Though women are in a better position than they were a few years ago, there is still a long way to go to achieve gender equality in the country, leading women in sports said at a seminar in Hyderabad.
“Women’s safety remains a major limiting factor, with parents feeling uneasy about sending their daughters out to play,” said former Olympian and table tennis champion Neha Agarwal Sharma.
Neha recounted her journey from feeling uncomfortable wearing shorts to matches at school to becoming the only woman table tennis player to represent India at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Recounting her journey at a panel discussion organised by Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO) at T-Hub on Wednesday, she attributed her success to her father’s unconventional and progressive ideas about her future as a sportsperson and the right support from her coaches.
Equally inspiring is the story of Maral Yazarloo Patrick, an Iranian motorbike driver and fashion designer who, despite being pregnant, rebelled against societal norms and embarked on a solo global motorbike trip covering 64 countries. Coming from a country that doesn’t allow women to be issued driving licenses, Maral defied convention to pursue her passion.
But she admitted she feels scared about venturing into the unknown, knowing that her safety is not guaranteed. Citing the case of a Spanish female biker gang-rape in Jharkhand earlier this year, she expressed concern over the callous attitude towards women’s safety in the country.
“People around the world have sympathized with the victim of this case and offered practical assistance, but there are many other cases that happen unnoticed every day in rural areas of the country. We need to seriously address each of these cases and create the support and environment in which women can thrive,” she said.
Veteran desert marathoner Michelle Kakade, who is now the only Indian to have achieved membership in the Elite 4 Desert Club, highlighted the role of her mother in promoting gender equality from an early age. Kakade, who completed the Golden Quadrilateral (a 6,000-km run) at the age of 45, believes age is no barrier.
The panelists unanimously called for a shift in societal perspective and a recognition of women’s roles beyond the traditional sphere of home and family. They stressed that institutional changes are needed to achieve true gender equality in India.
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