Let us admit it. It is not easy for women to become minimalists. This is entirely because women across the world continue to be conditioned from their early days to firmly believe that it is their duty to play the role envisaged for them by an ancient male-dominated social system. Most women remain unaware of the fact that the role was meant for an era altogether different from today. It certainly has lost whatever merit it may have had even in those days of flight and fight in jungles strewn with wild animals and enemy tribes. But there has hardly been any correction in the system, mainly because the status quo suits men.
The allotted role
The role thrust upon women encourages them to consume more and more of each and every type of available commodity. From clothes, cosmetics, homes, appliances, cars to foods and drinks, women are the target viewership of all the advertisements across the globe. And we keep thinking that we must keep hankering for more and more, the best and the newest. How can we not have that latest one? Isn’t it ridiculous that she has no matching pairs of shoes for her each of her dresses? I need a bigger house now. How can we continue to live in the same house for over a decade? And a new house means new furniture, latest appliances and futuristic gadgetry.
The vicious circle
Even when a woman sees through the trap set for her by a male-dominated society, she finds it extremely hard to actually defy the system. She is cowed down by the crushing might of the entire world against her. She just doesn’t know how she can break clear of the vicious circle of expectations of her small world. She ends up using all her intellect and ingenuity in trying meeting all such expectations and demands. This means constant struggle, frustration and tension.
Know what you want
Life is simple. It can be lived in a simple and, in a more fulfilling way. Women can do this by following a single idea. Whenever it is a question of a choice, a woman should go only by what she wants. She must stop looking at the world through the eyes of others. She must start looking at everything through her own eyes.
The first step
Soon, she will realize that beyond a minimum number, dresses hardly bring as much pleasure to her as she expects them to. She only has to assess: do I like this? Do I need this? Will it serve me any better than the thing I bought last week? When a woman stops being influenced too much by other people’s views, she will have taken the first step to becoming a minimalist.
I am what I am
She will then able to distinguish between her needs and other people’s needs. She can go and satisfy all her needs even if some of them seem to go against the views of minimalist extremists, who may advocate almost a state of complete renunciation. She will soon find strength enough that I am what I am, and I will live the way I want to.
