I have occasionally felt inspired to write a response to some of the things I have read or heard about femininity, its opposite and whatever opposes it, but never before have I actually done so. However, the more I contemplated on these issues the more I felt beyond pushed, to write about them and ponder on where exactly the “balance” lies between men and women. Starting from the beginning when our Most High created man, this will only apply if you are sane enough to accept the fact that you came from somewhere. Allow me to quote from a few verses of the first chapter from the Good book “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them…”Genesis 1:26-28 (King James Version). Whether or not you agree, I do agree with the above quotations. As simple as Verse 27 seems, I will clarify further. Unlike what most people believe or think that male was first created and thereafter female came into the picture as an after thought, I choose to differ. I say male and female were one, inseparable being. It’s quite clear that the ‘them’ is not a grammatical error considering that, as most know, Eve (female) was created in Chapter 2:18, when our Creator said, “…, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” This ‘help’ they are talking about, who was formed from the man’s other rib and the dust was just a separation of the ‘them’ to form a unique male and unique female whose role, when efforts were combined physically, mentally and spiritually, was to work together for each others good and for the good of those around them. This was the perfect plan, just for a while. Then guess what happened, mentalities started changing, ego’s started swelling, one of the ‘them’s’ started thinking they were more superior than the other, respect and reverence was lost, blood spillers sprouted and started killing brothers, the brothers suppressed the sisters and, this is where the mess begun! “Sister! You can’t do and say this! You must do and say that!” society, religion and traditions dictated. Centuries and decades passed by and for some few lucky women, this burden was a bit light but for majority, it was rough, tough and wicked. However, the Industrial Revolution in the 18th Century, things begun to change. Like a ray of light finding its way through dark clouds, there was a breakthrough! The beginning of a new era of women’s emancipation and feminism. Feminism simply means the movement for the political, social, and educational equality of women with men. The issues centering on access to employment, education, child care and contraception, to equality in the workplace, family roles, redress for sexual harassment and the need for equal political representation. On the other hand, with all this success, we cannot ignore the fact that somewhere along the way feminism has fallen off the path it was originally on. Some women today have lost it by thinking that feminism is; looking like a Size-00 model or wearing men’s clothes and worse still acting, talking and walking exactly like men. Reality check; feminism is not a name you can co-opt, it’s a set of principles that you live by. Feminism is not all about what you do, say or how you look. More still, femininity is not just a woman thing since it takes two (man and woman) to tangle, for each others good and the good of others- the role that brings us back to the, ‘them’ reality. Since acquiring belief requires thinking and seeking knowledge in order to expand the horizons of reason and awareness, a woman has the same needs as a man to develop her mental abilities. Secondly, because everything dictates that the man and the woman have the same human role in life (as mentioned earlier), and that they are equally responsible in life and of their life, a balance is struck. Woman needs the support to develop the power points of her personality, to subdue her weaknesses, to protect herself against deviation and against the threats of the outside world. All human beings, man or woman, struggle with the need to accomplish these aims knowingly or unknowingly in order to attain balance. Balance being the role of man and woman. Thus the essence of feminism is accepting the beauty of being who you are, a woman. Not just any woman, but one who finds strength, confidence and rest in the fact that she has attained a balance ‘for the good of each other and the good of others.’ anyglorian@yahoo.com.
