INJUS CHAHAK MALHOTRA
TICES SHIVYA GUPTA
Crush the societal norms
iii
Contents
1 . Yo u t h , s p e a k u p !
01
2 . S e e fo r y o u r s e l f
07
3. See the light
15
4. In the depth of despair
23
5. A ray o f ho p e
31
iv
1 . Yo u t h , s p e a k u p !
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social and cultural norms are rules or expectations of behavior and thoughts based on shared beliefs within a specific cultural or social group. While often unspoken, norms offer social standards for appropriate and inappropriate behavior that govern what is acceptable or not acceptable in interactions among people in a concerned society.
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society’s norms nearly affect every aspect of the lives. They contribute to one’s choices, how to speak, their music preferences, the clothes they wear, especially women. Culturally imbibed indian society tries to pressurise the youth to follow what has been going on since ages, without questioning. 6
2 . S e e fo r y o u r s e l f
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since childhood , one is taught to respect and agree to what the elderly say without doubting their spirit. Blinded by what society thinks, youth forgets to think about themselves and what they want to do and think about anything and everything.
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women form the majority of those living in poverty. They have fewer resources, less power and less influence compared to men, and can experience further inequality because of their class, ethnicity and age, as well as religious and other fundamentalism.
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3. See the light
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we’ve seen the difference that equal job opportunities, equal healthcare and education, equal decision-making power and freedom from violence can make. We’ve seen the difference when women and girls are able to make their own choices and exercise their collective voice, and when institutions address their needs and interests. Till now, women are not considered equals in the society’s eyes.
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youth who do not conform to gender norms for their assigned sex have higher rates of depression and anxiety, says a study. Young minds, when influenced, tend to agree what’s being said to them, but when those children grow up, they realise what is right for them and what’s wrong. That is the reason some people are rebellious and some suffer deep anxiety and depression.
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women in many areas are judged and bullied for the clothes they want to wear. They don’t have the freedom to dress up as they want to. Many parts of the country do not have the awareness of what equality means. For them it’s okay to treat women in the way they do. They start getting trolled on social media leading to bad effects on mental health.
gender inequality affects everyone, including men. Men, adhering to become the breadwinner, sometimes forget that they also have a life. According to our society, men need to provide a comfortable life for their family, even if it results in suffocating them. Since childhood boys are taught to be tough and invulnerable.
4. In the depth of despair
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men can be TIMID and VULNERABLE at some point in their life, and its completely okay to cry. What society tells us is not always the truth. Anxiety is a serious issue and no one should go through it just because our society doesn’t accept what one’s personality is.
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5. A ray o f ho p e
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women are expected to always put makeup on, In order to look beautiful and elegant. Among all women around the world, there is an unspoken compulsion to constantly look good, whenever they are in the public eye. Vanity may be our choice of vice, but it comes with a curse. Women simply cannot afford to look shabby or “homely” or unkempt.
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youth needs to throw off the shackles of society and be themselves. There is nothing to be scared about as world is one’s oyster. So go on and live life on the basis of your decisions as living a fearful life will not give you happiness, living life fully will.
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INJUS
TICES
INJUSTICES This book deals with the injustices faced by the youth, due to the imposed societal norms, which bound the adoloscents to the respect of a family. These societal standards make their lives difficult as they can’t live how they want to. Men can’t cry, women can’t be strong, being associated to LGBTQIA+ community is a shame; are some of the norms we need to fight against.
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