AS THE WORLD MARKS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

The 8th of march yearly has been set aside to mark the international day of women.
As the world celebrates women and their achievements, it would do us good to x-ray the progress women have made so far and to discuss the issues still troubling the feminine gender.

1.Women have come a long way from where they used to be, when their position in society was to be seen and not heard. From the days where women could not vote or were not allowed to have an education. From the days in Africa where a woman's place was only in the kitchen and in the middle east, her place was only in the bedroom. We remember and salute the struggles of the fighters who gave a voice to women in almost every country of the world. Because despite her relegation to the background in society, women continued to prove that they were capable of more as seen in the lives of great women like queen Moremi, Coretta Scott-king, mrs Funmilayo Ransome-kuti, queen Amina of Zaria etc. These women showed the world that a woman was more than what the world thought of her and the world began to take notice.

2. Now women have gone to school and are educated and are contributing majorly to progress and development in society. Women are now CEOs, Technocrats, Business Owners, Leaders and Politicians. The world will not forget the contributions of women like Dr. Ngozi okonjo-Iweala, the late prof Dora Akunyili, Arunma otteh, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Mrs Ibukun Awosika and a whole lot of successful and great women who have demonstrated that the myth that women are "good for nothing" is only a myth.

3. Women have gone to school and are contributing immensely to society but the biological and traditional roles assigned to women have not been taken away from them. Women are still mothers, wives and homemakers. And some women are fighting to have these stereotypes removed from the woman. They call it feminism or gender equality where they say they are pushing for women to have equal rights as men.
The emancipation of women was to improve the female specie, to see an improved version of the female gender and to fulfill her potential and utilize her God-given gifts. Abandoning natural and traditional roles does not make the woman in any way a better contributor to society, the #wifenotcook agenda is not a better version of the woman because food is a natural need and who better to fulfill that need than the wife and mother of the home. It helps her bond with her husband and children. It's just like saying #wifenotprostitute. A woman should perform her wifely role to her husband and her motherly roles to her children. She has what it takes. It doesn't take anything away from her success in fact it only amplifies it.
That is not to say that a woman should become a slave. Balance is the keyword.

4. Lastly, women should not be used as pawns in entertainment. We are still in the era where women dance half naked in music videos, are paid for showing their nude bodies in modeling and in movie sex scenes. That is debasing womanhood and I am surprised that it is developed countries who are more guilty of these and they have taught it to Africans. We complain that the girl child is being trafficked and that prostitution is wrong but have we ever considered media prostitution? We respect great men and women and their contribution to society is positive and we abhor criminals, therefore entertainment should be positive and not negative. Quit entertaining perverts! There is no honour in being paid to expose your breasts or your privates in the name of making a movie. What is good is universal, lets agree on that.

Finally I congratulate all women all over the world who are making a positive impact in their families and in society. It doesn't matter where your impact is felt the most either in the boardroom or in your home. It doesn't matter if you are not recognized, God sees you and that's what counts. Congratulations woman! You have come a long way.

PHOTO CREDIT:INTERNET