THIS TITLE: “ WOMAN”.
By Ewaoluwa Adekanye
This title: “Woman”, is a tough one. When anyone is asked who a woman is, the typical picture that comes to mind is a female with normal body features but with tags. By tags I mean labels and stereotypes; a female carrying a baby or a female standing in the kitchen with her apron on and a spoon in her hand. This title, ‘woman’ is objectified for what it can give as per the culture and norms we are used to.
A woman is more than the usual picture we are used to painting; she is the power and strength behind every successful thing, entity, community. She is an organiser, nurturer and a wealth of wisdom to be tapped from. Though she gives this wisdom freely, she is not always given the opportunity to implement them, instead the usual ‘you belong in the background’ statement is brought to play.
Why can’t a woman, as the fount of wisdom and bank of ideas execute these ideas she so beautifully puts forth? Why are we more focused on what she can do and give and still deny her rights and benefits of being a member of the society? Why is the reward of a woman only the joy of untiring children and producing leaders of tomorrow?
She is expected not to speak up when she is hurt or uncomfortable about anything, her grace of tolerance has to be exploited to the last minute till she is unable to bear it. She speaks out and the world thinks she has lost her supposed grace, they say she is being and talks too much.
This think-tank called Woman shouldn’t have to fight for a spot at work just to prove herself despite everyone knowing how much she is worth. We relegate women simply because they are women. We only remember them when we require urgent solutions to domestic issues. We applaud her ability to cook, clean, care for the children, please her husband while still excelling at her chosen career. We bully her, accuse her of being uncaring because she doesn’t bend to our will and called selfish and unfeeling when she shares her grand dreams.
She is a woman; unique in her thoughts, composition, features, strength and power. She is an original who wants to be recognised as a woman and not by the societal limitations of the title which strips women of their real power and beauty. This, in my opinion, is not too much to ask for.