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| Monday, 8 March 2004 |
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Women - the indispensable species by Neetha S. Ratnapala "For she is wise, if I can judge of her A house without the all important woman is like a house without a roof, which provides shade and security. No one would question or challenge the role of a woman as a mother. This is a universal phenomena, so much so, that sometimes there is a hard dividing line between motherhood and womanhood. All men or the majority may respect and look up to a mother but not so to the opposite partner - woman. Looking at the woman from a male perspective is not the task here, but why and how women earn respect, cooperation, love and affection is worth a study. Women like other precious and indispensable, and priceless gifts of nature play an important role in whatever part of the universe they may be in. From time immemorial the position of women is an enviable one, though they have been subjected to cruel and unfair treatment in some part of the world by her male partner. the world is a beautiful place if and when the two species understand, tolerate and respect each other, and the burden in life is shared. When not, its either a big question mark or a blank. Though the emphasis here is on women any unfairness to the male is also regretted. The conception the woman has to bear a triple burden in most instances is true when the father, husband or brother expects the woman to shoulder the responsibilities of bearing, raring and earning for the family. There is enjoyment in this role for the woman who is fortunate to shoulder its indignity, pride and a self-satisfaction but not for the one who is weighed down into drudgery, heartaches and frustration. This role of a woman is not measurable by wealth but by circumstances. Habitat The modern woman has come a long way from her ancestral role in her own traditional habitat yet she is bound by certain norms and taboos in her march to progress. Depending on the cultural traits of the society she is in, women play a historic role in handing down to the new generations the valued and treasured customs and traditions of the society and country they are born in. The role may vary according to the extent of the openness or limitations of each particular society or even family. This is so in the rural and urban sectors. In the West, quite often a woman's role in her parental home ends while still a teenager or in the early twenties, and strides into her own family for better, for worse. Unless it's royalty or a clan, the preserving or handing down of accepted norms and traditions are not a weight on her shoulders. Even in the case of royalty or clan, the breaking away or the loosening of the hanling down process is not as rigid as in Asian societies. For instances we see a clear variation in the royalty as depicted in UK or Monaco and Japan and Nepal. The same can be said of clan interests as in the Kennedys in the US and Gandhis in India, where with tradition bound religious beliefs, caste interests customs and conventions. Religious limitations and regulations, ethnic demands are also intertwined with tradition in certain instances. So much so that any breaking away from customary practices amount to a breach of religious practices. Quite often it is the woman who is at the receiving end of such violations of custom. Tradition in the broadest sense is the accepted and recognised values and social customs. These are sustained by the passing over from one generation to another, through the family mainly, from mother to off-spring. Any such customs that is not handed down or not adhered to by mother who is the custodian, amounts to a grievous breach of social obligation. Penalty for such action is not uncommon. Through rites of passage - from birth, puberty, marriage and conception, widowhood, women in certain Asian societies are subjected to cruelty, torture and even loss of life for sake of tradition. She is harassed (though she is not free to air out) into attire not of her choice, and a cloistered life that only sees childbearing, rearing and servitude as life's obligation. It requires a very bold woman to break or loosen these chains. Work Education does help, but not always. women are subject to harassment, insult and injury in their places of work. In spite of the growing number receiving formal education among girl children and women, some women are kept in the dark, on prevention of unwanted pregnancies, birth control and rights of a woman as a human being. This is a result of either certain cultural/traditional beliefs equalled to religious obligations or extreme political demands. Victims of rape are attached a stigma while the rapists or the culprits go scot-free specially if they happen to have high social or political connections. Another unfair role the woman is almost compelled by circumstances to get into, is that of entertainer - far from the role of saintly women or 'Seetha' society expected her to be. She is thrust into this role for the delight - and fun of the well to do who'd spare no woman if she went in for an affair of her choice or broke loose her chains of servitude to the dominant male. Where does the woman stand in such situations cast between the entertainer and the damned? She cannot be a party or partner in the fun and entertainment but an offering for enjoyment of the male counterpart. She may not be a willing partner in these circumstances. How can we boast of tradition and values when a woman is degraded in this manner? The recent report on misjudging and treating a Miss Universe as a whore depicts to what extent which men take woman for granted. Biologically she may be treated as the weaker sex but not so intellectually. The woman is pushed into the role of practising the oldest profession as though single handed, when the profession itself has turned into a lucrative business because of the male. Isn't the woman a precious commodity here to those that thrive on the trade? Instances where women have stood up to situations of resistance, free expression of opinion, combat and challenges are not rare. Our own History speaks of such women as Samudra Devi, Soma Devi and Vihara Maha Devi, Ehelepola Kumarihamy who have surpassed men in their bravery and forthrightousness. Daring writer Sobha De has marked her name as an open minded woman. Nazradeen needs no introduction as a woman with her own mind and would not tolerate indoctrination even under threat to her own life. Sonia Gandhi too, needs mention here as a woman fighting for her rights in her marital home - India. the late Princess Diana had to pay with a "hellish" marriage and a tragic death. If laws and traditions are meant to be mended to suit the years and the times, so is the role of the modern woman. Just as she is important in preserving the value of a society, she also has a vital role to play in the progress of that society. With the advent of celebrations for Universal Women's Day, let it be recognised by one and all internationally that a woman needs respect, recognition and honour. A society can progress only if the woman is an equal partner in the march to progress through educating the woman so many families, villages and cities can progress. Advancement in methods of child care, nutrition, healthcare, socialising, personality development is a package the woman can offer society only if the male counterpart extends a warm hand to make her role less difficult, enjoyable and rewarding. There is no truth in the argument that progress is synonymous with male-hood. Women have proved themselves as the best of tutors, planners, politicians, architects and businesswoman or even spies. All the fine and beautiful arts of the universe in the west or the orient has come about with the part the woman has played in the progress of such fine arts. Besides being a partner or promoter, she has also been the object of such creations. There would have been no Taj Mahal without a woman. No Sigiriya Frescoes without the damsels or the Nissankalatha Mandapaya without the female dancers, or no poetry for Wettewe Thera, Drama for Saratchandra or Theatre for Shakespeare, and on and on can one go. So let us complement the woman for the role she has played in all walks of life, from child bearing to Business, and her role in building the civilisations of the world - old and the new, indispensable indeed. |
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