masterwordsmith-unplugged

Let’s be perfectly honest. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, women have been looked upon with suspicion by men. Just because Eve succumbed to Satan’s temptation, women have been perceived to be temptresses, more gullible and more irrational not forgetting less law-abiding than men. And is this fair?

Tragically, this image of women has been perpetuated across many cultures. Let us not forget the path taken by women in history. For many years, women were denied education which fosters rationality and were excluded from political and economic spheres. Then in the 20th century, women became more and more politically active to gain access to the political rights which they were denied.

Of course, we must not forget the suffragette movement which sought women’s voting rights and its success certainly marked a significant milestone in women’s efforts to gain equality with men.

The dismal truth is that despite all the achievements in the past, conditions in the world continue to be parlous and feminists are still lobbying and campaigning to remove gender-based discrimination to achieve equality with men. Yet, there are critics who are ready to demonize women because of biological, physical and psychological differences which are perceived in order to avoid the threat to male domination.

I am no feminist but I do abhor the way women are being discriminated by men, particularly in the recent state assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong controversy. Does it not baffle you how and why certain quarters and media are more vocal in their public condemnation of the issue even BEFORE they look at themselves to see how double standards, dirty tactics and blatant gender discrimination are the motivational forces at work? Many chose not to see the issue as an invasion of her privacy and an attack on her sexuality and single hood by expecting her to be a puritanical paragon of virtue while practising a different set of standards for men because they are MEN. Duh!

The blind chose not to remember her work in campaigning for a greener environment, her effort against sexual harassment, domestic violence and women's rights and chose instead to make a big spectacle of photographs that were taken without her permission or knowledge! The hard truth which some may not be aware of is that the attack on Elizabeth Wong is not on her per se but on women as a group in society who have the same motivation and mentality as she does.

I applaud Elizabeth Wong's brave stand on this issue where she declared :

I have done nothing wrong.

I wish to state that I am not ashamed of my sexuality as a woman and as a single person. I have broken no law. I stand by the fundamental principle in a democracy that has a right to privacy.

It is loud and clear. In many countries in the world today, Malaysia included, if any woman wants to participate in politics, be prepared to face seemingly insurmountable challenges such as cultural, political, social and economic systems as well as insidious gender discrimination in the MSM and certain parts of society.

To me, society is largely patriarchal - designed largely for male domination and the tragic thing in life is that despite the fact that yes, society has progressed and some forms of physical oppression inflicted on women have ceased, there are still current, though covert, atrocities that are being practised by a male-dominated society. A good example would be sex tourism, child prostitution, the ever increasing trend of rape cases. Then there would be the whole aspect of the entertainment industry. I used to ask my Sociology students to name famous female singers/actresses who were fat and ugly and to compare these with voluptuous, sexy, shapely and sultry sirens. Who would have a greater advantage? It is different for men though. They need not be handsome hunks and yet still make it on the big screen as long as they meet the director’s requirements e.g. in having the right-sized muscles, height, voice etc. But it is a different cup of tea for women.

I do not deny that childbearing, motherhood and nurturing of children are women’s special talents because women have different capacities, thought processes, and ways of moral reasoning and these should not be ignored or suppressed. But I advocate that these differences should be accepted - even celebrated in order for a new culture to develop whereby both male and female ways of thinking and their special capacities must be respected and then only can gender differences be removed.

Honestly, let's admit it. Discrimination exists in many forms and unless there is a change in the mind-set of policy makers and influential personalities, even that of women themselves, women are likely to be discriminated against. Prejudice against women and discriminatory behavior towards them such as what Elizabeth Wong experienced, require a radical restructuring of society; nothing less than removing all sex distinctions. To me, a change in the gender stereotype is needed because women are more than just care-givers - women ought to be perceived as more than a woman.

At the end of the day, so what if one's a woman? Does it make her less intelligent, less capable, less moral, less effective, less less less....????

Yes, I am woman and proud of it but I wish there could be more in this world for women…!!! Helen Reddy says it best so click on the video and enjoy this song which has become a feminist anthem.