The ring you’re expecting v/s the ones you need

Think Women’s Day and, chances are, you can only conjure images of somewhat agitated women throwing verbal grenades about empowerment and breaking – more like obliterating – the glass ceiling. I would have probably nodded in complete unison about this connotation had I not been transcribing my thoughts into words in an environment that’s fueled mainly by estrogen (at least 70% of it). The proverbial glass ceiling as we know it, ladies, has been shattered; toxic workplace masculinity has been put to an end, and for that, we owe a debt of gratitude to a generation of really formidable women who came before us. If you’re seeking validation for this thought, though, you should know it comes in abundant supply from the unlikeliest of places - the PFW.

In 2019, runways were dominated by clothes which were both pragmatic and chic. Outfits that made sense only to the wasted-youth and 20-something blogger cohort were left where they belonged – in the past. And although biker shorts did make occasional appearances, they were paired with working-girl jackets - straight from the ‘80s, and with shoulder pads so big they can support the weight of the world – which made them look not only utilitarian but also checked all our boxes for a perfect 9-to-5 pairing.

Gender blurring clothes on the runway are proof that power in the workplace, if not tilting, is definitely evolving. And that’s something.

But in 2019, while women are getting rid of condescending career hyperboles, they’re still dealing with ones that have been bequeathed to them by society – the overwhelming demand to strike the perfect work/life balance; that she can never really be ‘complete’ without having someone to go home to – the same home that she’s probably cashed-in her well-deserved paycheck on. Combine it with the ‘X got married to Z’ updates which inundate our Facebook wall every day and you’re left with a bad feeling you can’t shake off despite your routine coffees.

Relax; this is not a feminist call to arms or a late reaction to the Galentine’s Day memo that had previously got lost in the mail. All I’m saying is, reassuring women that they are independent and good enough, regardless of the emerald-cut rock on their ring finger, is the only Women’s Day message worth supporting.

And when you do find a man who’s comfortable with sharing an equal stake in the power dynamics of your relationship, you’ll get your rock alright.