Why Women talk online?
Manasi Gopalakrishnan
Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy’s iconic novel on his famous female protagonist begins with the now popular quote: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Much of it is true for women – happy women are happy because they like who they are, regardless of being single, married or in a relationship. Unhappy women may be unhappy with their lonely lives as a singleton in Berlin, a partner in a troubled relationship in Bonn, a daughter in a big family with a million physical restrictions in a small town in India, a teenager suffering physical violence in Pakistan, a woman in Kashmir waiting for the curfew to get over so she can buy groceries. As cliché-ed as it may sound, suffering women across the world have a thousand problems they could list, which is precisely why we choose to address these issues specifically in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan at womentalkonline.
South Asia is at a turning point. Modern-day life and rapid industrialization is taking its toll on old cultural practices and on the role of men and women. The challenge for women is enormous: they are more educated than ever before, they have aspirations, they want a life and a career. At the same time, religious and cultural restrictions are causing tension and forcing women to redefine their lives. In all these countries, women have to overcome limitations that have been set by their religions, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism or Christianity. For most women, the conflict is not necessary. For them, the ideal situation would be one where they could take their traditions along with them and still rise above the suppression they face.
With Womentalkonline we are trying to establish a new kind of a website which offers women a view into these conflicting themes and also offer a forum for discussion. We report on the latest news in women’s affairs, health, careers, lifestyle and also on how men perceive the women they work or interact with on a daily basis. We hope to initiate a lively discussion on women in South Asia and look forward to your suggestions on our first edition.
17 Comments
Ayesha Hasan | 16.02.2012 | 12:59
True! And the irony is that women who are trying to do some good for themselves and other women are continuously criticized and labeled as: Feminists. And unfortunately for most people the word feminist is related to the preconceive notion that such women are anti-men, society’s rebels and idealists. However, I believe that feminism is above the war of the sexes. It is a feeling that makes a woman or even a man sympathize with those who are suffering.
Best of luck!
ayesha | 16.02.2012 | 13:06
True! And the irony is that women who are trying to do some good for themselves and other women are continuously criticized and labeled as: Feminists. And unfortunately for most people the word feminist is related to the preconceive notion that such women are anti-men, society’s rebels and idealists. However, I believe that feminism is above the war of the sexes. It is a feeling that makes a woman or even a man sympathize with those who are suffering.
Best of luck!
Kamaluddin Wahid | 17.02.2012 | 11:15
It is a wonderful step in order to make women aware of their rights and responsibilities and make them move forward claim their rights.In fact if you pay a close attention to Afghan Constitution law the rights of both men and women are equal ,but as its obvious Afghanistan has tradition that some are relatively both positive and negative for example If a woman would love to appear in TV or some other official meeting people will definitely condemn them or somehow avoid them and hate them and they will be asked why did they appear or join .They make them feel that they may have committed crime or mistaken .The reason I say because I`m a lawyer myself and have witnessed such cases specially in remote places or in rural places.So this site is appreciable and I wish the correspondents of this site for their step .
Best regard
Kamaluddin Wahid
From Afghanistan
Lina | 17.02.2012 | 13:10
Awesome website I just took a look Many issues about women were expressed there .Such websites can help women to be more active and give them more self confidence to share their thoughts and finally find the best solutions to help them work it out.Specially for south Asian countries and women who has suffered allot in fact for my beloved country Afghanistan where women Usually women are discriminated and marginalized and their rights are voile-ted .well thousand of problems such as poor health care ,banning women for employment , illiteracy and so on.But such websites empowers and strengthens women to be stronger and claim their rights in the community.Best of luck!
With Best Wishes
Lina
Roma | 17.02.2012 | 13:23
Nice website it really grabbed my attention specially when I first had a galance to the awesome and impressive name Women talk at first I thought it is maybe about whatever women share or talk about but then I found out it covers more serious issues somehow journalistic issues and features .
Hope the women in the entire world and Specially Afghanistan find it useful and now luckily more and more women are actively involved in improving the plight of women and the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Best of luck for the team
With Regards
Roma
Jamil | 17.02.2012 | 14:00
Great website with meaningful and life challenging issues!
A challenging step aiming to improve gender situation and provide humanitarian assistance for women in order to help women to be self confident and overcome challenges or problems they face!
Good luck
With Regards
Jamil walizada
Afghanistan
mateen | 17.02.2012 | 14:22
Not bad of-course social activities and social media like Facebook,websites and organizations can help women to be well aware of their surrounding and rights .
The more they share their thoughts the better they will be informed .
Wish the team good luck!
Regards
Mateen
AF
Zubir | 17.02.2012 | 14:29
Wonderful but I think only likes and comments are not enough we need to take serious actions. Heartily and truly Support them.
Yeah this website at least helps them
Regards
Zubir
Afghanistan
Ihsaan | 17.02.2012 | 14:40
Good website!
It is relatively good to have debates and discussions about women and their situation .Hope by reading such features and issues regarding both men and women realize that we should respect human rights regardless gender,ethnicity and religion!
Good luck
Ihsaan
Sweedin
From AF
farangis | 17.02.2012 | 14:51
Pretty good!
I saw the reports but I think it is still under construction I cant judge how useful will it be unless you post more reports and spread that but As far as I found out it was good I saw only one feature report about Afghanistan the more you post about our countries the more we can analyze and comment!
Good Action
Regards
Farangis
Mazar-e-sharif
AF
farhan | 17.02.2012 | 15:04
Great website!
But needs a lot to do with this site I mean new update reports both about success and also problems women suffering in Afghanistan and our neighboring countries which may include concrete demands for the recovery of Afghan society in education,media ,culture and politics and so on.
More success for the group
Farhan
stavrpol Russian
From AF
farida | 17.02.2012 | 15:16
Nice
It can contribute women to meet their needs by sharing their experiences and thoughts with one another and urges women to bring them in every stage of progress and increase in particular women and girl’s role in the community.
More success for the team
With Regards
Farida
New York
AFGHAN
latifa | 17.02.2012 | 15:23
Hmm good
I have seen many websites and this one is also not exceptional I want to know more about this website and issues which will be published here?
What is the best thing about this website Are you guys going to do something more creative or how do u help women?
Best of Luck
Latifa
Istanbol
Afghan
zarmina | 17.02.2012 | 15:32
Yeah I agree with you Miss Manasi women are more educated and more active than ever before but in Progressed countries not in countries like Afghanistan but with such website and ambitions you can encourage more and more women and help them to realize the women power.
Thanks for creating this site.
Zarmina
Istanbul,Turkey
AFGHAN
tahmina | 17.02.2012 | 15:57
Fantastic
Hmmm it is a good opportunity for women to prove themselves that they can also be an active member of their society regardless the failures they have had!
That is the opportunity that comes with every failure.The opportunity to reach deeper into the essence of things, into your own self, into Truth.
Briefly speaking this site may help them to meet their needs!
Tnx for giving this opportunity for women!:))
Tahmina
Mazar-e-sharif
AF
Shugofa | 17.02.2012 | 16:07
The website sounds good!
Good stories might make you feel to have a say and good to see that all women want to talk about women problems,the obstacles and thier success.
Iam excited that women talk website treat such subjects.But if you it is impossible if you could include the taboos as well.
Good luck womenonline talk team!
Shugofa
Mazar-e-sharif
AF
razia | 17.02.2012 | 16:46
Manasi, sorry I don’t quite understand what you are trying to say there so I can’t comment. Could you state your ideas a bit more clearly about this site?And how should I supposed to know that this website will be finalized and be out of construction.Or perhaps I will then have comments.
Razia
Kabul