Over the ages, women have been pigeonholed as the weaker gender that needs to be protected and therefore should willingly and quietly submit to the stronger gender, man. This image has been perpetuated through all types of literature, laws, media, and even by women themselves. Perhaps one aspect of this issue that is yet to be resolved is how we define strength.
To be strong means to be able to withstand and overcome all the predicaments and frustrations that life throws in our path. To be strong is to be courageous and go forward in spite of hostility or intimidation. To be strong is to not allow misguided or unfounded judgments dictate our decisions or behavior. To be strong is to not conform and accept the myth of women as weak and powerless human beings.
In spite of the traditional negative portrayal of women, it is also evident through many studies, newspaper articles, biographies, documentaries, and other sources that women have prevailed throughout time and history. This tells us that we need to know that to be strong does not mean muscles, power, violence, fear or intimidation. Mahatma Gandhi declares:
“To call woman the weaker sex is a libel; it is a man’s injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brute strength, then, indeed, is woman less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man’s superior. Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-sacrificing, has she not greater courage? Without her man could not be. If non-violence is the law of our being, the future is with woman...”
What is it that women want? I believe we want to be respected and recognized as intelligent and multi-dimensional persons who have the right to decide what is best for our own lives. If we want to be wives and mothers, that should be respected. If we want to remain single, that should be respected. If we want to be professionals who contribute to the development of society, that should be respected. If we want to be wives, mothers, and professionals, that too should be respected. However, before we demand respect from others, we have to respect ourselves. Even though we have come a long way, we are not there yet.
The following poem is a tribute to my counterparts past and present.
IMMORTAL WOMAN
Ever since prehistoric times
Woman has been dragged, pushed, pulled,
belittled, enslaved, raped, disregarded, & discarded;
her wild seed trampled.
Neither time nor history has changed woman's
destiny.
Receiver of seeds, willingly or unwillingly,
procreator of sons,
keeper of unnatural rhythms.
Ever since prehistoric times
Woman has struggled, resisted, defied, deserted,
endured, & transcended;
blossomed wildly, unexpectedly.
Strong woman has barely modified
time & history,
destiny & unnatural laws.
Ever since prehistoric times
Woman is receiver of instinctual wisdom,
compassionate giver of self,
mirror of daughters,
guardian of boundaries,
cautiously, intensely.
Ever since prehistoric times
Woman is sagacious & steadfast,
maiden, mother, grandmother,
Matriarch, wise & empowered Crone,
No matter destiny,
No matter history,
No matter time & laws,
No matter the predators!
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