Taboo talk

The subjects which were once considered inappropriate to talk about are being openly discussed nowadays without any hesitation. People used to fear that raising such questions and topics would bring shame and damage their image and dignity but today this act is considered a responsibility. Throughout the world hundreds and millions of people are rallying behind slogans and purposes which once were silent and neglected. The opinions of society have indeed changed and that too for a better cause. The same issues which attracted controversy are now drawing concern.

Blaming, making fun of these people and ignoring their misery is being condemned now. There has been radical change in the way they were treated.

Rape, gender discrimination, child abuse, domestic violence and the likes, these matters aren’t taken flippantly anymore. These issues have finally enthralled the society resulting in an increased attention and education towards them. Society has finally allowed to give these severe issues the much needed space in which it can figure out ways to solve these problems and help those people who had been a victim of these social ills.

The role social media has played in promoting this virtuous cause is providing victims who had been living in mental claustrophobia a platform where they could share their stories and alleviate the pain and misery their soul is drenched into. It has also given a channel to the proponents, who want to help these people, through which they could bring all the advocates of social causes together and initiate collective campaigns.

Albert Schweitzer once said: “The first step in the evolution of ethics is a sense of solidarity towards other human being.”

The fact that the perception which made people consider these topics taboo is changing is a sign that our society is growing up though there is still a long way to go. As mentioned before, people now look upon these matters as concerned and responsible beings.

HASSNAIN QASIM

Islamabad