Woah. Feminism, what’s that? Isn’t it those two girls in college who say ‘period’ out loud and think its okay to utter such heresy? This is the perception of 99.99% of the males in India. Even the ones who know about inequality and female issues, refuse to acknowledge them. Anyway, I’m no expert on feminism, I am but a simple advocate of the church of Feminism.
I am simply going to point out whatever I see everyday in the hospital and college because it’s easier for everyone to understand and also makes for a good rant.
1.This is really simple, but extremely annoying.
Why are girls not allowed to wear leggings in college? I don’t know about other colleges, but my college tries to enforce that rule, at least among the first year students. It doesn’t make sense. We all wear tunics over leggings anyway, so it’s not like its a butt exhibition for the boys.
It’s absurd that I must wear loose ass pants when I can wear leggings which look better and to be honest if the silhouette of my calves excites some teenage boy who doesn’t know his ass from his head, he must be taken into psychiatric custody, instead of useless rules being imposed on me.
2. Most of the first years must’ve faced this, but have you guys ever noticed that in the anatomy practicals, when we’re asked to hold organs in the anatomical position and talk about them, boys always get testicles. And girls always get uterus. What the fuck actually?
I’ve studied the whole book, cover to cover, and almost died out of exhaustion. But you choose to ask me uterus and the menstrual cycle and discount all my hard work. Or if my examiner is a little perv and he delights himself on seeing girls squirm, he mights ask me to ‘hold the testicles’.
Mr examiner I’ll have you know I can wring those testicles too and show no remorse whatsoever.
3. Being late to class.
There was this one time I was late to class because I got my *cough cough* period and I seriously debated having a hysterectomy and I got screamed at for not being punctual even after I explained the reason to my professor.
Okay so once a month my uterus rips me a new one and I’m supposed to dance around trees like I am on LSD. Got it.
On the other hand, my male counterparts are late because they were ruminating in the lunch hour and talking about how ‘dope’ the new Star Wars movie is. What a good reason.
4. This is a real life event, paraphrased of course.
Professor : So young lady, what do you want to specialise in after graduation?
Me : Uhh , probably surgery.
Professor : WHAT
(He then continues to look at me like I’ve insulted his entire career, family and everything dear to him, nods his head in disapproval and honestly at this point I think he’s having a stroke because he’s shaking so vigorously from the aftermath of the blasphemy)
Me : Sir are you okay?
Professor : WHY WOULD YOU DO SURGERY YOU’RE A GIRL! THAT’S A MAN’S JOB STOP BEFORE YOU GET WEIRDER IDEAS LIKE OH SIR I’M GOING TO SAVE LIVES OR SOMETHING. Shit hand me a propranolol man this girl cray.
Me: So what if I’m a girl sir?
Professor: You don’t understand. Girls need to look after their families. They can’t take the stress of surgery and they always mix emotions and work. You should do something chill like dermatology or family medicine.
Me : …
PS. This man is supposed to be one of the senior most professors in my college and he’s the most experienced(educated) Just sayin’
5. I love makeup. I wear it every day without fail. If I were a diabetic, I might forget to take my insulin but I’d never leave without mascara or bb cream.
So I obviously wear make up to hospital, although not too much. Just a little mascara and stuff. But like a shark to blood, my male professors sniff the makeup out and make it a point to tell me that I must “look more like a doctor” and “this is not a fashion show” and my favourite out of the lot “make up is for models not med students”
These are the minds that teach us. The brilliant minds that have studied super speciality and multiple diplomas and years of experience working/studying abroad.
But it’s completely okay if the boys wear a t shirt that says “Broke is the new rich” or “Ironman” or something while they haven’t brushed their hair in 18624 days. AND the fly of their zipper is open. AND they’re yawning 24×7 AND jock scratching AND some wear socks with sandals.
I rest my case.
These are the small things we need to change. At least in India. Because equality is far from being reality. If we are at least rid of stereotyping, I’d count that as a major win. So if there are any cis males reading this, and you happen to go to med school, please help your female classmate out. And stop jock scratching please.
humerushumorous 