We should always celebrate women
JEREMY punched the air with excitement when a maintenance court ordered him to pay a paltry sum towards the upkeep of his child, Yeukai.
So little was the money that it could barely cover the minor’s needs for two weeks.
One actually needed no special glasses to see that the money he had offered to pay was a kick in the face.
“Ndamusota! This is a done deal. She must look after the child because it comes with motherhood,” he said gleefully as he left the courtroom celebrating his pyrrhic victory.
The judgment meant the burden of covering the child’s needs lay squarely on the shoulders of his unemployed erstwhile lover.
As the world celebrates Women’s Month, which is observed in March annually, it is critical to spare a thought for millions of women across the world who have to contend with having to raise families against the backdrop of scarce resources.
Women’s Month strives to recognise the accomplishments of all women — including countless amazing women who have worked to “Break the Bias” throughout history.
Women’s Month celebrations provide education on how women help shape the nation and empower children by introducing them to historical role models.
Despite the fact that the world seems to honour affluent women in positions of authority, it is this writer’s contention that every woman worldwide deserves to be celebrated because of the pain they go through in raising families, communities and ultimately nations.
One’s educational background, race, religion or creed does not matter as women roundly suffer almost similar challenges on an average day. Almost everyone out there has a special story to tell about his or her mother.
Whenever women are to be celebrated, the song “Sweet Mother “by Prince Nico Mbarga immediately comes to mind.
“Sweet mother, I no go forget you
For this suffer wey you suffer for me
Sweet mother, I no go forget you
For this suffer wey you suffer for me
When I dey cry, my mother go carry me,
She go say my pikin weti you dey cry o yo
Stop stop, stop stop, stop stop make you no cry again When I want sleep, my mother go pet me
She go lie me well well for bed
She cover me cloth, sing make you sleep
Sleep sleep my pikin oh
When I dey hungry, my mother go run up and down She dey find me something wey I go tchop oh.”
Gentle reader, women go through a lot and it is essential to ensure that they are afforded easy access to cancer screening and other health checks so that they, like flowers, continue to live and brighten people’s lives.
Mothers need enhanced access to menstrual hygiene education and sanitary ware to avoid degrading situations where they either use cow dung, tree barks or tree leaves during their monthly cycles.
Women need access to self-help projects so that they lessen their dependence on financially. They should be able to cover some expenses on their own as this may reduce domestic violence. Women need to be empowered with knowledge and be given access to participate meaningfully in the development of economies.
Women’s Month celebrations must make men change their attitude towards women and stop viewing them as sex objects or wheelbarrows that they can push around at will.
The era of looking down upon women is long gone, now is the time to give them the social, political and economic status they rightfully deserve.
Inotambika mughetto.
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