What can I write that hasn’t been written? What can I say that hasn’t already been seen? Perhaps, with my almost-numb mind and aching heart, I can write words that resonate with a woman as confused as I am.
Our womanhood grants us eyes to witness the world’s unfolding truths, lies, and horrors. But now, seeing clearly, I realize that sharing the same gender doesn’t mean we’re all alike. We are different. Indeed, each woman is a mosaic of diverse experiences, shaped by her upbringing, beliefs, fears, financial circumstances, and traumas.
Nevertheless, if we are to rally our collective strength, we must acknowledge that we all bear the weight of patriarchy’s chains pressing down upon us. Some resign themselves to these constraints, others adorn them as if they were jewels, while some suffer in silence, devoid of resistance.
If we need to evoke a woman from the array of roles she embodies — whether as a mother, daughter, friend, or sister — we must impress upon her the significance of preserving this lineage. It wasn’t an easy journey. Understanding history is crucial. Women were once thrown alive onto their deceased husband’s pyre.
And now? I’m uncertain.
I want to mention that women were traded as slaves. They still are. They were treated as property, sold, and subjected to rape. And they still are.
Should I highlight the positive aspects? Such as my access to a laptop, knowledge, courage to express my feelings, or other women standing alongside men. A portion is always lost at birth. The moment you’re born a girl, society imposes its rules on you. And the same goes for boys.
Where does this narrative lead? It’s not about playing the victim but recognizing oppression. Women have been and continue to be oppressed — physically, mentally, and financially. They are burdened by the weight of ages of suffering and stagnation in thought.
The tragedy lies in the distant past, where primitive man and woman hunted side by side, yet the emergence of offspring necessitated a division of labour for survival, and it was the mother who bore this burden.
With the evolution of the human mind came complex emotions and social constructs. Ego, jealousy, care, and love began to form patterns that convinced them of their validity. And with that, a chasm emerged — a stark division that made the new world — a man’s world. That, indeed, is the tragedy.
The stagnation persists despite the leaps of progress we have made as a species. We possess the cognitive faculties to explore the cosmos, yet remain tethered to archaic ideologies. It is high time we use our evolved prefrontal cortex to transcend these constraints.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, a day too often exploited to capitalize on and trivialize the plight of women, I find myself at a loss for words in the face of the dichotomous nature of our world.
I don’t need to offer you hope; you’ll discover it on your own. I simply want to say that you’re not alone in feeling this way. Together, we will persevere.
It may require more time, but we will voice our truths and continue striving for a better world for all women — irrespective of colour, caste, sexual orientation, religion, or any other construct that binds them.
Peace out!
