It is March again, that
time of the year when we get to celebrate the woman and her achievements world
over.
Today, the stage is set for celebrations; forums will be held to discuss on
women empowerment, condemn violence against women, and award women in science,
technology and all other male dominated industries. Reports will be released
with a focus on women’s contribution to economic growth, innovation, politics
and other sectors previously preserved for men. Social media will go a buzz
with positive posts to celebrate the female achievers, congratulate the leaders
and encourage upcoming ones in different sectors. The previously considered
weaker sex will prove its prowess to itself and the world once more. Several
post will detail on how difficult it is to exist as a woman and advocate for
fair treatment. Fair here will be used to mean giving priority to the female
gender which in reality will be a bias. Because as it has become, equality is
no longer equal. Welcome to the 21st century where the girl child
has taken over and the boy child been neglected.
In the recent past,
Africa has been on the rise on matters gender equality. This has seen the
culture of neglecting the girl child and relegating her to household chores and
marriage as her ultimate goal in life take a back seat. Educated women have
become fashionable and society celebrates them. They are accorded more respect
than their male counterparts with the same achievements. That statement
however, would leave a bad taste in anyone’s mouth if they believe in gender
balance.
In today's’ society and
as was in the past, it is believed that the boy should be strong. The
difference between today and the past however is the underlying factor that is
eating away the value of the boy child. In the past, the boy child was brought
up to become a man of valor, a pillar of strength and an achiever of all things
great. Weak men were not given a change to exist. Boys were mentored into
strength, courage and ambition. Today however, such guidance is rare, all focus
has shifted to empowering the girl child. Unfortunately, the same society still
holds the opinion that; placed under the same testing environment as their
female counterparts, boys should perform better.
Equality should result
in a balanced allocation of opportunities, resources and love to all parties involved.
There exists very few programs if any that are purely dedicated to the empowerment
of the boy child. The mention of the boy child comes in under the youth, which
basically comprises both gender. It is not equality if there more tender
allocations by the government to the women just for being female. If there are
budgetary allocations to women for their economic empowerment programs and none
for the men. The same applies for employment opportunities that state they are
equal opportunity employers then go ahead and encourage female candidates to
apply. It then begs the question if male candidates are discourages to apply.
Does anyone see this other side of the coin? How much of being female guarantees
that one will deliver more than their male counterparts fighting for the same
opportunity. Equality should be equal. Let all people compete for the same resources
and the best be selected on merit and not gender. If female then, so be it.
The pressure to be
successful in a society that barely celebrates your success has set the boy
child up for failure. Societal roles such as parenting that have absolutely no
manual are now a measuring unit for “real men”. It is not for a man not to be
able to deal with such challenges, and the females have already set the
standards. Expectations of one to behave in a certain way, earn a certain
amount of income and lead a predetermined lifestyle for one to be eligibly considered man enough to raise a family is a notion has seen the rise of many
single parent families headed by women. As the saying goes among the females,
it is said; “he wasn't man enough for me.” Obviously, “man enough “ is a
measuring unit that the man in the given situation did not live up to and in
most cases, he probably did not even have “man enough” spelled out to him
before the test was on.” The result of this is men who feel inadequate as
parents and opt to exit the two parent family set up and raise their children
either by themselves or from a distance.
The intention to
empower the girl child was right but along the way it has birthed a neglected boy
child. But all is not lost. Society needs to go back in time and realize that the
need for equality calls for a balance on both sides of the equation. A society
of equal opportunities must be set to recover the situation before the boy
child loses value in the current set up.
It is said to give power
is to remain powerful. As the women get celebrated by the world this year, she
can give power back to the man without taking away her crown. Women should realize
that time has come for them to get to positions by merit and not selections and
appointments based on gender. To get elected into leadership positions for
their experience, skills and achievements and not just because they are female.
To work for an equal society beginning right from the family set up because
their sons will in the future need women who will love them as wives and encourage
them to become the men they were born to be. It is time to tilt the seesaw and
balance it if we really mean to have a balance in gender equality.
Happy International
Women’s Day!
