Gender Agenda: Exploring Nature’s Role in Nurturing

Quick Summary

• A detailed exposé revealed an unauthorized surrogacy and baby-selling operation run by a woman doctor in Hyderabad, linked to poverty-related baby exchanges by struggling couples.
• In Europe, “baby windows” are facilities in specific institutions where women can anonymously abandon their babies, frequently enough seen in areas with limited access to contraception and abortion.
• Women constituted 63% of organ donors for living transplants in India as per NOTTO data for 2023 but face disparities as beneficiaries (24% for heart,47% for lung). To address this gender skew, NOTTO announced priority benefits for women patients awaiting transplants.
• Societal stereotypes portraying all women as nurturing impact decisions like organ donation-women are disproportionately expected or pressured to donate over men due to caregiving roles or socioeconomic dynamics.
• Break Free Stories is a kerala-based divorcee support group founded by Rafia Afi that enables separated/divorced women to heal and share personal experiences collectively through events like trips and camps.
• Shreya Dev Dube, cinematographer and member of the Indian Women Cinematographer Collective (204 members strong), opines the film industry is growing more inclusive towards female DoPs while emphasizing talent should overshadow gender biases moving forward.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The various societal challenges highlighted-from unauthorized surrogacy schemes tied to poverty in India to disproportionate expectations on female organ donors-underscore persistent systemic inequalities faced by Indian women. The prioritization of female patients within India’s transplant system by NOTTO reflects a policy shift aimed at addressing gender imbalance; however, such efforts will still require broader socio-cultural change to dismantle entrenched stereotypes about caregiving roles assigned solely based on gender.

Efforts like Break Free Stories exemplify grassroots actions that empower marginalized groups and promote collective healing among divorced/separated Indian women-a significant step toward changing societal norms around marital status stigma. Simultaneously occurring, Shreya Dev Dube’s insights on inclusivity within cinema reflect gradual progress; yet her assertion highlights ongoing resistance against objectification through a gender-aware lens-a principle applicable across diverse industries if true equality is sought.

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