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Monday, October 26, 2009

Gender equality? A raw deal


by Lunga Khuzwayo

“I shall give you a woman who will love you unconditionally, cook and clean for you, comfort you, fulfil your desires, do whatever you tell her to and never complains”, says God. Then Adam asks, “That would be great but how much will it cost me?” God replies, “An arm and a leg”. Adam thinks about, sighs and says, “What can I get for a rib?”

Ever since the uprising of feminism, men have struggled to keep a woman in their traditional role of submissiveness. For a rib’s worth, women no longer have to play the role of servitude. The fight for gender equality and deterioration of the patriarchal system has resulted in the empowerment of women. However, it is questioned to what extent of gender equality women are aiming for. As a feminist, there is a thin line between being anti-men or just pro-women.

I have considered myself as a feminist, opposing any idea of male dominance; nevertheless, I have found myself complaining about men’s courtesy: They do not step aside for a lady anymore, a constant bashing of shoulders along the corridors. My face almost met the ground by a group of guys who decided not to step aside for me, “NO MANNERS”, I screamed out...inside my head, that is. This new generation of men have taken gender equality to a literal level and one begins to question their degree of feminism.

Do we still want to be treated like a ladies or is being ‘one-of-the-guys’ good enough? Being independent is what us women pride ourselves in, and maybe it is time to let go of the lack of gentlemen in the world. We can’t have our cake and eat it.

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