Would like to change the way we treat our girls: Priyanka Chopra

New Delhi, Dec 26: Making a strong pitch for empowerment of women in the society and treating them at a level of equality with men, Bollywood actress and UNICEF Global Goodwill Ambassador Priyanka Chopra says there is a need to change the way we treat our girls.

Talking to TNN, Priyanka said as an artist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador she would like to change the way "we treat our girls".
'What I would like to change is the way we treat our girls and how they see the world. We, as a society have to look into our homes. On behalf of UNICEF we are taking an initiative in this regard. The 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign that our government has started is also an important step in this direction,' she said.

Calling for a change in mindset of the youth in society, she said, 'I don't care what the world thinks. I care what is happening to our daughters, our country and our children. So we have to empower our youth and change their mindset. For this, parents should talk to their children. A dialogue is very important."
She said there was nothing wrong in becoming a homemaker.
'Young girls must be given their rights and be allowed to choose their career path," she said.

Priyanka, however, said she is a just an “instrument of change” and the real job of empowering women is supposed to be done by the government and society.

"I am just an instrument of change. I am neither government nor am I the UNICEF. But I have voice, I have a platform which you people have given me... Some change will be done I am sure when so many of you who are here will write about it," the 'Bajirao Mastani' fame said.
In this context, Priyanka said while she feels happy to be featured in the top 10 of Forbes Celebrity 100 list, it raises a bigger question that why she is the only woman in the list.

"I am very happy that I am the only girl where I am standing with my male counterparts shoulder to shoulder. However, the issue is why I am alone. There are so many big actresses. Why there is so much disparity,'she said.
She said society must give the young girls their say and allow them right to education.

"I was privileged in my upbringing, with my parents being educated enough to allow me to carry on with my desires. But not everyone shares a similar destiny, and society must give the young girls their say and allow them education,' she said.

"Some people say 'what change I can make alone', some say 'we ourselves don’t have enough to eat, how can we contribute to this cause'... To them I would say, if you can’t donate money, then donate your compassion,' she said.

Emphasising on the role of girls in a household, Priyanka, expressing her concern over low sex ratio in many states of India, remarked,' the increasing number of old age homes might not happen if there are more daughters in the society.The sex ratio in some states, I got to know about, is so low, which is so dangerous.'

Asked how she handles the pressure that is there for female stars to portray a certain body image and appearance, the 'Quantico' fame actress said,"I have always played the characters I liked. I have always been very empowered. I think it's an indiviual thing also and at the same time there is a pressure in glamour industry."
There are beauty standards across the world--that if you are slim,fair,tall then you are beautiful. So this is prevalent everywhere. Even during marriages, a boy wants a fair girl--so first we have to change our mindset then industry will change it. It's a vicious circle .It comes down to what we are doing as a person.'

Speaking on 'Padmavati' row, Priyanka said,"I have always stood for filmmaking and art. I admire Sanjay sir and I hope the matter gets solved."
Updated On 12/26/2017 11:54:50 AM