Are women only to be seen and not heard?

For a woman to be both audible and visible, she must work extra hard in a male dominated society. As a woman at all levels in life you must convince all involved that you are as capable as any other being before being given chance to lead.

Even in today`s society where gender equality is a common phenomenon to come across in many aspects of life, a woman might just be included for statistics and compliance purposes. I wonder how many women representing us in different meetings and forums are given chance to air their views and ideas and wonder more if their ideas are put into practice.

Hats off to our sisters who have made it to the top in society in all aspects of life like politics, entrepreneurship, religion, executives, wives, mothers , etc.  For them to be and remain at the top they need to work hard and smart. This is because the world expects a woman to carry herself around like she has no feelings and she is a super human. If a woman is in power and makes a slight mistake; that will be her downfall and all will be unforgiving towards her action. On the other hand if a man makes the same mistake, it is taken like it is normal and he might even look like a hero.

In the village, when there is any decision to be made only men and boys will be consulted and involved. I have watched how in the absence of an elder male a small boy is burdened with the responsibility of making a huge decision on behalf of a family ignoring mature and elderly women who might have great experience and find the burden lighter. Women! We need to stand up and help our society. Let us get involved in family and community matters.  Let our young boys be given chance to be children and an opportunity to grow.

 After  a busy day at various workplaces for women and a draining day at school for girls, once at home they are expected to do overtime by doing household chores to ensure that there is food on the table and the family is taken care of in all aspects. This should be done silently otherwise one will be labeled a rebel or a feminist.

In politics women suffer bad mouthing and character assassination; one needs a thick skin to navigate through politics as a woman. With the same alleged issues, men are revered as heroes and great leaders.

In offices, and other formal and informal gatherings I watch as men are always given priority by other men and women alike to state and give their views which is always received with great acknowledgement and applause. For a woman you may give your views which will not be taken seriously until a male gives the same view and you are shocked with the acknowledgement and applause he receives. I have resolved to give and state my views regardless of the response I receive. Women! We have to make our voices heard; we have to speak up even in male dominated groupings. We have to make the world a better place for our children, girls and boys alike.

In the current world where there is a lot of sexual awareness and action, followed with stigma of unwanted pregnancies,  girls and women are expected to take the burden of ensuring that they do not fall pregnant not considering the risk of being exposed to sexually transmitted diseases.  This has led to even young girls being forced to use contraceptives without taking into account its side effects. Men on the other hand play the care free attitude as they exploit the vulnerable females. Females! We need to stand up for ourselves. We need to ensure that we are empowered financially, economically, socially and politically to be able to control our own lives, our children`s lives, the community and make our society a better place to live.