I hope this letter finds you well. I write to you with the hope of engaging in a meaningful discussion about an issue I’ve come to believe is deeply important—our treatment and perception of women in our society.
You and I have grown up surrounded by beliefs that women are naturally less capable or deserving of freedom and opportunities than men. These beliefs are so ingrained in our daily lives that they seem like unchangeable truths. But what if they’re not? What if we are overlooking something crucial?
Have you ever noticed the talents and strengths women display even within the confines of their restricted roles? Think of our mothers, sisters, and wives—how they manage households, nurture children, and often contribute to our farms and businesses, all without recognition or equal standing. Does it not strike you as strange that their contributions are treated as less important than ours simply because of their gender?
I’d like you to consider this: if women were truly less capable, would we need to restrict their education or opportunities so severely? Wouldn’t their supposed “limitations” be obvious without these barriers? Instead, I believe we fear what they might achieve if given the same freedoms we enjoy.
Moreover, I invite you to reflect on fairness. Imagine being born into this world and being told that your value is less—not because of what you’ve done, but because of something as unchangeable as your gender. Wouldn’t you feel that this was unjust?
The evidence is all around us if we look with open eyes. In communities where women are given even small chances to learn and lead, we see families thriving and societies growing stronger. This isn’t just a moral issue—it’s also practical. Empowering women is empowering humanity.
I know it can be difficult to challenge the norms we’ve inherited. It feels safer to go along with what has always been. But I believe you are someone who values kindness and fairness, and that’s why I’m sharing these thoughts with you.
If you ever wonder what kind of world you wish to leave behind, think of one where every person, regardless of gender, can live with dignity and opportunity. That is a world worth striving for.
Letter to a Friend in 19th-Century Nepal
Dear Friend,
I hope this letter finds you well. I write to you with the hope of engaging in a meaningful discussion about an issue I’ve come to believe is deeply important—our treatment and perception of women in our society.
You and I have grown up surrounded by beliefs that women are naturally less capable or deserving of freedom and opportunities than men. These beliefs are so ingrained in our daily lives that they seem like unchangeable truths. But what if they’re not? What if we are overlooking something crucial?
Have you ever noticed the talents and strengths women display even within the confines of their restricted roles? Think of our mothers, sisters, and wives—how they manage households, nurture children, and often contribute to our farms and businesses, all without recognition or equal standing. Does it not strike you as strange that their contributions are treated as less important than ours simply because of their gender?
I’d like you to consider this: if women were truly less capable, would we need to restrict their education or opportunities so severely? Wouldn’t their supposed “limitations” be obvious without these barriers? Instead, I believe we fear what they might achieve if given the same freedoms we enjoy.
Moreover, I invite you to reflect on fairness. Imagine being born into this world and being told that your value is less—not because of what you’ve done, but because of something as unchangeable as your gender. Wouldn’t you feel that this was unjust?
The evidence is all around us if we look with open eyes. In communities where women are given even small chances to learn and lead, we see families thriving and societies growing stronger. This isn’t just a moral issue—it’s also practical. Empowering women is empowering humanity.
I know it can be difficult to challenge the norms we’ve inherited. It feels safer to go along with what has always been. But I believe you are someone who values kindness and fairness, and that’s why I’m sharing these thoughts with you.
If you ever wonder what kind of world you wish to leave behind, think of one where every person, regardless of gender, can live with dignity and opportunity. That is a world worth striving for.
Yours in friendship and hope,
Suman