It’s a man’s world

At the end of the two hour flight, the plane landed uneventfully, taxied to a stop and most of the passengers got up simultaneously from their seats. It takes at least five minutes for the gates of the plane to open, but people are impatient. They are all standing still for the disembarkation to start. This is the time I observe my fellow passengers. By natural selection, my eyes land on the females first. This morning I was a bit surprised to find only one female passenger within eyesight. I thought—so what they say is true! After all, it’s still a man’s world.

We encounter so many statistics nowadays showing the progress of women. One or two women head large companies. One or two women head nations. Once or twice girls topped national board exams. Leading software companies have started preferring female employees over males. By 2015 men will face a stiff challenge from women in the employment arena.

Around us we find with most young couples both of them working. Change is definitely in the air in this country, the change that started in the so-called advanced nations three decades back. I am sure in those countries we will find a much larger proportion of women in a morning inter-city flight. But will their number be equal or more than the men?

During the day in the mixed team meeting there were about twenty people. While the heated discussions were continuing suddenly I noticed the small lone girl sitting quietly in a corner. She must be good to be present in this kind of meeting. On one technical point she was referred to. Her answer was though confident, I immediately found one fundamental misconception and duly pounced upon her. To be truthful, later I felt her loneliness and felt sorry for her.

On way back by the evening flight I was happier to see a few more female passengers than the morning flight.

Next day I returned home a little earlier than usual and found my wife still not back from work. Feeling hungry I foraged in the kitchen, cupboards and the fridge for food. A few minutes later my wife entered. Apologetically she said, ‘It was a last minute job’. I said, ‘No problems. I could somehow manage.’

We won’t let go our control so easily. It’s still our world and will remain so for a long time to come.

You don’t agree???