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by Afreeha Jawad

Women's performance inside and out of the social system remains two unique and distinct entities. Within the system's enclaves, the social construct of woman and its careful manipulation by none other than some women themselves, propels her into social positioning. These social constructs are a relentless effort on the part of system propagators to use her biological apparatus of curves, slumps, contour lines and what not, into fostering the global industries.

Against this backdrop, some women very astutely project these biological assets coupled with value addition to weaken the male species into getting at life's goals. Sad to say, in historicizing events and current affairs, many women who have 'made it' in life are those that have pushed the 'best deal' (whatever this means) forward and has nothing to do with intellectual prowess and fortitude.

It makes interesting observation how through the effective display of biological assets, many a "tinsel female" has consolidated herself in varied careers often outdoing the unostentatious, equipped with academic qualification, seniority and intellectual skills. Task assignment also goes in keeping with choice preferences of men - with specifically categorized women of above description being given priority.

Significantly, besides all this analysis of women's performance, at the highest level of governance - which other female has come of her own merit except for perhaps Israel's Golda Meir and Britain's Margaret Thatcher? Bhutto, Sonia, Meghawati Sukarno Puthri, Ghandhi, Sheikh Hasina, Begum Khalida and many others have all literally and otherwise walked into the positions their fathers and brothers once held - a paternal or matrimonial legacy.

The male dominated system, therefore demands from woman - not enlightened intellect, for some of today's men have lost track of that kind of higher mental existence and instead prefer naive, bawdy, sensual extravaganza and exhibitionism on part of women.

Contrastingly, off system women's brilliance - bereft of male support is noteworthy. Such women celebrities have made it - clearly devoid of any 'male blessings' and patronage. Awwayar - the great Hindu poetess, the noted Muslim lady saint Rabiathul Adawiya, Mother Theresa, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, Gajaman Nona - to name a few - not to forget the many women saints in Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.

Strange as it may sound, the present system has weakened women while women in the system itself have done nothing to act defiantly and resist the onslaughts of weakening forces thereby even aiding and abetting all powerful externalities. The adorned woman continues being adorned in every sense of the word. Some of those who organize and celebrate Women's Day itself are not guilt-free.

Conditional considerations 'made' the system-bound woman, and some women themselves 'made it' in the system yielding to temptation, sullying their inner-selves pandering to male likes and dislikes - in attire, make up and other external ornamentation. Be that as it may, interesting it is to ask how women come into such low levels of social existence. In the course of this writer's post graduate studies at the Colombo University, Sociologist Dr. Subangi Herath explained quite vividly all what happened.

The environment was worshipped by ancient man because of nature's ability to procreate. Woman too, as a result, was worshipped.

But when man learnt that he could change the environment, he stopped venerating what once won his 'holy attention'. Thus woman too ceased to exist in the position of goddess. Much of early history reveals woman being held in such high esteem - not to forget the Greek Pantheon - many being women.

Ironically, all that is marginalized - be it women, children or environment is subject to celebration. If to be marginalized calls for celebration where do we go from here? These peripheral groups are those on which certain social segments thrive, heavily funded by quarters that cannot wash the sins off their hands in relation to marginalization.

To be in the social limelight needs a parasitic linkage to such groups of women, children and environment. But how far have we gone in redeeming these groups from the system's hold is thought provoking.

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