Through-out
history and on a global scale women have been more oppressed, more deprived,
more used and abused than men. Women have been considered the lesser of the
sexes, disregarded as weaker, portrayed as manipulating and dangerous. Her
femininity brought into disrepute by calling them ‘wiles’ and in more recent
times any woman who pushed her head above the parapet to point out inequality
was labelled a feminist and to be disregarded as militant.
Women who
are successful in their spheres are blamed for not being at home and those that
choose to stay home to look after children and the home are mocked as a ‘stay
at home mom’ and economically punished. In the church they fight for equality,
in the workplace they fight for equality and at home they fight for equality in
chores, childcare and financial decision-making. Women have strived for
equality and are still fighting for the truth that they are as valuable and
worthy of honour and respect as men but are still subject to inherited blame
when bad things happen to them.
There have
been women blazing a trail for equality who have made improvements in some
parts of the world but it is still not an agreed principle by everyone
everywhere that women are equal to men.
So let’s
start with the first story in our human history and there in the whisper at the
back of our minds is the woman who ruined it for everyone and therefore she and
her daughters deserve what they get. She is the second human being, she is
created after Adam out of his ribs and therefore subject to his whims and his
power. If we read the story rather than believe the shared myth, we find Adam
lonely, longing for something that is like him. God creates Eve out of Adam’s
rib and not out of dust. She is also made in the likeness of God and
created to be his helper in equality to look after the earth.
She is
created in equality and until we can get rid of the myth that she is ‘less
than’ we will continue to fight for equality and shout in rallies that women
are not to blame!
To blame
women comes so naturally when they experience abuse, so ingrained in our minds
that women can believe it too! ’What did I do to bring this on myself’? The
blame starts; ‘Where was she and how was she dressed? Why was she there,
why did she allow this to happen? Why did she trust him? Why didn’t she just
leave or call for help?’ We blame the woman first and the blame brings the
fear, the shame and the silence. We teach each other to stay safe; to not walk
alone at night, to not get too drunk at a party and to cover our drinks when in
the pub in case they get drugged, if you’re on the late bus do not sit
upstairs, not to flirt, not to be too friendly, not to, not to, not to and so
the lists goes on.
We are
living in a time where we have the #metoo campaign and rallies and Women’s
marches and a hope that the myth that women are there as a commodity to use and
abuse is diminishing. The #metoo is helping women feel they are not alone and
not to blame and once the blame goes the fear, the shame and the silence are
also on the way out. Women are becoming more vocal, going on marches and
calling for more and swifter change and we hope beyond hope that the men are
watching, listening and believing in equality. Hoping that we will hear from
more men standing with women to say it’s time to change attitudes and
behaviour.
We’ve had an advert
campaign about consent and we need more, more teaching our young and old men
that women are not ‘less than’ them, not a commodity to use and abuse.
Instilling in our minds, enough to override the old myth, that women are equal
and society will be at his best and most civilised when we have mutual respect
for the opposite sex. Once we see another human as worthy of honour, respect
and love regardless of their status, race, sexuality or gender we might find we
are living in a civilised society. If we could help each other to be the best
we can be rather than oppressing one half of the human population what a
difference it would make to our planet.
No comments:
Post a Comment