1. ABSTRACT:
Through this paper, we are eliminating the typical Indian stereotype about women that prevails
in our society. Gender stereotypes defines women as being members of the 'dependent' section of
the society. Though empathy is the characteristic assumed to be in a woman, resilience is
something which doesn't go hand in hand with this gender.
Women belong to that gender which has been discriminated and looked down upon since a long
time. The two words 'women' and 'resilience' don't seem to go along with the psyche of some
people. The power which has been given to women naturally, is a power which is capable of
fighting and determination Here, in this paper, we are about to present exactly the contrary with
the help of two case studies- Neerja Bhanot and Ashamma.
INTRODUCTION
"In the midst of winter,
I finally learned.
There was in me,
an invincible summer..."
- ACamus

2. Many women in the world have found the "invincible summer" in them which Camus talks about
in his above quote. With strong hearts and valiant vigor, some willingly gave up everything to
follow the steps of resilience and pure altruism. They, who have been through the atrocities
which bring flames into their souls, have been the ones who go out of their way to help others
going through inhuman and unjust treatment.
Because of gender stereotyping, it is "strange" for many people to see a woman with a strong
resilience. But there have been some great women who have stood up against unfair treatment
and have won.
DESCRIPTION OF METHOD
This paper revolves around two case studies based on personalities who showed resilience
somewhere in their lifetime. A case study is an intensive analysis of an entity to find underlying
principles in relation to the context. This method is commonly used in social sciences and life
sciences. This paper has been formulated with the help of retrospective case study in which the
criteria are established for selecting cases from records or researches for inclusion in the study.
Case studies lend themselves to both generating and testing a hypothesis. They can be a mix of
quantitative and qualitative evidence.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on developing a sense of resilience and empathy in the audience. It is for the
audience to pick up cues from this paper which they can implement to change their way of
thinking towards women and the girl child.
RESULTS
Scientifically, resilience is an individual's ability to generate biological, psychological and social
factors to resist, adapt and strengthen itself, when faced with an environment of risk, generating
individual, social and moral success. To put it in a simpler form, it is the ability of an individual
to challenge a certain situation, which he/she finds disturbing or uncomfortable to live with.
Developing resilience in an individual is a dynamic process. Several factors are responsible for
an individual being able to challenge any negative situation in his/her life. Basic care, support

3. and encouragement have been found as being a factor. Additionally, the individual's capacity to
make realistic, practical plans, improving self-confidence, communication skills, a positive self-
image, and the ability to manage strong feelings and impulses.
Not all individuals are blessed with the power of resilience. It matters how and where the
individual has been brought up, for environment plays the biggest role in shaping an individual's
resilience. Some have the vigor in them to challenge negative situations and some just accept
what they go through. The former are the ones who have greater resilience and the latter are
more vulnerable.
One such lady was Neerja Bhanot, who explains the concept of resilience very well through her
actions.. Her act of standing as firm as a shield in front of three innocent children against
terrorists on a hijacked air-plane, is an act beyond appreciation. There are many reasons why
some people don’t think of themselves and rather stand in others shoes and perceive the world
from others' eyes. A research finding showed that one reason for this could be Empathy:, which
is an important foundation for helping and it means: the emotions and reactions that are oriented
towards other peoples' emotions and feelings.
The road to resilience is definitely not an easy path to build. Parents role as ideal models is a
crucial element.
However there is a combination of factors that help children build a strong base for resilience
which eventually, with time, becomes stronger and helps them fight the
most stressful situation. The factors are:
The ability to notice a situation as stress causing or emergency
Take decisive actions
Looking for opportunities for self-discovery
Only when the parents and children work together can the path of resilience and resourcefulness
be made concrete. In situations where a person feels as though she is trapped in a dark, misty
night in a forest, one must try to avoid what psychology terms as adaptation phenomenon, where
the reaction to a stimuli fades when the stimulus persists unchanged. Neerja Bhanot's case tells
us a lot about what shaped her personality the way it was. Her walking off a marriage was a big
step which she took due to the physical and mental torture for dowry. She didn’t show a cue of

4. adaptation phenomenon.
She was educated in the most renowned institution and school of Bombay. The kind of
knowledge that schools impart in the early years of learning are the facts that shape the child's
personality. The bubbly daughter of Mr and Mrs Bhanot overcame the dark patch of her life and
decided to move ahead. She took up modeling and joined Pam AM airlines. “Neerja wore a smile
on her face at all situations”, her father said. Her smile in all situations shows how she had the
determination to work upon the negatives and delete them from her life.
Research:
 The National Council on Family Relations, 1995 conducted a study which explored the
relationship between empathy and parenting strategy choices. Participants read one of
four vignettes depicting either a male or female child with either a history of 'acting-out'
or good behavior. Participants rated a likelihood of choosing a number of parenting
strategies. Results indicated that the good child received more rewards and talking
strategies where as the 'acting-out' child received more ignoring and negative
interventions. Empathy therefore was negatively related to the use of negative and
ignoring parenting strategies.
Parents choosing the right parenting strategies has an impact on the child's psyche and the way
the world is perceived.
Similar, to Ms. Bhanot's case, is that of Ashamma, a 35 year old lady who demonstrated
immense resilience and resourcefulness in her work against sexual exploitation. She was made to
be a jogini or a sex worker at the age of 7 in Karni village, Andhra Pradesh. She didn't show her
resilience in the early stages of exploitation and once it became too much for her to tolerate, she
reacted by running away from her village. It was here that she came to know about an
organization working against the sexual exploitation of women in Andhra Pradesh. She saw an
opportunity where she could retaliate against her exploitation and thus joined in. Yes, it was
through indirect means that she retaliated, but this brought out her hidden leadership and resilient
qualities which made her stand out from the rest.

5. In such a situation, it takes an amalgamation of self-confidence, self-efficacy, determination, and
empathy to build up a strong and inextinguishable fire of resilience. She used the resources
available to her to fight out these odds and the girls of the village looked up to her for assistance.
As mentioned earlier, resilience involves personality and situational factors. Women who have
an in-built practical and positive self-concept are more likely to have a stronger and long-lasting
resilience while facing a difficult situation. Even if a person does not have any in-built
personality factors, the environment she lives in can make a huge difference.
 A research done by the University of Minnesota suggests that there is a convergence in
research on competence, resilience, behavioral and emotional problems into human
development at multiple levels within the child, the family, the community, and their
interactions. Resilience research indicates that during the early childhood years, it is
important for children to have good quality of care and opportunities for learning,
adequate nutrition and community support for families, to facilitate positive development
of cognitive, social and self-regulation skills. Young children with healthy attachment
relationships and good internal adaptive resources are very likely to get off to a good
start in life, well equipped with the human and social capital for success as they enter
school and society. Such children typically manifest resilience in the face of adversity.
 Another research done by three Norwegian Universities, which was included in the
International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research (2005) says that 'studies
relating these personality factors to resilience have been repeatedly associated with a
high score on emotional stability, extroversion, openness and conscientiousness, as well
as agreeableness.
WHAT ARE THE MEASURES YOU CAN TAKE AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION?
In India, the Constitution provides us with different sections and Penal Codes through which we
can register any kind of crime. Sexual violence, abuse and exploitation can be registered under
different Penal Codes.
 Section 376: Punishment for Rape.

6.  Section 509: Word, Gesture or Act Intended To Harm The Modesty Of Women.
Surely, Ms Bhanot and Ashamma set an example for us to look up to and pick up cues as
to how we lead our lives. It is not easy to survive in the ocean of life where you never
know when you have to start swimming to save yourself. It is time that Indian women
fight for their place in society and make the other gender realize that they too exist as
human beings!
REFERENCES
i. Research on Resilience To Childhood Maltreatment (Retrieved January 2nd 2013)
http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1999-10773-002
ii. Research on Resilience and Childhood. (Retrieved 23rd Dec 2012)
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1037/h0079218/abstract
iii. The Reader's Digest. Making The Most Of Your Brain (2003) (pp. 221). London, Duncan
Baird Publishers Limited.
AUTHORS
SAMIKSHA SIVAN
SHYAMLI MISHRA

7. -Sophia College for Women, Mumbai.