One thing that I find common in the women of my region Spiti, is that they have a choice and say in all aspects of life.

-Nawang Chhoetso

The older generation of women -from my grandmother’s age group- are primarily housewives. Their succeeding generation went on to expand their horizons by exploring various career opportunities. Hence, women of my mother’s age group engage in a diverse range of jobs and activities, as teachers, nurses and various other occupations. My generation has ahead us of us a greater number of options. But, what has remained constant for women from all three generations has been the right to make our own decisions. 

Living in a region that was fairly isolated from the rest of the world, we never imbibed aspects of patriarchy that were prevalent elsewhere. Our culture is built on the tenets of gender equality; hence, it was always something I accepted as a given, as a norm. Of course, there are instances wherein boys are given preference, but then there are also instances where girls are given preference; the scales are always balanced. Hence, from an early age I grew up with the understanding that though girls and boys may differ in some ways, both are equal; an understanding that I garnered not from my books but from what I saw in my surroundings, in people around me. 

Like most other households in Spiti, my parents divide the housework between themselves as per work schedules; for instance, my dad takes charge of cooking and other household chores when my mom is on her night shift in the hospital. During harvest season, they divide their work on the basis of their capabilities and not on the lines of gender.

In conclusion, what I mean to convey is that I have always seen that women in my region have been strong and happy. They have a strong say in all family decisions and they engage in a diverse range of jobs and activities, irrespective of their economic privilege. 

They choose to be who they are today. All we need is to show them more options and once they decide, no one will ever stop them. For people in our region, women’s right is not a struggle, it is a long established fact. 

Nawang Chhoetso