1. As the pillar of support for the family unit which functions as the foundation upon which society
is built, women provide social cohesion, becoming the backbone of any strong society. They make up
half of the world’s population and comprise over one billion Commonwealth citizens. Yet, the value of
women in society seems to never truly be appreciated.
Women themselves often seem to be unaware of the power they hold, allowing themselves to
constantly be downtrodden while maintaining their silent fight just to survive inhuman conditions. War
especially highlights this. During armed conflicts, invading forces often rape, beat and mutilate women.
The women are treated as nothing more than objects and they often go willingly, sacrificing themselves
to protect their children and families.
This is the true double edged beauty of a woman. Strong enough to bear the emotional burdens
of the world but all too often called to sacrifice in order to save his same world she carries on her back.
In Greek mythology, Atlas was forced during the Titanomachy (The war of Gods vs Titans) to forever
bear burden of the sky on his back. So too does the fate of women seem to be.
Unless women awake and see the power which they truly have the will forever be Atlases.
Although in most of our societies, Patriarchy is deeply ingrained and everything seems geared towards
the advancement of men over women, women are the ones who hold the most power.
I would argue:
• Women control most societies’ economic power. They are the ones who control the
spending in most households and its overall budget.
• Being the ones usually left to take care of children, women are the ones who are
responsible for training each new generation and what is indoctrinated into them in
their early life and therefore heavily influence their belief systems.
• When a man is enamoured by a woman who will do most anything win her over and to
impress her, even start a war.
Unless women lobby and agitate for some changes, several things to which they’re subjected will
continue to be taken for granted as acceptable. Women need to grab hold of the power which they
possess and use it to improve their lives.
There must be a balance however. Simply replacing men in power with women will solve
nothing. It will simply create a role reversal where men then feel inferior and then have to fight for
power creating a cyclic gender war.
The aim should be power sharing where women are allowed to have power along with men,
with both groups being empowered, motivated and feeling like worthwhile members of society.