“When the news of (the birth of) a female (baby) is brought
to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides
himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been
informed. Shall he keep her with dishonour or bury her in the earth? Certainly,
evil is their decision.”1 This is how the Islamic Holy Book
describes Arabs before the coming of Islam there. Of a truth, women were
nothing but a space taker - even up till now especially in developing
countries. Christian priests saw women as the cause of ‘original sin’, the
source of all catastrophes happening in the world. They are enemies of
successful men, the main cause of hatred among men.
And Yahweh told Jeremiah that if He would not listen to any
body, yet will He listen to the supplication of the wailing women who are
interceding for their generation.
Society for a long time has assigned certain roles to women
which were merely domestic and these include ‘being sex objects, giving birth
to children, nursing the children, cleaning the house and cooking. This from
the view point of the sociological social stratification, conveniently
satisfies the focus of the gender debates, to use contemporary terminology, the
ideal woman has become the grass root woman, who should be content being a
house wife, a petty trader, and if necessary, an assistant to the husband in
the farm! These roles (deem natural) make here completely subordinate to man,
it is therefore not surprising that such a woman does not aspire to high
professional jobs. She could not because she had been conditioned and condemned
to servitude by a society that is committed and dedicated to making here a
chattel.
Society has soon realized that there is that vacuum needed to
be filled by women - sensibility, intelligence, affection, consistency and
care. Women have become the last resort in financial breakthrough and family
collapse. Whence those who debate against feminism and gender equality on the
grounds that the girl child solely depend on her male superiors whether husband
or man friend making her weak, a slot and categorizing her a filthy are the
real blockage hindering young women from broadening their horizon. So, the
problem is not only culture or religion neither is it culminating factors of
societal travails – it is greatly the women themselves culminating the attitudes
of anti-feminist stands. Madam C.J
Walker the first made American millionaire was a black woman. Folorunsho Alakija,
Linda Ikeji, Ngozi Okonlo-Iweala, Chimamanda Adichie, Stella Okoli, Bukola
Elemide, etc have all distinguished themselves in their various fields.
African women have been hindered by many things but no need
crying over spilled milk, let us talk about how to achieve gender equality and
empower all women and girls by 2030.
(i)
Fighting feminine fear:
there is that internal fear in a woman especially at the onset of her carrier
about certain decisions to make in order not to flop and bring here entire
womanhood to further criticism. That fear of being in the steering in the
highway attracting degrading insults about how sluggish she drives. The fear of
professional failures, quick emotional breakdown, bodily features and
structures et al. The fear becomes a fight, an internal fight only the female
can overcome. Some women fear that employers will view them as vulnerable… if
they decide to start a family.”2 Some women still believe that men are
stronger leaders, have better ideas and
are more equipped to achieve success.3
(ii)
International bodies’ legislation: these bodies should have a distinct department that looks
into gender equality form there the sensitization can get to those in the
grassroots. They can instill more resolutions to what Nigeria should achieve in
the total development of the girl child for a year.
(iii)
Government participation:
it is the decree from international legislation that will guide the country’s
government in measures through which women are to be treated. Especially a country’s
law that harbours domestic violence, child marriage, gender segregation, etc.
(iv)
Compulsory education for the girl child: but this is hindered especially for those in the Northern
part of Nigeria. The girl child is not allowed education especially because she
is seen as too fragile to be away from the care of her parent, and also that
education might amount to nothing since she will be married away and all her
seemingly future conjoined with that of her husband. If every girl – not
minding her limits whether physical or mental is given education, then the
society is bound for material and financial prospects hence female appreciation.
(v)
Revival programs: we
can set up clubs in secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The
students through the coordination of the Ministries of women affairs should
guide these clubs and bring these young students together so as to enlighten
them.
(vi)
Women empowerment:
ECOWAS ECOWGEN is a good example as it is impacting on the lives of rural women
in uplifting their sense of acceptance through empowering them in agriculture,
healthcare, education and other training.
To empower will not only mean authoritative bequeathing to a
woman so as allowing her access to certain rights, here, empower instills and
revamp the already instilled confidence and focus in achieving the inner
sketches to fulfillment. So how can Nigerian women and girls be empowered?
(i)
Female self-strength: this
lies inward in the woman. Every woman has the ability to make one another
successful. It takes support encouragement and non-grievances attitudes towards
a fellow woman.
(ii)
Allow her financial freedom: to achieve sustainable development in mind and society, we
must give the woman a chance to be financially accountable she must take the
steering in issues bordering her, her family and her nation.
(iii)
Total encouragement: the
woman must be encouraged to achieve beyond being a helpmate. My mother, a
trained nurse impacted on the society so much that even while gone it seem she
is still alive. She managed a clinic, making positive impacts in people’s
health, reducing maternal mortality, giving prompt and friendly healthcare
thereby putting smiles in the faces of thousands of people. She, empowered by
herself strength, encouraged by her family, trusted by the society impacted on the
people.
(iv)
Formal education: educated
women/women that know the value of education produce healthier, decent and
brighter children who in turn educate the society.
REFERENCES
1. QURAN 16:58-59
3. Ibid
Carnege Council Essay Contest (submitted 05/01/2016)
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