From whatever beginning, a woman's place is in the background, second
place or treated as a trifle. No matter what contribution they make, it
is perceived as only a job performed. Civilisation has corrupted
mankind as Charles de Secondat also known as Baron de Montesqieu would
think, it has in a way advanced societies where women have moved
forward. Yet the struggle continues. Women are striving for a 35% right
and it leaves one wondering what about a 50/50 thing. For sure there
would be no women without men and vice versa.
In Africa, more
women are still locked in the fight for equality. Africa, a place where
folklore swayed, it continued to reflect in the western transition it is
still going through. An African country like several others as created
on the continent by the colonialist was a conglomorate of people of
diverse characteristics with a common factor -woman's place in the
second place. It reflected in the folklore -a tradition in communities
and it reflected in real life. This story is a common folklore in how
far women have gone inspite of westernisation in one of the African
countries like this one:
'The women's wing of the ruling party had
gathered in a rally. One issue that continued to be a major item on the
agenda of the affairs of women was equity, which was the purpose of the
gathering. They wanted equitable representation of both genders in
politics and governance.
Buses and trucks brought many people
mostly women from the interior with merchandise consisting mostly of
snacks, drinks of all types and steaming variety of food. Parked in the
streets were a heaving, expectant, and pushing human mass. Every space
overlooking the town square was crammed with people. With the mammoth
crowd, the podium stood like an oil platform on the sea.
The
excited mammoth crowd, which was made up of mostly women of all shades;
the married; young girls; spinsters and widows, young and old, were all
beautifully dressed in expensive fabrics specially designed for the
occasion. They were all in a high spirit buoyed by the fact that the
wife of the president. Officially addressed as First Lady, she was
coming as the special guest of honour. The venue was jam packed and
almost suffocating. The highly tensed atmosphere was a revelation of the
worth of women. Yet beyond the threshold, the woman had fallen short of
recognition in every way, which the system never made it any better.
The gathering was clear indication that they are not relenting.
Several
women dance groups were performing simultaneously at different points
and rendered the atmosphere into a disharmony of rumbling sounds and
beats of musical instruments as every dance group tried to outclass the
other. Some dance groups had male instrumentalists who met their match
in the female instrumentalists.
A big chauffeur driven car
carrying the First Lady zoomed into the venue in a long motorcade and a
wave of hysteria swept through the crowd like electricity. Crowds of
people scampered this way or that way with excitement as dancers danced
with greater energy trying to show off who the best performer was. The
instrumentalists with their instruments followed the dancers who had
surged forward toward the approaching motorcade. Security officers
brandishing clubs barricaded the excited dancers who nonetheless
continued their rigorous dance in front of the officers.
The
treatment accorded the First Lady and her entourage, no doubt showed how
far the woman has gone up the ranks. A potbelly security man in his
late forties, whose smart moves outclassed his looks, got out of the
front seat of the First Lady's car and before it came to a full stop, he
was already by the side of the First Lady's door. He opened the door
and bowed. Several other security men whose attire -dark suits and dark
glasses, made them all look alike, kept the hysterical crowd at bay.
The
crowd cheered at the gorgeous and voluptuous woman as she stepped out
from the back seat. The mood and magnitude of the crowd's disposition
was not so different from what it would have been if it were a man.
Several other women serving in the government, executive officers and
friends accompanied her. As she led her entourage to the rostrum,
security men kept watch on every side shoving off and pushing back women
who came overly close. She wore brilliant white damask dress and was
heavily bejewelled. Round her neck, in her pierced ears, on her wrists
and fingers were gold ornaments that glimmered. Just like her, all the
women in her entourage were so elaborately done that they completely
overcastted the high lightings, colourful balloons, ribbons, banners and
many other decors which graced the venue The wife of the governor also
officially addressed as First Lady of the State was the host and started
the day. Several other prominent women spoke on the occasion
admonishing woman as a being before the guest of honour who was to speak
last. The applause and shouts of the women died and the atmosphere
became quiet and tensed like an archer's bow as the MC who was actually a
woman introduced the guest of honour. There were very few people, if
there was any that could damn make her out as Madam of Ceremony instead.
It must have been funny and unthought-of why any woman no matter how
well versed in any affair was Master of Ceremony. Women like Mrs. Rose
Man, despite the fact that they could sing their own praises; having
acquired what is a masters degree from the university, had never been
addressed as master. A thought of madams' degree was non-existent.
In
a tense and high monologue that swallowed the atmosphere accompanied by
shouts of admonitions and appreciations, the First Lady delivered her
message. Her speech prepared in its broad outlines -was overall,
impressive. It was straight to the point, instinctive and very effective
calling for a more active participation of her fellow women in politics
and governance.
'The era where women are relegated to the
background when it comes to decision making is old fashioned.' The
excited crowd cheered and clapped as others waved their hands
brandishing specially branded handkerchief. The women charged by her
admonitions, which she relentlessly emphasised on to point out the
unfair representation of women.
'When a woman decides what she
wants,' she was talking in a country that had stood by the old order;
where women had never been considered or given the chance to be
principal decision makers, 'or is involved in whatever the matter is,
even in women's affairs, the gender factor retrogressively comes in.
Less than thirty percent of women occupy elective and appointive
positions in this country. There are still more women qualified to
occupy every vacant post. This alienation must be corrected.'
The
First Lady paced on the rostrum with dignity pausing each time the crowd
roared with excitement. 'As women,' she went on, 'we can influence
positive changes in decision making in politics and governance through
good suggestions to our husbands in high positions.
'We the women,
by virtue of our number, gave the party the massive support that placed
it where it is today.' She lamented the fact that in spite of their
contributions, they were hardly recognised or giving portfolios
commensurate to their contributions. This gender imbalance must change.'
A thunderous cheer from the crowd again, temporally halted the speaker
who kept watch and waited for the noise to subside. The loud speakers
that amplifies her shrill feminine voice subsides it.
'The days
when women were house warmers waiting on their husbands for survival is
gone. We are tired of any culture or standards that are debasing, which
is the reason for this gathering. We're set to bring this awareness to
light and seek elective and appointive positions in governance.' The
venue kept coming alive with loud cheers each time she made a point that
was scathingly true.
She went on to encourage the women not to
allow their children and wards to be recruited by politicians as thugs
or touts purposely to intimidate, cause chaos, mayhem and other acts of
violence during elections. 'This has been a very common occurrence in
our politics. Definitely, women have never been involved in any form of
political violence, mayhem or chaos. Women have always resorted to the
right practise like, at worse, engaging in a general protest whenever
their constitutional rights or privileges transgressed. After all, we
will be the ones at the receiving end as widows and childless mothers.
We have contributed immensely to the development of this nation so we
deserve more.'
The few men who were part of the crowd displayed
modesty, which could well be hypocritical since they invariably felt a
knock on their ego. The First Lady emphasised on the progress women have
made so far and pointed to the fact that there were women now at the
helm of affairs in other nations because they never let 'pushover' men
take the chances. Women were now beginning to be involved in the
frontline of affairs and clearly close to the premier positions in their
nations.
'In some homes, women are actually the breadwinners.
They educate the children and hold on to the family when their husbands
are jobless. It is unfortunate women have to do ten times what men do to
be recognised. It is not a conventional practise that everyone got what
they deserve proportionate to their contributions. It becomes worse
that women get to play a role in these trepidations on themselves. Women
have become instruments, which the men use to perpetrate their
nefarious acts. On election day, women are paid by men to smuggle ballot
papers stuffed in their brassiere or underwear; a place they considered
a no go area for men when they choose to, into ballot boxes making them
agents of conceit, betrayal and blackmail.'
Fortunately, for the
women and unfortunately for the electoral officers at a polling unit at a
time presidential election was on, only male security operatives were
present. Some women who had stuffed ballot papers in their brassiere and
panties were bold enough to resist search from the operatives and got
away with their prank. It only went on to reinforce the adage this time
by women especially in a place like this; a place where political office
contesters were usually men; that not only behind every successful man
is a woman but rather behind every success by some vices is a woman. If
the crowd was stunned, the envisioned murmur of the suppressed
discomfiture of the crowd proved it as it trickled out with deep hum,
which the speaker gave way with a longer pause.
'Women are agents
of change,' she went on as she turned her head; left and right over the
crowd in front of her, 'whose responsibilities begin at home with the
mentoring of children. When a woman is trained, the nation is trained,'
the crowd of people never seemed to be able to conceal their
excitements, which she also never let distract her as she went on
calling for on the spot tutelage of women and encouraging them to do
everything they can to enhance girl child education.
'We're a part
of the nation and in central or essential positions; changes that women
envisage would be imminent. We cannot go on with this baseless
discrimination. We want changes in all ramifications, educationally and
economically. When educated, we're transferred into human capital.' The
thunderous cheer of the voices of women swallowed the air to deafness
that made the few men around cringe. 'We're well read like men with
equal abilities. I believe we also need to invite men to our
conferences, which I believe, will enable them know our feelings better.
'Our
conferences should not always be an all women's affair. Some husbands
really have appreciated their wives. Such wives are not only wholly
engaged in domestic responsibilities, as tiring as they may be. They
have also combined it with the jobs they were in to and further to
supplement the family earnings. We should appreciate the resolve of such
men and give them room to join us in the struggle for equality,' a grin
on the face of some of the men around put across their excitement
principally out of the feeling that they appreciated and
'Women
like men are humans with the same character traits attributed to human
beings. I know women who are physically, mentally, psychologically and
spiritually more firm than men do and vice versa. It is so unfortunate
most women and men do not realise the former when it comes to
egalitarianism. It is so incongruous such men and women are so
susceptible to the latter. I also know the parity of men and women in
firmness and steadfastness. No matter how many they are from both sides,
and the people that understand this, it's a matter usually dumped in a
bin. We need to understand where we stand and stop stunting or
relegating ourselves. Cheers of excitement from the women expressing
their yearnings over the civil liberties of women now and again
overshadow the speeches of the guest of honour.
'Sexual harassment
has been a common phenomenon and most of the victims had been girls and
women and no matter how young or old, none is exempted. We hate rape
and rapists. We need to get to the position of authority to stamp out
such malaise as it now appears.'
As criminalising as it is, women
were ever at the receiving end with very little or no reparations. It
became a case women were afraid, ashamed and indisposed to report. The
First Lady was ever at the call for greater support for women in dire
circumstances as well as those that were positively touching people's
life.
'As usual in this country, the important role women played,
as important as they may be, go unobserved or disregarded and
unrewarded.' The First Lady brought it to the awareness of women that
time and research has demonstrated that when women earn income, more
children especially girls go to school. 'Fewer children will be affected
by disservices,' she fired.
'In countries where the importance of
individuals are realised and acknowledged, women are never ignored.
We're gathered here to bring to light that women, whether they're of the
literati or not, have accomplished greatness and above all, they're are
mothers.' The excitement in the crowd rose to a frenzy with the heavy
sound of the musical instruments reverberating along. 'We have done the
most credible things yet we seldom have or ever given the opportunity to
be seen or heard. We break our back for our nation and family to
provide food and expend insurmountable care on children regarded as the
future and leaders of the country. We are worthy of commemorations.' The
excitement never stopped booming and echoing with great cheer from the
crowd with solemnity.
She went on to charge the women on the need
of change. 'We need to break free from the old ways of reasoning and the
way we do things to a more vibrant and innovative way. Change is
constant, consistent, and inevitable though you have those who engage in
acts to evade changes. We are living in a highly dynamic world.
Individuals, groups, organisations, technologies and even our husbands
are changing. The woman, in such a world, cannot be an exception.' The
crowd once again found their voices and the deafening shout of approval
filled the air.
In another unanticipated turn, the excitement died
as curiosity hovered over the crowd. The speaker called on women not to
contest for the position of a governor in one of the states. The
governor of the said state had embarked on a policy that was employing a
large amount of work force. The population made up of mostly women were
benefitting from it. Many women, for the first time, did not only have
the opportunity to gainful employment, they were encouraged to take
advantage of the opportunities with fair remunerations, and they became
empowered. A woman had aspired to contest in the election for the
position of a governor in one of the states and the fact that she was a
woman, like in many job vacancies; it was what made the headlines in the
news.
In several other countries, women had moved to positions
they were never considered fit or eligible no matter how qualified they
were. Their ineligibility was usually because they were women and
systematically. They are tossed away as if they are waste.
Surprisingly,
it has taken an unanticipated dimension that a woman could now be the
head of an African nation. A nation carved out of an assembly of
villages, communities, towns and cities that had put into practise
traditions and customs that devaluated women.
'We have not
gathered here for an overthrow of any sort or rebellion,' she explained,
'but we're here to be assertive on matters that are our prerogatives
and rights. Until our potentials are realised; until we take a stance on
what we want for ourselves, no one will do it for us.' The crowd once
again, vivaciously cheered as she went on and on extolling the virtues
of women who had made impacts not only to their status as women but to
their society.
Now and again, women have shown greater enthusiasm
to widen their horizon and constituting more than half of the
population, there are the formidable ones who have been relentless. She
argued that they must take charge and become both the defenders and
promoters of their course. 'We're not going to give up to the robbery of
rights caused by perceived pettiness or jealousy against us,' she never
stops brimming in the gathering of women who appreciated her drive.
'We
should stop agonising and rather organise to achieve what we deserve.'
Women showed loyalty to men who were moneybags that were unaware and
most times undermined what women can offer them. The First Lady was
never a resenting woman, yet it made her daring.
In as much as
most of the women gathered had become faithful of the religion the white
man came with, it had filled them with bewilderment realising what the
white man had experienced in his domain. The missionaries had actually
started the transformation that had attracted the natives. The Holy Book
was the instrument they used without compromise.
Yet a woman had
hardly ruled any of the kingdoms as observed in the Holy Book. At most,
one could only be a regent as it had been in several African communities
that gave women the only chance to rule. It emphasised the fact that
man had always seen himself as a superior over woman. Most of the women
at the gathering went on wondering if that was really the set up or plan
of God that they must embrace.
The commotion that followed was as
surprising as it was unprecedented and caused a stampede but the crowd
dispersed in every direction with hilarity. The uninvited guest came to
the event unannounced. Probably he was angry because he was either, not
considered good for the day or the reason for the gathering was not in
his interest. Consequently, without warning, he came and chased everyone
away. That was Mr. Rain. Mrs. Rain would have announced her coming,
which have given the crowd all the chances to scale away. Dark clouds
would have raced and chased themselves in the immeasurable sky, strong
breeze, lightening, or claps of thunder would have passed the message to
warn everyone and saved many from getting drenched.
Before their
dispersal, they had hastily and with resistance in registering, agreed
on what to discuss in the next session of the association the wife of
the president had inaugurated and dubbed WOMEN AND POLITICS.
The
struggle for the emancipation of the woman over what they perceived as
restraints to their advancement was not an event of a single month or
year. It was an issue, which transcended generations and still going on.
An issue that had taken various forms of brutalisation and torture on
the proponents of women's rights. Having participated in all the stages
in the struggle and fight for the independence of the nation, as such,
any form of gender disparity should find no dwelling place in such a
nation. They saw no reason why women, confined to some particular place
because they were women. Such women were emboldened to fight against
what they perceived as very oppressive and abusive acts to womanhood.
They remained defiant in the face of threats and intimidations and
rather, it construed mere stubbornness. Yet they sustained torture,
brutalization and stood unrelentingly firm on what they believed in and
wanted for their femininity -impartiality and equity.
One woman
started it then another followed, and then another and more and more.
Every one of them was inspired by the defiance and unrelenting spirit of
the other. Notwithstanding her religious affiliation with a very stiff
stance on intolerance of women, one of such women was a real die-hard.
Inspired by a woman who fought for the right of women in her area to
vote in elections, she put it upon herself the responsibility of
bringing to the uneducated women the awareness of not only their rights
but also the equality to which they were entitled. In the process, she
made friends she was prepared to protect and foes she was ready to
fight.
It never surprised this woman when her husband presented to
her a written note of divorce when it was very clear that she would not
go back or compromise what she believed. In her community, the women
received such notes. The thought of losing her four years old marriage
and the only child she ever came to have did not fill her with
compunction any more than what she thought of the degrading and
sometimes dehumanising place of the woman. If there were any sacrifice
that would bring the woman to a fifty-fifty position that would have
come to be her only pursuit, it would be what she deserves.
The
damning reports of his wife's activities were too much for him to bear
and to him; a divorce was the only way out. Other women faced queries,
warned and even received divorce threats if they ever associated with
Aminat. She had to park her personal items back to her parents. Her
father was more than gloomy seeing his daughter in the predicament she
had brought upon herself. The visit of law enforcement agents to his
home almost on a regular basis in the months that followed was the worst
things that tried his dignity. She remained unyielding to what she
believed. Defiance he believed, caused by her education.
The
comparative quietness and peacefulness of one particular morning was
very deceptive as the later events of the day proved. A number of people
though most of them women, which was quite an unusual phenomenon, had
gathered outside Aminat's father house. A couple of lawyers were there,
several trade unionists and some teachers discussing in voices hushed.
They were murmuring some plans, which was all about launching a platform
from where they could vent their feelings.
'Once we are ready, we
shall bring in all women; homemakers, widows, the aged women and from
every work of life, we shall march out... ' With her voice rising above
the hum in the gathering, she vented out the plans. After several
arrests and detentions in a maximum-security prison, handled in the
manner of a capital offence and warned never to hold such gathering the
stronger was her resolution. A police van anywhere approximately her
father's house had become a common thing in sight.
Four police
officers with eyes like marijuana smokers, in a commando style jumped
out of the van before it even stopped as it approached where the people
were gathered. Every one of them knew what was to come next so they
never waited to be certain as they all dashed off in the opposite
directions.
Aminat stood her ground and a frown creased her face
as she watched the men close in on her. Grabbing her by the arms, they
half dragged and half carried her to the van. Shouts of scorn and abuses
trailed them. Nonetheless, they went about their hostile act with
indifference as if they had no ears.
They rained blows on her when
she refused to enter the van. A hard kick in the abdomen and another
one in the face took the lights off her senses. She saw stars twirl in
the darkness as the heaviest blow that ever hit her cracked her cranium.
She became limp and thrown into the van like a sack containing sawdust.
They drove off with shouts of abuses in their trail.
Of what
happened after that, she had a confused memory. Loss of blood had made
her fade out. When she came to, she realised vaguely that she was lying
in a stretcher and her wounds roughly bound up. It made her feel numb.
Her next memory was of been put to bed and given a draught.
Aminat
woke up with awkward feelings she had never felt before. The strong
odour of antibacterial solution hung in the air -the only precursor that
told her she was still alive and in a hospital when she came to. Her
head covered this time, not with the traditional hood-like covering
subjected for women to wear, but with bandages that looked like the
turban men wore and portrayed them as men of prominence.
A broken
leg was in a cast, propped up and hanging from a pole. She cut an ugly
picture in the hospital room where the beeping sound of monitors stole
the silence as fluids dripped from pumps through pipes. It turned out to
be her dwelling place for more than a week. She underwent an operation,
which was imperative to remove the damaged foetus that was barely four
weeks.
The gang of youths that hung around the scene of the affray
and watched what happened were highly infuriated at the handling of
Aminat. Here, they thought, was someone lynched. She was not a criminal.
She was treated the way it was often done to a bandit by a mob; but for
standing firm on humanitarian causes, which was for the benefit of
women, moreover, mothers.
The community went berserk at the news
that spread in different versions. With the police station attacked, it
resulted to an uncontrollable chaos. Miscreants, touts, and hoodlums
took advantage of the situation and began to unleash mayhem, sacking one
market after the other, beating up people and robbing them of their
wares and belongings.
The women whose struggle was the cause of
the chaos not spared. Politicians in other parts of the country that
were not part of the ruling party gave it a political tone and supported
the women's course. Thugs were organised in gangs and non-partisans
joined the fracas.
An unruly mob, hoodlums and private armies that
had held the ruling class with great resentment and scorn for starting
the nation down the alleyway of inflation and knowing that they had
nothing to lose but rather stakes to claim, went about disrupting
activities and a reign of terror and confusion held grounds.
Four
years after, she still felt both the physical and the emotional
thoroughness. It rather spurred her and made her stronger and determined
woman. At fifty-three, Aminat had become a mother to thirteen children
who will ever find it hard to believe she was not their real mother. She
had become a matter of awareness to most of the citizens who did not
relent in their effort to make the nation know who or what she
symbolised. Anyone emboldened with the belief of the victory of good
over evil stood by her. A future pack of good citizens was what her
children implied -a replicate of herself.
The existence of these
children became a matter of awareness and documented and her efforts
appreciated. Though they were once abandoned with very bleak or no
future, she acknowledged them and they became children cared for in a
parental home. With Aminat, it became widely acknowledged that women
were vital to the improvement and development of the society and
forthwith, the nation. She never relented in all that she did for as
long as she lived. She was born at a time it was a belief that education
made a woman disrespectful of her husband. Education was a something
that men believe would lose authority. Educated wives would be wiser
with opened eyes and mind. Thus, parents willingly sent only male
children to school. The females, groomed for early marriage, were
engaged in household chores and hawking to supplement family income.
Aminat
was worth an Amazon in a community where women were hardly empowered
and seldom given the chance to participate even in matters that affected
them as women. The high level of illiteracy as it was common in women
had blinded them to the ugly scenario that engulfed them. The
elimination of gender disparity in basic education became imperative
with Aminat's strategies.
'Education is the best anyone can
bequeath to every generation,' she had said this several times when she
was in the company of those who had been overwhelmed by her benevolence
-a habit that was burdensome even to many men in the society. Her
habitual remarks became doubtless as many people has to realise that her
literacy had opened her mind to the principles of rights and
egalitarianism.
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