Gender equality right? That is, equal rights for both genders, hmmmmmmm, okay, let me take it bit by bit, I would consider the arguments put forward by the women advocating for this, and the men opposing it.
These women say that because there is no gender equality, they get treated less importantly, they get sidelined, they are denied inheritance, and a couple other issues;
they have listed culture, lack of political will, and insecurity on the men's side as part of the reasons we don't have gender equality.
Let us talk about the problems, I mean it's true that some people get treated less importantly because they are women but, can I name like over a thousand Nigerian women that are respected and celebrated today? Yes I could, so, maybe it's not "being a woman" that is the problem, maybe it's just people been taken as important as they really are judging by what they have achieved. Right???
Let's us talk about getting sidelined, this they have said is mostly visible in political appointments, and truly, women hardly get political appointments in Nigeria but, have women been given political appointments before? Yes, just a few times though. Here's the thing, world over, and Nigeria in particular, political appointments are mostly given to the friends of the political office holder, those that worked hard to ensure victory in the polls for the politician; this politician will not leave these people and start looking for women to appoint, there are no sentiments in this, if "merit' mattered so much here, maybe, but it doesn't, so, maybe women need to get involved more in politics and be part of these people, and they would definitely get more political appointments. Right???
I think I have established a point the problem might just be women not doing enough, if something is holding them back, it should have held all the women that have excelled back too.
I have seen fathers from the parts of the country and cultures with the harshest provisions for women in inheritance will all they have to their daughters, since when did culture stop a father from giving the daughter an inheritance he wants to? Our country laws recognises "a will" and that law is supreme.
Let's talk about the men.
These men say Gender equality will lead to women disrespecting them, really? Does anyone really think women respect men because our culture said so? No! That is ridiculous, women respect men because they have earned it, respect is nobody's right, it's can only be earned.
Make all the laws you want, a man that does not deserve respect will not be respected by any woman, so, maybe all men need to do to keep their respect intact is be respectable men, not intimidating men. Right???
These men say gender equality will distract women from the natural duty of "building a home" because it will keep them busy trying to be at the same pace as a man in every field of life, I disagree, nobody can get distracted from doing what they really want to do, that is why people set priorities, most of the very successful women we know were all able to build great homes too, and we have seen significantly less busy women that could not build one; building a good home is a decision, not something that comes from not being busy enough, so, maybe these men need to be big enough to allow women be queens in their homes and in the society too, and not prune their sprouts because of impractical reasons.
I think I have established a point here that women have never been held to their responsibilities by anything, it is something they have done because they accepted it, and they only respond to the stimuli they receive.
This is just another classic case of fighting the wrong battle on the side of both parties, gender equality will not guarantee anything more for women, and it would not take anything away from men.
Also, the way both parties have gone about this have made it look more like a battle for supremacy, and it is going to continue for while sadly.
I have so much more to say but I have said a lot already.
Women! You want anything, go for it, there is absolutely nothing stopping you.
Men! Women don't deserve anything less than you do, give a woman wings, she won't fly away, she would fly around and for you.
I don't want to stop but, well, I don't have to, I will be posting the second part of this article soon, this part will contain my entire thoughts "uncensored" on this issue.
Warm Regards.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
