Author: Nilesh Varak | October 25th 2022
Human sexual identity is assigned biologically at conception, but gender is the individual’s personal sense of one’s own gender. Gender identity can either correlate with or differ from a person’s assigned sex. We also differentiate people in society based on their gender identity and then by their gender role. For decades, we have seen, read, heard, and been told by society, what our children should and should not do based on their gender.
When it comes to expressing individual emotions, typically when we see a boy crying, regardless of his age, we will say, “Don’t be a cissy, why are you crying like a girl?” and from a young age- “Boys should never cry, only girls cry”. Unfortunately, this message is still being passed down from generation to generation.
When discussing professional roles, it is common to hear or observe that gender-based divisions of responsibilities exist. For example, girls should consider professions as teachers rather than pilots or enlisting in the military. we still hear that they shouldn’t waste time or the families’ money studying for competitive tests like the IAS or aspiring to attend a prestigious college because according to societal expectations, women should get married by the time they are 25 years old, and if they continue their education and succeed, it will be to the benefit of the groom’s family rather than the daughter’s empowerment.
While men are being pressured to pursue high-profile professions or an MBA, starting their own business, or pursuing a career in aviation, even though they may want to pursue other avenues or lack the academic aptitude to follow a professional path.
Society needs to do better at not jumping to assumptions and assuming that boys do this and girls do that.
We don’t discriminate against gender at Sethu based on gender identity or roles. At Sethu, team members are hired based on their potential, strengths, and talents rather than on gender roles, and management tries to ensure that there is no glass ceiling. In the same way, when a client first comes to Sethu we do not assume gender or when a family asks for career advice for their child or a child asks for career options on their own, we encourage them and give them the necessary direction about how to proceed after they make their choice based on their potential, strengths, talents, and interests.
Regardless of gender, we should give equal opportunities to everyone who merits them and encourage everyone to reach their full potential despite historic gender labelling.