Book Review: SHE by Dr. Sarika Jain

SHE means Stop Hurting Me Every Day. This book is dedicatedly referring to those who take girls and women can be handled in every situation, without creating any fuss and loss. With the title, the message is clear – A Message for Those Who Belittle Girls!

This non-fiction book probably has come up following the dreadful two rape cases that shook the entire country. One was Nirbhaya, and the second was Kathua. Nevertheless, you have to appreciate the efforts taken by the author to promote power among women and girls. In our country, which is developing so fast, rape cases are becoming banal. People just don’t care, as they consider girls and women as commodity, not an individual or human being. This needs to be stopped. There needs to be awareness about respecting women all across the globe.

The book is well presented in eighteen chapters – all equally powerful and brimming with stats and data. With each chapter, you will find a soul-stirring tagline, such as in Chapter Six: She is Respect – Stop Hurting Me Every Day by Abusing ‘She’ Mentally and Physically.

Yet, very clearly it has been mentioned that the book is not to promote feminism, but is here to promote power and status of self-respect in women. One of quotes say – Feminism is not synonymous with man-hating or marriage-hating, but it simply means equality.

Also, the book is high on prose. Just in the Author’s note, we find this beautifully summed up prose:

“Girls cannot give opinions.” 

“Girls cannot dream.”

“Girls cannot live their life on their own terms and conditions.”

“Girls are born to get married.”

“Girls are made for kitchens.”

“Girls cannot be independent.”

“Girls cannot take their own life’s decisions because they are ‘she’.”

If girls are made for the kitchen, well then in the hospitality industry why there are no prominent women. Why chefs are male only. This is sheer example of male dominance in our society, which inevitably tramples the basic freedom of women. The era of male-dominance needs to be pushed back so that girls can breathe freedom in whatever endevour they take.

The book is full of examples, analogies, stats, and reports. From Indian goddess to women’s contribution in every field to motherhood, SHE is an eye-opener for women as well as all sorts of men who try bullying women.

The book holds a prominent position in today’s India, as you can see rape cases, stalking, assault and abuse on women is increasing day in, day out. Respecting women is a subject of prime concern today – and we need more powerful books like this to promote and spread awareness about women safety in India. This is a book that news channels should pick up to spread issues that grapple women across the country. Undoubtedly, it is a well-thought-out book with credibility in the form of data and reports.