"Girls can survive without Maths but BOYS WITHOUT MATHS ARE BULLSHIT!"
Majority (if not all), people born in this country undergo a process of socialization which introduces them to the gendered codes of expected social behaviour - i.e., 'masculinity' and 'femininity'. This process begins from an early age, and as a matter of principle, being 'masculine' is generally prized over being feminine in one's behavior and outlook. (especially for boys) . I too was no exception to this process.
Hence, for much of my school life I really did not question these ideas seriously. Again, I was no exception to this. There were many like me who blindly expected them as a matter of fact. However, even if some daring ones did manage to pester their elders with questions, they were promptly crushed by the dogmatic finality of immortal punchlines, some of the most popular ones including "Tumhe Jo Kehna hai Kaho Magar Sacha Ladka/Mard Esa Hi Hota Hai!” or "Hum bade hai isliye jante hai ki Ladke Aur Ladki kaise Hone Chahiye!".
These were enough to demoralise our budding curiosity or rebellion and re-enforced our blind faith in the gendered connotations of life as if they were divinely ordained rules of ideal social existence.
It was only much later, when my mind evolved while surfing the waves of education, combined with memorable experiences that those long suppressed doubts started resurface. But this time they come back with a much more urgency and distress that they would not be laid to rest without a logical and well-reasoned conclusion.
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One such memorable experience came in class 11 when the social connotations of gendered existence came to haunt my life. The context I believe needs to be stated in brief-
Since early childhood, no matter how much I ever tried to make it happen otherwise, maths always remained my clear favourite when it came to the list of subjects, I hated the most. Maths was then ,and still is, my biggest nightmare. Sincere efforts of friendship from my side have always been brutally rejected by Maths in a 'number' of ways. Clearly, Maths and I never had a 'Simple Equation' between us.
Then came class 11th, a time when we are told to channelize our energies towards specific streams. Humanities was my undisputed preference but, my opting the same did create some ripples of tension in my family. This was clearly evident in the facial expressions of a concerned close relative who, like a true Indian, believed in giving ‘good’ advice irrespective of its need. However, having somehow reconciled with this fact, he raised another pertinent question- "Are you opting for maths?"
Knowing my aversion to the subject my uncle went on to provide strong arguments to make me opt for the painful journey. His arguments rested on the fact that Humanities, already devoid of ‘lucrative’ career options would become even more futile if it is not supported by maths, which (sadly) does really open more doors for a better future.
I shamefully admit that this argument did hit home and generated strong second doubts within me. Having sensed my jitters, my Uncle thus thundered, a dreadful dialogue which achieved its success by taming my mind into humble submission-
“Girls can survive without maths but BOYS WITHOUT MATHS ARE BULLSHIT."
His argument behind this was that it is the primary duty of Man to provide for his house. It is Man’s income which runs the house and as Maths does help in getting high paying jobs. Thus, Maths is a necessity for Men which in other words translates into - a Man without maths cannot be called a ‘Man’ at all!
My acquiescence to this idea of Manhood initiated an unbearable year of torture which left my report card and my mental state in complete tatters. I invested majority of my time in a subject which gave me poorest of returns. In short, I was a Man with maths who became bullshit.
It was only when I failed in Maths that everyone, even the concerned relative, got convinced that Maths truly was a bad idea and that abandoning it would surely make me a better Man.
Fast Forward, I ended up taking Geography in class 12th and ET-Voila! I got the cut off to make me eligible to enter one of the best colleges in one of the best universities in the country and got to study a course of my choice. I was one amongst the top 5 rank-holders and my entire family including the concerned relative said "they were proud of me and that I would end up becoming a successful Man one day."
This painful experience led me for the first time to seriously doubt the qualities classified under the heads of masculinity and femininity. I realised that they are nothing except for abominable myths created by a patriarchal society, conforming to which, only destroys the very essence of life.
Life, as I see it, constitutes one essential principle- freedom of choice. It means that everyone born on this planet has the free choice to live as they want, be who they want and for God-sakes, study what they want!
Therefore, it is pertinent to ask, how can we ever be truly empowered, when our choices are constrained by evil norms, so deeply devoid of rationale or biological proofs and yet enforced upon innocent souls, binding them in chains of bondage before they can truly understand them? These constructs and classifications are nothing but restrictions on our freedom to live life as it should be- one where we are free to choose what we wish to learn without any stigmas being attached to the same.
Society is formed of distinct individuals and the development of a strong society can only take place only when its denizens are unencumbered from the burdens of such perverted ideas and preferences. Such restrictions, polluted by ignorance and patriarchal arrogance are roadblocks in the path of true quality education which would only produce defunct society. These constraints, accepted by the society as a pathetic excuse for 'strengthening' itself, are nothing but a recipe for its own doom!
However, if a society creates these ideas, then the society itself can eliminate them as well. This can only happen when its constituent individuals initiate a new powerful discourse which demolishes the baneful gendered social structures of old and ushers in a new era of freedom of choice. It is only when the society demolishes its chains of petty discriminations that we shall feel the inner strength and unity it harbors. This would make its path to progress much more swift and meaningful.
To conclude, it is only when the ideal of free choice is recognized in full, can we proudly proclaim to be truly empowered and the denizens of such a society can feel proud of being its members.
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