Page 118 - July-August 2020

and contact lens patients. To gain For things to change, the support of had not yet gained economic equity
the trust of parents and to enter the family and colleagues is important. with men. Men-women similarities
child’s comfort zone are the key to She looks forward to a national in practice patterns suggest that
success in paediatric optometry and women’s association, with perhaps optometry is unlikely to experience
this comes quite naturally to women. the IOA initiating it. major changes as a consequence
She likes to encourage more women On an optimistic note, Anuja of more women entering the
to enter the profession, and also profession.
advocates volunteer work as being shared that Prime Minister Modi, Neena Biswas said that to
in his speech at a function recently,
very enriching.
said that India has rich manpower manage their careers, women
On how to bounce back to resource and the Allied Health should be ready to take risks, choose
a career from child bearing and Science field is going to be the next growth, challenge and believe in
family issues, Thanuja invited Dr IT sector. themselves. More men need to
Meena Kharat’s views. Family *** become part of the solution by
support is crucial, she stressed. In supporting women in the workforce
the UK, while on a career break as The second event on Women’s and at home.
her children were young, strong Empowerment in Optometry on ‘A Yogita Rajgandhi stated that
family support enabled her to Dream or Reality’ held on 5 July, was these webinars were a wonderful
th
study optometry as she wanted to moderated by Dr Neeta Mishra and initiative, which was the need of
pursue both ophthalmology and co-moderated by Dr Rajeev Prasad. hour. Women can overcome the
optometry in India. Her advice was On the panel were Neena Biswas, many personal and professional
that professionals stay updated at Sneha Aggarwal, Anitha Arvind and challenges with strength, courage
all times. Yogita Rajgandhi. and staying focused, while
Rekha Chalapathi stressed the Ruchika Yadav opened the maintaining their respect and
dignity. They should be aware about
importance of equal opportunities session with global data which their legal rights at the workplace
irrespective of gender. Today she sees suggests that between 25 per cent and employment related privileges.
many women taking up leadership and 41 per cent women quit their She emphasised that women should
roles and working longer hours with jobs because of marriage, pregnancy, be vocal about challenges.
their partners supporting them. harassment, career roadblocks and
lesser opportunities. Dr Neeta added Anitha Arvind too focused on
Next, Thanuja raised the issue that sometimes this is due to lack of woman’s rights at the workplace
of difficulties women may face family support. including the Maternity Act that
as owners of a practice in a male stipulates paid maternity leave for
dominated field. Ruchika Yadav Sneha Aggarwal spoke about six months. She added that it’s fine
said that while overcoming such embracing and empowering to take career breaks to manage
challenges is never easy, strong feminism in our patriarchal world. one’s home and family but there’s no
conviction and perseverance are Women must have the power and need to feel guilty about it as one can
needed. On sexual harassment at capacity to regulate their day-to-day bounce back any time since women
the workplace, “Many women suffer lives on all fronts – social, political have the ability to multitask and
in silence, but they must speak up; and economic terms – which enables are resilient by nature. Anitha also
there should be zero tolerance.” them to move from the periphery to advocated for a women’s support
centre stage. She cited a study of job group in optometry.
On gender equality, Anuja R analysis in optometry carried out by
Singh said that worldwide only 12 per the American Board of Optometry. In In her concluding remarks Dr
cent on the boards of directors are 2010, 62.5 per cent of the responders Neeta Mishra said that while a
women (as per a 2015 study). In the were male; in a 2015 survey this had woman may face adverse situations
optometry field, while it is heartening changed to 55 per cent men and and feel helpless at times, “What
to note that more women work as 45 per cent women. In 1995, the is important is your will to bounce
clinicians, academicians, researchers, Journal of American Optometric back and that is woman power.” She
entrepreneurs and innovators, few Association’s survey on “Men and complimented Dr Rajeev Prasad and
are in top positions. Women still Women in Optometry: economic the IOA for creating these webinar
earn less than men in the vision care issues and professional profiles” platforms where woman can feel free
industry; they should have equal pay. found that women optometrists to talk and network.

| JULY-AUG 2020 | 114 WEBINAR