The Only Difference Between Men and Women is Genitalia
By Pipala Dhungana
No matter how much we debate or reflect, the difference lies solely in sexual organs. It is not a boundary drawn for power or access. Nature created two productive elements—men and women—to ensure the continuity of creation. They are often described as the two wheels of the same chariot. Yet, for thousands of years, patriarchal conditioning has portrayed women as “the other.” This is no longer acceptable.
How can we label reproductive traits and capabilities as “superior” or “inferior”? We are not “castes” tagged to household duties. We wish to open our windows to see cities, villages, hills beyond villages, nations beyond hills, oceans beyond nations, and even farther. Politics and the world outside home interest us equally because we gave birth to all humanity.
Many think, “After all, women are just women.” Even mothers say, “It’s our fate.” But when did we lose? In mythical eras, goddesses were the last resort of weakened gods. Gods regained their power only with their help. Our Eastern society recites the verse, *”Where women are honored, divinity blossoms there,”* yet today, female infanticide is rampant. Debating *”what women can or cannot do”* is irrelevant now. The real question is: **What can’t they do?**
ut women themselves struggle to break free from patriarchal mindsets. Cheap slogans and propaganda tout “equality,” but our *divine wisdom* hasn’t progressed. Society clings to notions like, *”She’s just a daughter, after all.”* Women’s internalized shame stems from taught ideologies and systemic discrimination embedded in families and institutions. The world acknowledges women’s equal intellect, so why do they inherit separate legacies?
Examples:
– Sons attend expensive schools; daughters settle for ordinary ones.
– Sons easily get bikes; daughters are questioned for needing personal transport.
– Political parties make grand declarations, yet women are absent from leadership. Even when women secure tickets, their treatment reflects bias.
A newspaper sketch of “new leadership” depicted a man in a coat and hat. Society equates leadership with masculinity, revealing how we perceive women’s capabilities.
Global Context:
“Developed” nations like the U.S. and U.K. have short histories of equality movements. The U.S. granted women voting rights only in 1920; the U.K. in 1918. We are fortunate to avoid such prolonged suffrage struggles.
In 1998, Yogmaya Neupane and 67 followers staged a water suicide (*jalsamadhi*) protesting Rana rulers’ indifference to justice. Such sacrificial resistance is rare globally.
Modern Challenges:
Working women’s numbers have risen, but their burdens multiply: sending kids to school, office work, managing kitchens, livestock, and more. Laborers and low-wage female workers endure unimaginable conditions. Even educated women face harassment and questions like, Why work if husbands earn?
Questioning Stereotypes:
Is women’s education meant only for cooking and chores? Can’t brothers cook rice or chop vegetables? Educated daughters-in-law are desired, yet denied careers. Such dependence is unacceptable. Families must stop fearing women’s activism. Employment eases household burdens.
Legal Framework:
Nepal’s constitutions (2004 BS, 2007 BS, 2015 BS, 2019 BS, 2020 BS, 2047 BS, 2063 BS) outlaw discrimination. Yet, a chasm exists between law and practice. The 2015 Constitution (2072 BS) vows to end discrimination based on caste, gender, class, or disability. But implementation lags.
Mindset Shift Required:
Equality needs more than laws. Families, societies, and nations must change attitudes. Women must lead struggles and set examples. Mocking equality discussions reveals our regressive consciousness.
Reservation Debate:
Public spaces rarely see women. Some ask, *”Why reservations for women or specific castes?”* Reservations are discriminatory in fair systems. But Nepal’s context is different. Poverty-driven disparities necessitate quotas. Extreme electoral bias against women demands stronger reservations. This is political representation, not charity.
Self-Reliance:
How many women muster courage to fight for dignity and freedom? Society confines us to *”pretty, obedient, patient”* labels. Until we reject dependence on fathers, brothers, or husbands for sindoor, sacred threads, or ornaments, equality remains a dream.
Final Call:
We must rise as independent ants, not parasitic leeches. True equality thrives on cooperation and respect, not ruler-subject dynamics. To become Yogmaya-like icons, we must crave heights not just bask in superficial praise.
Pipala Dhungana is a prominent author from Nepal. She writes poems and articles on contemporary issue. She can be reached by email [email protected]