As I get older and listen to people express their inner feelings, one of the deepest pains I hear is how so many us are living a life not out of choice, but out of expectations or pressure. We live our lives based on parental expectations, societal expectations, and religious expectations, among any others. Many…
A little empathy for our fellow human beings
Over the last 6 days I have seen two sides of human nature. I have seen people across the globe support a group they weren't required to support. But many did. Maybe it was because they wanted to show support for their shared humanity. Maybe they found it weird that a 'Power' that is supposed…
Gender pay gap
Gender pay gap is a serious topic. And to have an honest discussion about it, we must also present honest data. The "77 cents to a dollar" argument is like me asking why do I earn less than a neurosurgeon. If we are going to compare apples to oranges, we are starting out with a…
Hopelessness to Hopefulness
After the Peshawar attack last week, I was feeling quite hopeless about the human species. I couldn't imagine ideologies would go so far as to kill children. Intolerance and prejudice can never be separated from violence. And the intolerance prevalent in our own families breed these monsters who would slaughter children. If a girl falls…
Power of comedy and satire
Comedy and satire are probably one of the most powerful weapons in our society. Authoritarian figures and institutions use a sense of gravitas and seriousness to quell any questioning of their words or actions. They turn someone or something into hero or holy, and any criticism is prevented by invoking their greatness or holiness. It…
Marriage – Love, Arranged, and Other Things
First of all, let me set some ground rules. It will help in understanding this essay. I am a classical liberal. That means I believe in individual liberty and social progress. I am less likely to blindly agree with traditional rules or authority figures. This is in contrast to a classical conservative who puts the…
Evolution or Creationism?
A few weeks back a friend asked me if I believed in creationism or evolution. I did not answer because I do not think that a simple "yes or no" answer, without context, really answers something that is as complicated and controversial as this topic. There are many good and intelligent people who do not…
Benevolent Sexism
There have been enough debates and writings about patriarchy over the course of human civilization. So is there anything new that I can add to this debate? I doubt it. But I am going to try and show how patriarchy has led to benevolent sexism, and how it is as likely to prevent female empowerment…
Why Are Women Complicit in Patriarchy?
Patriarchy has been the norm in nearly all societies through all of human civilization. It has cut across cut across cultures, religions, ethnicities, and geographical boundaries. We are a male dominated society, be it through Scriptures, or customs. Could it be biological nature, or could it be because of the physical strength of males, I…
Words Matter
WORDS matter. Words matter in how we talk about the two genders. What does "man up", "grow some balls", "don't be a girl" convey? And both genders use these words. Not only does it show girls as weak, it also prejudices boys who don't behave in a stereotypical way. If we call women as "bitches",…
The Philosopher-Scientist 