The Power of Raising your Voice for the Right

Today is International Women’s Day (IWD) and as always, the discussion around a woman’s voice continues. The voice of an individual is a very powerful tool. We use it every single day to talk to people, communicate our needs and desires, and to express ourselves. However, “voice” is a term that goes much deeper. It gives us all agency and power. Without a voice, you’re considered insignificant. In our Indian society particularly, women are often asked to keep quiet. This is one major reason why a lot of women are hesitant to speak up at work and social gatherings. They seldom speak about themselves, their needs, desires and concerns.

In my opinion, every woman should raise her voice and stand up for what is right. In today’s day and age, raising your voice is important. However, please note, when I say it’s important to speak up, I don’t mean yelling, shouting or screaming. Raising your voice is something that can be done in a healthy fashion and subdued manner without hurting the sentiments of the opposition, individual or group the conversation is directed at. Using derogatory terms and bad language will take the discussion nowhere.

In a democratic country like ours, your voice is powerful. Just like no two individuals are the same, no two voices are either. Everyone has something different to say and have their own perspective on different matters.

Reasons why some women are still afraid to voice their opinion

A lot of women are torn between speaking up and staying silent. Here are a few reasons that hold women back from sharing their wisdom or speaking up against atrocities:

• Self-control

A major reason why women don’t express themselves is because they possess a fear of hurting another person’s feelings. Even though they have strong feelings about a particular subject or know that they are right, they choose to stay quiet because that’s what society expects from women. In a room full of people, women are supposed to keep their views to themselves.

• Past experiences

Another reason women choose to keep quiet is because of past experiences. If someone has been subject to gender discrimination or harassment, remaining silent is often a natural response that comes from within them. Whether it’s at home or at work, the fear of speaking out is almost instinctual. Further, these women have a mindset that even if they voice their opinion, they won’t be believed or taken seriously.

• Lack of hope

Women also fear discussing the elephant in the room. They lack hope and believe that they are always at the receiving end. Even if they raise their voice, they end up getting backlash. In certain families, women are also penalised or punished for speaking up.

Ways in which Women can use their Voice

Women! If you want to make your voice heard, keep the following things in mind:

• Believe that what you’re saying is of value

If you have a certain idea/view, you need to trust it completely. Only when you fully believe in it and find value, will people get convinced. Secondly, communicate it in a fashion that it’s listened to and acted upon. If you don’t speak with conviction, nobody will trust you. As you speak, you will have several naysayers telling you that it’s unfeminine to be aggressive. However, you’ve got to find a way out for yourself.

• It’s okay if not many people like you

Society generally dislikes outspoken women. If you fear that no one will like you if you have strong opinions, don’t worry. You’ve not come into this world to please everybody. Instead, your purpose is much bigger. Don’t try to fit in, stand out. For change to occur, making some enemies along the way is normal. Also, that’s when you know that what you’re doing is working.

• Refuse to be silenced

As a woman, if it took you time to develop a voice, refuse to be silenced thereafter. Keeping quiet can sometimes be expensive. Therefore, speak up and express yourself.

• It’s okay if you’re the last person standing

When you’re standing up against any kind of injustice, there may be a time when the other woman with you in the cause may leave or drift away due to their own circumstances. Don’t let this affect you. If you feel strongly about a certain situation, hold on to your stand. Even if you’re alone, speak up for what is right.

• Use the internet to your advantage

Back in the day, women feared raising their voice because they were not equipped with the right tools and technology. Thankfully today, women can use the power of the internet to make themselves feel heard. While you can create videos and post them on social media, you can even use the power of writing to express your opinions. Social media gives a voice even to the voiceless. You can even write articles on online publishing platforms. You can get your message out and influence change at the press of a button. Using the internet, you can even pen down your thoughts by hiding your identity or choosing an anonymous handle. This way, you can bring about awareness on a particular topic.

It’s high time women speak up. If we don’t raise our voices, we can’t become catalysts of change.

As Barack Obama says “One voice can change a room, and if one voice can change a room, then it can change a city, and if it can change a city, it can change a state, and if it can change a state, it can change a nation, and if it can change a nation, it can change the world. Your voice can change the world”.