‘Empowerment starts when women stop doubting themselves’

New Delhi: All women should dream big and should not let others’ doubts deter them, said women achievers from various fields, sharing their experiences and perspectives on women empowerment.
Speaking at the ‘We Women Want Festival and Awards’ organised by iTV Network at Hotel Taj Ambassador in New Delhi on Monday, Kaveree Bamzai (Senior Journalist & Author), Naina Lal Kidwai (Chair of India Sanitation Coalition & Rothschild India), Shaifalika Panda (Trustee & Founder CEO, Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation), and Shama Mohamed (Congress National Spokesperson) in a jam packed session on women empowerment shared their ideas on how to empower women and create a balanced society, where patriarchal norms do not dominate the mindset.
Shaifalika Panda, whose organisation has been working at the grassroots for the upliftment of the downtrodden society, said that “ At the grass root level, patriarchal norms are deeply entrenched.”
Moreover, to wipe out patriarchal system we need a complete transformation at the social level so that women can take independent decisions, she said.
Senior Journalist Kaveree Bamzai, who is the only woman to have been the editor of India Today magazine, said that we should not doubt ourselves.
“Many women doubt themselves and feel that they don’t deserve their success. Even if the world appreciates us, we keep on doubting ourselves” and emphasized on the importance of self-belief.
According to Naina Lal kidwai, who is also the first Indian woman to graduate from Harvard and obtained a degree in MBA in 1982 said that self-belief, managing personal relations and remaining disciplined are the most important aspect to achieve success.
Similarly, Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed emphasising on the importance of self-belief said that “confidence is the key to overcoming negativity.”