Written by: Siddhartha Krishnan | 3 Min Read

A discussion on gender equality and women’s rights is incomplete without acknowledging the 50% stakeholders in this debate—men. For they are not just participants but both beneficiaries and victims of the same oppressive system called patriarchy. If anyone in their right mind truly seeks to dismantle this system, they must take the bold step toward a more inclusive, honest conversation.

In my own experience, I have seen this drama play out in offices and homes, where much of the dialogue is mere lip service. Women are celebrated for their sacrifices, their ability to multitask, their emotional intelligence—yet how long will this rhetoric at homes and these hollow cultural programs in offices, designed to reinforce their “place,” continue? Women are awakening, at least those with access to opportunity. But men—men are the true losers here. They have failed to evolve, trapped in a system they believe serves them, when in reality, it robs them of their humanity. They are told they must not cry, must not express vulnerability. Their worth is measured only by their ability to earn, to take their rigid place at the head of the dinner table—the provider, the unshakable rock.

But this is a lie. A lie that has persisted for too long. Men know it, yet lack the courage to challenge a structure they believe works in their favor. And it is not just men who uphold this system. Women, too, are complicit—raising sons to believe they are gifts to the world, oppressing other women who are subordinate in this hierarchy. The truth is clear: this was never about gender alone. It was always about power. A power that sustains incompetent leaders, corrupt politicians, self-appointed gatekeepers—soulless figures who have traded their conscience for control.

And yet, the way forward is not just in recognizing oppression but in celebrating those who challenge it. There is an urgent need to amplify the voices of men who have chosen to break free, who have rejected the roles handed to them and become true partners—at home, at work, and in society. These men are not doing anything extraordinary. They are simply doing what is right in an equal, humane world. But human nature craves examples. People need to see others take the first step before they dare to follow. Women who demand equality must also recognize and speak of the men in their lives who have had the courage to embrace it. Change is contagious, but only when it is made visible.

In short, this nonsense must end. And it ends with you. You can choose to deny it, ignore it, close your door to it—but do so at your peril. Or you can choose to open that door, to open your mind, and reclaim the humanity stolen from both men and women. Do it not just for your daughters, but for your sons. Because a world that chains men to a false ideal of masculinity is just as broken as one that subjugates women. And no one—no one—wins in such a world.

Happy Women’s Day!

— Siddhartha Krishnan
(Author – Two and a Half Rainbows)

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About the author –

Siddhartha Krishnan is the author of ‘Two and a Half Rainbows – A Collection of Short Stories’. An enthusiastic blogger he shares his articles, essays, travelogues, book and movie reviews on his blog (www.whatsonsidsmind.com).