It's quite common to crack a joke or pull legs in workspace. But what I experienced yesterday was not very clear to me. Still I am confused about this. My colleague, who sits next to me has no problem with me till date,at least he doesn't say anything. On the first day of my arrival itself,I declared that who needs to say whatever about me,should say on my face,I will not mind. Everybody,till now is behaving accordingly and I got no reports against me.
Now,I share the cabin with this fellow and we travel together while going home. Nothing personal,but we share a professional relationship. At which point exactly I crossed the line,I really didn't know. Yesterday,suddenly one of our associates came and gave me a "lecture" about professionalism,that also voluntarily. To her,it looked so odd to share such a bond with other colleague! Especially,when the other person is from opposite gender. Well,there's also a question about open-mindedness,but later it made me think. Did I really become unprofessional if I spoke freely with my colleagues? I believed that gender really doesn't matter when we share our opinion about current affairs. But,unfortunately some of our associates think that it's unfair for ladies to participate in political talks or giving free opinion about corruptions and social events. For them,there is a self defined boundary for ladies. They can discuss about fashion, family and children, at the highest point,about education as our institute is involved in educational activities. But never about subjects like politics and rules of society. There is always a fine line,and it will remain till the people with this specific mindset exist.
Our institution is not very orthodox type,we can share our opinions freely. Moreover,we have more number of ladies here. Our center has few male colleagues and I really don't feel awkward. By now where I have reached,both by age and experience,people from other gender really don't look like aliens. I believe this is a sign of professionalism. Only work matters,nothing else. Till now I considered people as narrow minded who make issues of that gender matter. But slowly I came to know that ladies themselves are quite happy within that drawn boundary by the male-dominated society. Their way of thinking also started taking shape of the common belief. "Don't talk to male colleagues,if you do so,you will be considered as a lady with doubtful character"......oh god! WHY? What about freedom of speech and other big words about equality and so on? All those are useless till we,the ladies come out of the century-old belief of "Good character". Everybody has the right of free expression in our country. I am not hurting anybody's sentiments,plus whatever I discuss,I have sound knowledge about that. Then why do I have to keep my mouth shut when people from other gender are involved? Not fair at all.
If it's about maintaining the dignity,I always take care of it. I never get too close to anybody. Till date,I can bet nobody from my close circle knows much about my personal life. Then also people get so much doubts! From childhood itself I have grown up as an individual,not only as a mere girl. My parents believed in raising a human being,not a girl who is bound by numerous social chains.Here in office also,male colleagues talk to me freely because they know my nature. I never cross the fine line . Let people think whatever they want,but I will remain the same. That's my nature and my identity also.
