International Women's Day : A Continuous Struggle and Achievement
Once more, we find ourselves marking International Women’s Day, a day heralded for greatness. Yet, amidst the celebrations, one must ponder: is the appreciation of women genuine in our everyday reality, or merely a façade?
For centuries, women have borne the weight of every form of cruelty, discrimination, and harassment, yet their strngth has multiplied manifold. The greater the adversity, the higher they rise to meet the challenge. Women have always been the creators of humanity; without them, our existence would cease to be. It’s perplexing why this truth isn’t universally acknowledged as the pinnacle of our being. We should honour women, elevate them, shower them with respect, adoration, flowers, and gifts. Why are women still perceived as the weaker sex, relegated to the kitchen and family caretaking? why are they targeted when they demonstrate strength and authority? While many nations have progressed, treating their women with respect and dignity, some still subject women to unimaginable horrors, treating them as slavs and dmanding unwavering obedience. Despite our advancements, it’s disheartening to realize that in some aspects, we’ve moved forward yet remain entrenched in backward attitudes.
We prefer not to name certain countries, you know how sensitive they could be! But no matter how progressive and politically correct they are, no matter how advance their weaponry is, or how many skyscraprs they have, but can a woman traverse a deserted street in broad daylight without the specter of danger haunting her every step? And let’s not even broach the topic of night-time.
We turned to Google and entered the search terms “latest news on the atrocities against women,” the search targeting only news in the UK yielded a staggering count of 11,200,000 results and still counting…let that sink in. Performing the same search for atrocities against women in each and every country around the globe would likely yield billions of results, reflecting the pervasive nature of this issue worldwide.
In this year 2024, our advancements in technology, living conditions, and overall development are beyond what many could have imagined. However, the question remains: have we progressed in how women are perceived and valued within society? Mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, aunties, grandmothers, grans, girlfriends, and wives – let us embrace them tightly and uplift their spirits every day, not only on international women’s day. And, most importantly, let us educate the boys, men, fathers, brothers, husbands, uncles, boyfriends, grandfathers, and granddads to honour and cherish women as the creators of humanity. May we nurture and safeguard them, granting them the opportunity to fully embrace and enjoy life.
It’s indeed disheartening that in 2024, the necessity to educate and remind individuals about respecting women persists. Such a need reflects a disappointing reality and highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality and respect for women’s rights.
Dedicating this post to my aunt who passed away today on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2024. She was born in the year 1936, survived World War II, and despite the shackles of womanhood, she fought through all the challenges, defied society, overcame domestic abuse, and became a single mother to her four daughters and one son. Yet with all the responsibilities and her hard-as-nails personality, her heart is as soft as a marshmallow. She worked hard and became a shrewd businesswoman who was feared by her fellow counterparts. She built her family up, made sure they were provided with education and life beyond. She did meet partners along the way, but it was always her way or the highway! She swore never to let another man put her down or lay a finger on her ever again.
Her determination to succeed was so great that she managed to survived so many hurdles and hardships, yet made sure that her children had a roof over their heads. She got to enjoy seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was always a stickler for never letting anything go to waste, and she would bring back restaurant leftovers and wouldn’t even spare the mouth-fresheners that were provided. Her take on all this was that she already paid for everything that was placed on the table, so it was hers for the taking!
The world has lost yet another woman of substance, strength, and resilience. May her soul rest in peace 🙏