woman expect from the year 2018?

We talked to women entrepreneurs and achievers and asked them what things they wanted to change for good in 2018.

“I started travelling in 2017, and it has helped me take a break, as well as evolve as a person. Meeting people from diverse backgrounds, making new friends and learning from their experiences, has enriched me greatly. Many offbeat trips are on the cards in 2018, the most challenging being the Everest Base Camp Trek!”

Kinnari Gala, Founder Thin-i Integrated Marketing Solutions

“I want to learn to prioritize what’s important from what doesn’t matter."

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"I also want to commit to fitness, travel to new places and surround myself with unconditional love. Spending more time with my parents is also on my mind, along with having an incredible 45th birthday party.” says Sonal Holland, India's First Master of Wine.

Priyanka Sanghi, Founder, Hair Drama Co. says, “If I look back into the year as to what worked and what did not, the one thing I would do better is create micro targets and measurable goals. Targets that can be measured every single day. The process of pursuit of our goals is the deciding factors whether we will be successful or not. I would apply this to my work targets and personal goals both."

" I intend to measure daily achievements to stay focused and keep going to reach the larger objectives.”

We also reached out to some working women and young mothers, to know what they wanted to change in 2018 for good. They all had many personal and social goals on their minds. And as women, all of us can relate to each one of them.

“I want people to stop trying to slot women into fixed roles that they have created for their own convenience.

Stop tagging her…Stop calling her a Devi. Accept her as an equal. As a normal human being with desires and an identity of her own. I am so done with these tags. All I want is to be accepted as myself!” said Megha Gangopadhyay, Senior Manager-HR, from Kolkata

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Geeta Kolte Ursal, who is a Dentist, in Pune, wants “parents to stop comparing their child’s performance to other kids. Our education system needs to change as well. We need an atypical interesting adventurous schooling system, which will motivate children to develop skills in arts, sports, music, or any subject of his or her choice. Children will also benefit if the focus of studies is more on practical subjects like social science, banking, home science, health and fitness etc, instead of subjects and lessons which have an application in life outside of school and college.

"I also want the society to give every child a safe and trustworthy environment in the new year."

Our children can hardly explore life by themselves without the assistance, as we cannot even send them to relatives’ houses or even society garden unattended.”

“Well like every year this time we make new resolutions including the ones we could not fulfil in the previous year. But by the end of January, this enthusiasm fades away, and we are all back to where we were last year. I want the people including myself, to work harder to keep their resolves. It could be anything from giving up smoking, getting fitter, or spending more time with family. Eventually, these things will lead to happier families and a better society. Personally, in 2018 I want to live balanced life not only in terms of health but from the point of view of relationships and health as well.” says Ishika Jharia, Zonal Manager, CDC NACO Project, Bhopal.

Shweta Bhaskaran, an IT Consultant, in Bangalore shares, “I want to see a more unified India than ever. We also need to work more seriously to both avoid polluting the environment further, and to manage the damage we have already done to it."

"I am not sure whether we can achieve all this in a year, but we have to start working towards it.”

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“Along with motherhood, work and financial independence complete a woman. Being a new mother, it will be very difficult for me to find a balance at all the fronts. I want to set a good example in front of my child, as an ideal citizen of the country, and a working Indian mother. All these jobs are very demanding, but for the sake of our children’s future and for a better upbringing, we will have to keep pushing on. Though I hope more men will start helping women at home front this new year.” Says, Priyanka Rathore, who is a new mommy and works as a Government Official, in Mumbai.

There are a lot of things which don’t change in the society, because we are not willing to take an initiative to make the change happen. Hopefully, in the New Year, more men and women will find the courage to usher in changes that are long overdue.

Also Read : Women in India on New Year: Let It Be Safe Please

Dr Yamini Pustake Bhalerao is a writer with the SheThePeople team, in the Opinions section.  The views expressed are the author’s own.

 

New Year goals 2018 changes women want
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