or better yesterday, for the 1oo time: the International women's day.
Yesterday we celebrated almost all the afternoon. All outside in the garden under a gender-friendly tree, we have been both asked men and women to show our level of agreement with some sentences.
One the sentence was "A quote from Marie Curie: "I have frequently been questioned, especially by women, how I could reconcile family life with a scientific career. Well, it has not been easy”. And I have never heard of a man struggle to balance family and career. Balancing work and family life is especially difficult for women and not enough is done to help. What do you think?”
Then we looked at the answers, I was really surprised, most of the men seemed not recognize any of the issues that women are facing or were not taking seriously the questions and when looking at the genuine desire of assertion showed by women I couldn’t not feel sad for the superficiality of those men.
This made me also reflect on the different level of importance that this event has in this context, I thought about my prosperous Italia when recently there have been demonstrations to ask for more respect and consideration for women.
Miles and miles away there are women fighting for even much more basic needs and rights.
In the whole Kenya the access to education is not equally distributed: women's literacy rates are much lower than men's rate. "For every literate woman in Mandera there are five literate men". The growing environmental constraints are increasing the pressure on women to provide water, food, fuel-collection, even more less time is left for education.
Today I surprisingly received an email from a colleague, who was probably silently disagreeing yesterday from the mass of his men colleagues...I found his message so tender, deep and somehow revolutionary and I want to share it with you, The Woman, and you, The Man:
“Dear “You The Woman”, Just before the dust settles on International Women’s Day – Centenary, I belated feel obliged to pay my tribute to you. Throughout history women have been a driving force in shaping history, our society, and our families. To put it better I would rather quote the following:
• “Being powerful is like being a Lady. If you’ve to tell people you’re, you aren’t”
• “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song”
• “One is not born a woman one becomes one”
If you would take note, the common denominator is “BEING”.
Not so much of the DOING .
There are many instances - she can do nothing but hold your breath – O who can stand their power of character – the being. It is like the nuclear power. You can only see its effect but not feel it. May I throw a stone to the glass building with your permission !!! by saying there is a lot being done to promote the Woman – talk of Advocacy(ies), initiatives, Education both Academic and Civil, and the list can be long – of course you know the WOMAN!!
But for some reason all these efforts good and needful as they are, their impact is not as expected! Somehow some grip has been lost.
I risk to contest – the emphasis has been more on the DOING as opposed to the BEING - very power makes the WOMAN the POWER to RECKON with. As we commemorate YOU – the WOMAN – may it be a time of reflection and retreat to the SPRING BOARD – the BEING; from which you’ve shaped history, society and families. Next to God, YOU the WOMAN - is the very reason the Global Village holds together!!
I dedicate this Tribute to my dear Wife and Mother – though absent in body, is so much felt by us the nuclear family by the very influence of her character (being) that gives us reason to soldier on as difficult as it is. Live LONG the BEING WOMAN. “
Thanks for that Ben
