Maintaining good physical and mental health paramount for women: Justice S Srimathy
Women bring in a unique blend of empathic leadership, strategic vision and fostering an inclusive workplace where diverse voices are heard and valued ultimately driving innovation and organisational success. The same can be achieved with supporting family, righteousness, specialisation of the field, collective voice, avoiding unnecessary fights and saving energy. However, paramount is good physical and mental health, said Justice S Srimathy of the Madras High Court.
“When we devote our time to the profession 24/7, the impact would be on our health. As a judge, we have to work 24/7 and our mobility is limited and the impact on our health is more. We women ignore health, symptoms of health and end up having health issues. Good physical health leads to good mental health,” Srimathy said in her address at ‘Level Up! MMA
Managers’ Convention 2024’ on Saturday.
businessline was the media partner for the event.
BHARATIYA YOGA
Bharatiya Yoga explains the five bodies of consciousness as Annamaya (physical body), Pranamaya (life force), Manonmaya (emotional), Vigyanamaya (wisdom) and Anandamaya (bliss). Maintaining physical and mental health is paramount for any ‘Level Up’, she said. “Rural and urban distinction is there. We have to concentrate to level up; ecofriendly should be the other motto and the latest is narcotics, which is spoiling the entire society. Each one of us has a role to contribute. I am not going to say how to tackle it, but would only say that it should start from the family,” Srimathy said.
The first ‘Level Up’ for any woman would be the family. Law profession is dominated by men, and for women to reach prominence is difficult. Women need to put double or triple their efforts to shine, she added.
Nirmala Lakshman, Chairperson, The Hindu Group, in her remarks, said despite technology advancement and global connectivity, there has not been much progress on women’s work and its appreciation. “Women should have the stubbornness, which will take them a long way, and by standing your ground move forward in the work that you do not just at home but also at work place,” she said.
GENDER BIAS
Levelling Up is not just for women but for organisations also. They have to Level Up to look out for the well being of women who work in their offices, whether it is to do with things like sexual harassment or much more certain gender bias that is very much in existence in corporates and offices across the country, she said.
While there is no outward discrimination in terms of the HR policies, sexism often exists in subtle ways. For instance, there could be a gender bias that could be expressed in conversation or there is a lack of sensitivity in addressing the domestic situation of women, Lakshman said. It is important for gender policies in offices to recognise how important it is to recast some of these subtle prejudices and work consciously towards overcoming this so that women feel better at work, she added.