Moalong Imchen
Modern College, Piphema
All the people belong to the same species yet they are not alike, everyone is uniquely characterized by their personality and experiences. However, they are first judged based on their gender, appearance, religion, race, or background. The individuality of a person is not recognized. We are living in a world where we fight for our gender, our religion, our community, our pride. While it is not wrong, but can we fight for our fellow humans that suffered injustice? We act only when it concerns us and not when it concerns a human or a particular community that is not ours.
Human values are overshadowed by the need to dominate and a superiority complex. We are living in a world where qualities to be a human are not emphasized but only the consequence of not being human is emphasized. We live by the rules made by our hands and limit ourselves to truly see, feel and understand our own people making us incapable of offering our empathy, kindness and understanding. Our first reaction towards a victim is to judge- their situation or their actions rather than responding with empathy. For example, rape, the most prevalent violence to a human’s dignity, we first check what the victim had been wearing or whether they were out late at night and often tend to forget about the invasion of space. A man or a woman could be walking naked and yet no one should have the right to invade their space because that is what it means to be a human-“Respecting the space of a fellow human.” Do we have improper thoughts about our own family members when they are “being indecent” or do we avert our eyes or try to protect them? Our respect and empathy should not extend only till our family or friends but to everyone around us. Why do we struggle to even get along with our own species? Animals are far better in terms of unity.
It is a generally accepted fact that men are physically stronger and females are emotionally stronger. Although it is true, these traits are not tied to a particular gender. This can vary among individuals regardless of gender. Stereotyping is one of the main reasons why people do not see individuality. It is also one of the reasons why gender problems are not solved like Men do not get abused or do not need help and Women are not progressive and are dependent. The world is progressing in terms of “artificial humans” that mimics human intelligence, behavior and even emotions and yet we ourselves have regressed in terms of “being human.” We are wrapped in our own bubble and perspective which limits both our emotions and thinking capability, failing to see the world with empathy and open mindedness. Grow a heart to be emphatic and a brain to have a broader thinking.
