Shattering the glass ceiling: Six ‘postwomen’ felicitated for exceptional services

As I came across this article and began to read more into it, I started to learn that in many other parts of the world women attain very few positions in the postal business.  India is one part of the world where postal positions are held by men, but India is also trying to shatter the glass ceiling by honoring those few women who serve their communities. This article talks about six women employees at a post office who hold a few different positions in the postal area. These women were honored last month during the International Women’s Day by Mayor Shraddha Jadhav. During this ceremony Mayor Shraddha was able to thank and honor the six women for providing such an excellent service in the positions that they hold.

            The article also talks about how a post woman (Akansha Ashok Redij), one of the six women honored during this ceremony, went through a very harsh time before the community got to know her. For example, when she first started to work for the post office and delivering mail to the community she was assigned, many used to be rude and shut the door on her face because their first thought was of a saleswoman. Akansha would have to ring the bell twice and inform the tenants that she was a post woman and she had mail for them. She also stated that it did not take long before her assigned community got used to and acknowledge that women can also deliver mail just as well as men do. Akansha also states that since her community got used to her delivering their mail, they have become nicer and thank her and appreciate what she does. For example, one day she received a thankful letter from a male receiver whose mail had been missing and Akansha was able to find it and deliver it. The receiver’s letter showed her how much respect she had gained from the receiver.

            Another worker also says that she has gained respect from her community and that it is that respect that keeps them working hard in a job that, traditionally, was held by men. Sandhya Mohan Sana, states that many community members offer her water and tea when she delivers their mail and shows her respect by calling her “post madam” and telling her how much they appreciate her job as a post woman. I believe these community members are encouraging these women to keep doing what they are doing, which it was believed to occur less for women than men. Also, I believe the community is doing the right thing by thanking and honoring these hard working post women because it is not easy to show the community that women can also do the same job as men can in these kinds of countries were males hold this jobs. I think these six females are helping India shattering the glass ceiling in the postal business by gaining the respect from their communities and decreasing the stereotypes in this business. Do you think that the community did the right thing by honoring these six women? Do you think in the future more countries such as India will still have a low number of post women?

To read more go to: http://www.afternoondc.in/city-news/shattering-the-glass-ceiling/article_19871

Posted by: Hugo Sanchez