Thiruvananthapuram sub collector Divya S Iyer. Photo: ManoramaWomen of Kerala are well trained to be happy in each stage of their life, but only few of them are prepared to address depression, says Thiruvananthapuram sub collector Divya S Iyer.
Addressing the Manorama News Conclave she said, “A lady is conventionally trained to take up more responsibilities than a man. This enables her to take pleasure in every simplest thing she gets into. Women of Kerala are well trained to be happy in each stage of their life. But unfortunately, a very few of them are trained to face depression and hence they fail."
As a sub-divisional magistrate, she said she comes across at least one case a week of a woman in her twenties, getting married and ending up committing suicide.
“Our women should seriously learn to face depression and bitter times in life," she added.
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Speaking in a panel discussion on 'Gender of happiness' Divya S Iyer said that media should be vigilant to propagate the supremacy of law.
"They (media) bring out a series of cases where women and other oppressed sections of society facing severe violations of basic rights. But you cannot imagine the number of people getting justice constitutionally, every day. This deserves an equal focus on our media, to improve the trust larger public vests on our constitution," she said.
Commenting on the Thiruvananthapuram girl's self defensive act of chopping off a Godman's genitals, Iyer said that it was not punishment that establishes ultimate justice, but education.
Society doesn't permit women to manifest her happiness beyond the rigid framework it has crafted around her.
Athlete Anju Bobby George and novelist-writer Anitha Nair also participated in the discussion, moderated by actor Manju Warrier.
“Kerala has cast that heavy burden of modesty and politeness over girls. Though women are more expressive than men, the latter are given more options to express their feelings than the former,” Anju pointed out during at the discussion.
