by dana sadarangani
Women's International Day means a lot to me, for reasons deeply personal. This isn't a story I talk about often, but it's one filled with many "firsts" that opened my eyes to the world's harsh realities. It's about the first time I got hit on my hand, the first time a teacher called me dumb, the first time I heard an entire class laugh at me, my first fight, the first time I was caned, and the first agonizing ear twist that burned into my memory. All these happened within just a few days when I was very young, attending a Catholic school.
We were learning to write full sentences in class. The teacher asked me to write about "the visit to the doctor's office" on the board. I wrote, "I go to the doctor and she checks my eyes, ears… etc." After returning to my seat, the teacher corrected me by erasing the "s" and saying I should have written "he" instead of "she." But I stood my ground, insisting, "No, I mean she. My mom is a doctor, and she checks me." The teacher wouldn't have it, insisting my mom must be a nurse. I corrected her again, and that's when things took a turn for the worse.
The teacher, now visibly upset, had me come forward and smacked my hand hard with a ruler. Confused and hurt, I couldn't understand why she refused to acknowledge my mom's profession. The situation escalated when a classmate called me dumb, triggering a fight that led to more punishment - this time, both my knuckles felt the wrath of the teacher's ruler. Following this, the principal himself caned me, adding to the series of disciplinary actions I faced for merely stating a fact about my mom.
But the story took an interesting turn the day my parents found out about what had been happening. It was unusual for my dad to pick me up from school, but he did that day, call it a parents intuition, and he immediately noticed my red ear. The teacher tried to brush it off as a result of my indiscipline, but that evening, everything changed. My mom saw the corrections in my notebook, where the teacher had repeatedly marked me wrong for writing about my mom being a doctor.
The next day, both of my parents came to school. They asked me to wait outside the classroom as they went in to talk to the teacher and the principal. What happened next was nothing short of a movie scene. There was a thunderous roar. My dad, known for his strong presence, along with my mom, made it VERY clear that no one had the right to belittle me or deny the truth about my mom's profession. Their united front was a powerful statement against the teacher's and the school's biases.
In the end, my parents' intervention taught me a valuable lesson about standing up for the truth and defending one's family. It also showed me the power of having supportive parents who will fight for you, no matter what. That day marked the end of being called "dumb" by that teacher, thanks to the love of my parents.
Years down the line, I learned that my mother had risen to become the head of the women's hospital, a journey intense with immense challenges. She battled through the skepticism of her own parents and societal barriers to claim her rightful place in the medical field.
Dr. Savitri Sadarangani was her name and she became synonymous with empathy, care, and unparalleled dedication, not just in her professional capacity as a doctor but also in her role as an extraordinary mother. Despite the adversities she encountered, she emerged as a beacon of hope and compassion, exemplifying the true essence of strength and resilience.
This experience, tied to the memory of Women's International Day, serves as a reminder of the subtle and not-so-subtle ways gender biases can manifest and affect young minds. It also celebrates the resilience and strength of women like my mother, who overcame their own parents and societal hurdles to achieve their dreams. Happy Women's International Day to all the strong women out there facing adversity and making their mark on the world.
