Are You A Woman With Opinions? You Will Relate To This Post! #WomenOnTheMove

A woman with opinions is often tagged as ‘bossy’. Will this ever change? Read what readers had to say on the #WomenOnTheMove chat.

I am a woman. And I am opinionated. I am not opinionated because I want to be rude or bossy. I am opinionated because not only I have the right to have an opinion but also I have the right to share that opinion. There is nothing wrong with that. Because everyone has that right. And sorry to break your shell but ‘Silence’ is not a woman’s best friend!

Earlier this week, we had our weekly #Womenonthemove chat over at Twitter, and this is what we discussed.

The battle of the sexes

@womensweb absolutely all this is natural aggression for men and abnormal for women.

— Pooja Sharma Rao (@IAmSufiZen) August 25, 2016

@womensweb #Womenonthemove
Yes they are to a certain extend. If they are assertive and have opinion which is counter to the majority

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— Prerana (@prerana248) August 25, 2016

@womensweb Men are rewarded, often lauded for speaking. women r sidelined and looked down upon if they have strong pov

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) August 25, 2016

@womensweb A1. All the time. Have been branded arrogant as well. You learn to ignore yet maintain your stand. #Womenonthemove

— Pallavi Kamat (@Pallavisms) August 25, 2016

@womensweb Women r given a seat at the table. but including them isnt the same as hearing them.

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) August 25, 2016

I have never directly been called bossy.. but yes that sense is something I have felt almost everyday. https://t.co/hrRlgYZpkE

— Jaibala Rao (@JaibalaRao) August 25, 2016

@womensweb A1. whether straightforward or overbearing, the woman has to lean in a lot more to get her POV heard. #Womenonthemove

— Aditi Mahale (@timulgi) August 25, 2016

I have a voice, hear me; I am a human, see me

@womensweb Yes, there r issues at workplace but if u remain firm for long, you are heard.#Womenonthemove

— ILA VARMA (@VARMAILA) August 25, 2016

@womensweb Dont care. Maintain ur stand. Ppl will learn to respect eventually.#happenedtome

— Sweety Pateliya (@chinks_lounge) August 25, 2016

@womensweb I have a loud voice and very strong opinions. My mom was worried I wd have trouble after marriage.

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) August 25, 2016

@womensweb Speak softly and only when u r spoken to is what many girls are often taught from childhood.

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) August 25, 2016

@womensweb #Womenonthemove I swear there is difference in men n women,they push things silently n we raise our voices 2 b heard.

— ILA VARMA (@VARMAILA) August 25, 2016

@womensweb I have been lauded for actually speaking up & voicing contrary opinions. I was like ‘what? I am no different, why the kudos’

— Aditi Mahale (@timulgi) August 25, 2016

@womensweb A2. Yes! Keep voicing your opinions. Establish your credibility. They can’t ignore you for long. #Womenonthemove

— Pallavi Kamat (@Pallavisms) August 25, 2016

@womensweb A2. Action speaks louder thn words. I let my work speak for my strong opinions. Now they respect me for that. #womenonthemove

— Archana (TSW) (@BeingAHappyGirl) August 25, 2016

@womensweb #Womenonthemove Need 2 continue our efforts with firmness n learn 2 maintain cool while putting opinions,she is slowly accepted

— ILA VARMA (@VARMAILA) August 25, 2016

Should women do the talking for bringing in perception change?

@womensweb I tried not speaking, gave a lead time of 10 secs for others to talk before I put my opinion,sugar coated opinions. None worked!

— Priya Paramesh (@PriyaParamesh) August 25, 2016

@womensweb Even if u try counter it u will be percieved as rude AGAIN! evry 1 shud hv opinions until it becomes a norm. #Womenonthemove

— Sweety Pateliya (@chinks_lounge) August 25, 2016

@PriyaParamesh @womensweb ha ha. I am diabetic to sugarcoating. Can never get the hang of it 😝😝

— Archana (TSW) (@BeingAHappyGirl) August 25, 2016

@womensweb 2: Live your life and keep expressing your opinions.That is the only way they will learn to respect your opinions #Womenonthemove

— Life Camera Fashion (@thekopargaonkar) August 25, 2016

@womensweb A2. I will continue to gv strong opinions till it is seen as normal & will ignore public criticism! #womenonthemove

— Falguni Vasavada-Oza (@falgunivasavada) August 25, 2016

@womensweb A2. Action speaks louder than words!Let your action inspire others to build a positive opinion about you.

— Priyanka Dutta (@PriyankaADutta) August 25, 2016

A2) Other people’s opinion are not mine to change & similarly I wont change for their opinions.#Womenonthemove https://t.co/HTJf6TsA9A

— Jaibala Rao (@JaibalaRao) August 25, 2016

@womensweb A3. Opinion is an opinion why use tact? Ya one has 2 understand d situation & then speak! #womenonthemove

— Falguni Vasavada-Oza (@falgunivasavada) August 25, 2016

@womensweb Of course! It’s just your opinion. You don’t have to shout to prove yourself right. #WomenOnTheMove

— Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) August 25, 2016

Women themselves have a role to play; to support their sorority

@aditi_mahale @womensweb Often women look down upon women who speak up and have a strong pov.

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) August 25, 2016

@womensweb Women often drag down other women. we need to change ourselves before expecting the world to change

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) August 25, 2016

@womensweb A2. I will myself stop seeing opinionated women as bossy! That too needs to change! #womenonthemove

— Falguni Vasavada-Oza (@falgunivasavada) August 25, 2016

@womensweb While common in corporate circles, I c this hpng in families too. where women rnt allowed to voice their opinion

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) August 25, 2016

@womensweb#Womenonthemove Since childhood,we have been asked not to voice so when we get a chance to put our opinions, it’s uncontrollable

— ILA VARMA (@VARMAILA) August 25, 2016

@justkanchana Totally agree… women are women’s biggest judges and even their jury @womensweb

— Jaibala Rao (@JaibalaRao) August 25, 2016

Tact is a gender ignostic skill.Women expressing an opinion generally labelled even by other women #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/UdndsLa1h2

— anupama (@anupamaskapoor) August 25, 2016

Is there another way to bring in perception change?

@womensweb #Womenonthemove
Need to raise the next gen boys in a different way to change this perception in school workplace and across.

— Prerana (@prerana248) August 25, 2016

@womensweb 3: Be honest, Expressing your opinion is not a crime- crime is to supress someones voice or opinions #Womenonthemove

— Life Camera Fashion (@thekopargaonkar) August 25, 2016

@womensweb A2 a conscious attempt to change this perception. And look at her as an individual sans gender #WomenOnTheMove

— Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) August 25, 2016

@womensweb A5 there is hope, I see that with our children, gender neutral upbringing is the answer #Womenonthemove

— Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) August 25, 2016

Change! Do we see it coming?

@womensweb A4. I dont think they are coming down. They may infact increase with the current diversity wave. A larger cultural shift needed.

— Aditi Mahale (@timulgi) August 25, 2016

@womensweb Yes, it has declined in cities n she is been accepted, continue efforts in right way n direction. #Womenonthemove

— ILA VARMA (@VARMAILA) August 25, 2016

@womensweb I would put it as acceptance & recognition of women talent in different aspects and fields are on the rise..but long way to go…

— Priyanka Dutta (@PriyankaADutta) August 25, 2016

A4) Yes and no. Change is happening but it is very slow and does not go deep enough #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/ZBte0FxBVe

— Jaibala Rao (@JaibalaRao) August 25, 2016

@womensweb A5 in Indian society at large, NO. We have a long way to go.

— Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) August 25, 2016

Personally, I feel that a perception change can only be brought in if we can manage to raise a generation of girls who are unafraid of the judgments their sharing of opinions will bring; and a generation of boys who don’t think that their existence is endangered & jeopardised because girls have refused to take things lying down. Moreover, we as parents & as society need to support our girls who stand up and speak out. Because opinions are okay. And girls with opinions are okay.

Image: Business meeting at workplace from Pixabay

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