DEMYSTIFYING GENDER PERCEPTIONS

WOMEN empowerment is a significant topic of discussion, mainly in Africa and other developing regions. They have lately realised that the development that they aspire cannot be achieved unless we achieve gender equality by empowering women.

The economic empowerment of women refers to their right to control economic decisions, income, assets and other equivalents; improving their economics as well as social status.

Women empowerment means promoting women in their social, political and economic development, providing them with equal opportunities of employment, education, economic development and allowing them to socialise, the freedoms and rights that are in equal terms with male counterparts. It is a process which empowers women to know that they too can achieve their aspirations as the men of the society and help them do that. Patriarchy has tactfully created a myth that motherhood is the only sphere that is essentially ordained for women. Women are considered to be the natural reproducers of mankind.

Patriarchy celebrates this innate capacity of women as the so called woman power. It indulges in an exaggeration of the motherly values of nature. Self-effacement, unconditional love and devoted service are demanded from women for the perpetuation of patriarchal norms. This results in an idealisation of motherhood which confines women to their role as nurturers. Feminist movements recognise this vicious trap that patriarchy elevates motherhood and misleads women in order to exploit and circumscribe them.

It has been very important to contest the point of patriarchy that happiness comes only through motherhood and attack this myth which denies women their range of possibilities and opportunities. Betty Friedan relates the true essence of motherhood in her book The Feminine Mystique. Motherliness is a way of life, it enables a woman to express her total self with the tender feelings, the protective attitudes, and the encompassing love of the motherly women. But patriarchy misuses it as an instrument to subordinate women as a whole.

The experience of maternity has been channelled to serve male interests and to stabilise the patriarchal laws as the universal law for women. In addition, the sanctity of motherhood is accepted only when acknowledged by matrimony. The man-made society commands that motherhood is valid only within the bounds of marriage and it desecrates unwed motherhood as a curse for women. How about irresponsible men who father children out of wedlock and walk free without child maintenance lingering in their mind?

Not just the men but the women in our society also pull the other women down. Instead of appreciating and encouraging women who gather the strength and put in efforts to go out, work and advocate for meaningful empowerment, they bad-mouth them for neglecting their families and homes. Those who don’t or cannot go to work, talk ill of working women out of jealousy, which is wrong. Some men in general don’t want women to grow and evolve professionally or personally and other women too don’t support women who are trying to make it big in life. If women could appreciate and help each other to learn and grow instead of criticising one another, our society would be a much better place.

The culture and tradition of some African nations are such that they restrict women and confine them within the four walls of their societies. Many traditions expect a woman to do household chores, cook for her family, take care of the elders and raise children. It is believed that this is her sole responsibility and this is what she is born for.

Women must be empowered so that they can lead a better life. They must be educated and trained to be financially independent. In addition, they must be provided a safe environment to live freely and independently. Women empowerment is not only essential for the growth and uplifting of women but also for the overall development of the nation. It would increase the literacy as well as employment rate of the country and help it prosper.



 

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