Behind The Mask Of Gender- Identities Entwined

By B S Anagha

For her—beauty, attraction, femininity, childbirth,

Colour, love, and emotional outbursts.

Support the family's needs, manage the chores,

Stay naive yet patient, multitask through roles.

Be an all-rounder—working, independent, responsible, adjusting,

Be a good wife,

A great daughter, sister, mother, grandmother—

Every relationship to be handled with grace.

Dress as society deems fit,

Love the man she chooses—yet not stray a bit.

Physically weaker, yet must fulfil expectations.

If she desires material wealth—she’s called “evil.”

But what is wrong in that, some ask?

If earned with dignity, why shame her as a witch,

Or reduce her worth to mere inheritance?

How much is too much to expect from her?

Is this pain not real? Not treacherous to feel?

Who is she without a powerful he?

Are the answers simple—or just appear to be?

What more must she become to be accepted?

Can’t she just be a man?

And he—what of him?

Must he chase, look good, stay masculine,

Show manners, be obedient, bring satisfaction?

Feel nervous to express love,

Yet uphold pride and family honour.

He must satisfy the woman, his kin,

Yet is called a servant from within.

Drawn to beauty—for “men will be men!”

He supports, he shares, he tries to understand,

Yet gets labelled again and again.

Be a son, brother, father, grandfather—

Take pain silently, bear it harder.

Act tough, stay strict, maintain “class,”

Yet he’s called a misogynist—judged for his past.

Emotion held in, tears unshed,

Blamed for not knowing what was never said.

Oh! Where is the balance?

Is this equality? Can we just switch gender?

What exactly are we fighting for?

Does marriage solve it all?

Or must we focus on mutual respect,

Self-empowerment—not societal puppetry?

Live in the present, cherish each moment.

We are co-dependent species—

Weaving complexity with patience and perseverance.

We must learn, unlearn, and relearn—with courage.

We share the same heart, mind, soul, and consciousness.

Who are we, but a droplet in the ocean of this metaverse?

A fine grain of sand in the vast desert of the universe.

Don’t lose that essence—for the sake of being just a gender.

Can we fool ourselves with material gain or symbolic equality?

Or is it time to stop, reflect—and reclaim?

By B S Anagha