Yashnashree
Communicative English with Media Studies
Patna Women's College
I, Society and Public Policy' Seminar, 2009

The Women's Reservation Bill is one of the most burning topics of discussion today. It has triggered a debate all over the nation. The supporters of this Bill feel it is one step ahead towards Women's emancipation. People who feel that political empowerment is what is needed for the women of this country need to look deep into the issue of Women's emancipation in the social backdrop of our country. The larger woman population of our country is struggling for basic needs and they don't even have a medium to voice their opinion. What purpose will this Bill serve for such women?

Reservation is no solution to offer for women's liberation and emancipation. It is possible only when we are ready to work towards this cause earnestly. We need to work at the grassroots level so that real progress can be made in terms of women's education, healthcare, etc. We have to be aware of our rights as well as duties, as a woman and as a human being.

In my opinion, giving reservations to women is like proving the superiority of men over them. In a male-dominated society, like ours, women can get equal status only when they are aware and well educated. Thus, our foremost duty is to spread awareness so that women do not need any reservation but come out with flying colours on the basis of their own merit. Education is the ultimate tool for the empowerment of women because it will help them in the long run to make their dreams come true and in proving their identity.

The Women's Reservation Bill merely serves as a symbolism. There are examples of countries like Rwanda where women's representation in the political arena is huge but when it comes to empowerment of women, the country is lagging behind. This is because the women in power are not driven by a cause or mission. They are simply not putting the consolidated effort that is needed for the upliftment of their gender. The Women's Reservation Bill is also one of the examples of this kind of tokenism in our country.

Reservation for women is a paradox in itself. On one hand, we are striving hard to compete with our male counterparts and are demanding equal status with them, while on the other, we are degrading ourselves by supporting reservation We are belittling ourselves by doing so. I strongly feel that a woman is capable enough to walk shoulder to shoulder with men folk without any support like reservation or anything that blurs her identity as an individual.