Being A Woman

Thursday 02 September 2010

Being A Woman

*This article was submitted by Orit Yeret, University student.

What is a woman? A human creature? A daughter, a wife, a mother? Defined by men or standing on her own what does she want? Sometimes I think I will never find the answer to this question.

As a young woman taking her first steps into womanhood, I often find myself struggling in a world made up of conflicting messages about what a woman is, or what she should be. It is obvious to blame the media for this problem, but these notions are deeper than that. It is people around the world that continue to reinforce the misguided views about women, especially when it comes to their place in society.

Even in the 21st century, women are still excluded from discussions about war or national security, and mostly presented with issues regarding health and family life. Why is it so difficult to detach women and family? Why is the woman so often being judged by her remarkable ability to juggle between her family, her career and her personal life?

My guess is that it all dates back to ancient times, when a woman was treated as property. The father would pass along his daughter, to the largest bidder, and the result was, of course, marriage and children and a lifetime of slave-like behavior, when the woman was expected to tend after her husband's every need.

Luckily, we have out-grown that era. Nowadays women have rights and they are treated equally, most of the time. Unfortunately, the notions about a woman's place in society, as well as her place within her family, are still conflicted.

To take the journey of the average woman is to go from being someone's daughter, on to being someone's wife and someone's mother, and grandmother and so on. Even her family name says nothing about her; it is first her father's and then her husband's. As she enters the new family, she changes her being as well, from a receiver, to a giver - a giver of life.

To me, a woman is everything. She is sensitive and assertive, she is beautiful and unique. She is God's creation, just like the man is, and she should never be sat apart or excluded from anything that she wants to do. A woman is life, and what does she want? To do whatever she wants - it is as simple as that! It is true to say that the idea about what is a woman, is changing all the time, but it is also important to state that those ideas are changing because women all over the world are making it happen!

I must point out that by writing this article, I have learned new things about myself, most of all that anything is possible. I can only say that I felt empowered by reading the articles on the IWD website and by seeing the pictures, it made me realize that the change comes from within us and that we must share it with the world. ... more

Whats your opinion?

This article has 4 responses.

1. Joyce Koomson from Ghana wrote:

I am happy to witness this year's IWD which will celebrate women and their contribution to international development. As a Ghanaian and a young woman for that matter, I am particularly exited to withness my country elect the first woman speaker of Parliament alongside the first woman attorney general. I believe this duty assigned to these women will give another platform for them to prove their worth to the whole world. I wish every woman in whatever endeavor they find themselves, a happy IWD.

2. Julia Manka Ambe from Cameroon wrote:

Woman is life indeed but not yet in most regions of Cameroon with their patriarchal structures in which the woman is considered as property. At no point in time is she considered a person in her own integrity because as maiden she is property to her father; upon marriage she is property to her husband and at old age, she is property to her sons. They have no right to own/inherit property because they are themselves property. Yet this segment of the population are the backbone of society as 80% of all food consumed is produced by women. They feed the world, yet they own less than 2% of the land they till and just 10% of the wealth they generate. I am happy, today women are taking their destiny to redress the situation in their hands and empowering themselves to break the barriers that keep them in the poverty trap. IWD is a laudable initiative because women's voices are being heard. Long live IWD!

3. Dr Vikram Gulati from India wrote:

Hello Friends, I am 38. My mom always told others ... here comes my daughter (even though I am the younger son). "Daughter" because I made tea, looked after her needs, helped her with her house chores etc. Today I have three women in my small home ( Two daughters Ruhaani 18 months & Pratishruti 11 years & VishavRaksha my working wife 35). It is a home where I feel complete. My friends tell me to go for the the third boy child. They still feel (most of society) home incomplete without a boy. My reply to them is always like this: " God knew I would take care good care of girls so he sent me two." I am surprised how violence against women goes unchecked in India. We worship hundreds of Godesses - but we want the goddess to bless us with a son only! We lie even to Gods! Congratulations for contributing this article. LongLive the united women & men of the world. I pledge to unite with others to fight violence against girls & women.

4. Catherine Mills from Ireland wrote:

Woman = wo+man, as my 8 year old son pointed out to me