Gender Parity: A Myth or a Possibility

In the political discourse of our recent history, our leaders make the best out of their opportunity to talk about fair representation of both sexes in legislatures. But we are not sure whether or not these percentage figures are virtual or deliberately manipulated. They even try to make us believe that these quotas are progressively growing from one election period to the next.

There are many cynics who argue that whether women occupy seats in the chamber, ministerial posts or are counted in the provision of the lots quota in common housing allotments, the logic is simply presumptuous. It accepts or recognises that the male sex of the population is superior and privileged to have the monopolistic power to allocate or divide the equal right of humanity according to the whim and desire of the male gender.

The question of gender inequality cannot be answered by simply picking up a few exceptions to the rule here and there. We have had Queen of Sheba who went to Jerusalem as the first communicator, carrying her gifts of treasure on her expedition. We have had distinguished spouses the likes of Mentewab and Taitu who had defining roles in the Ethiopian history, from an effective 40-year rule, to advising the emperor how to go about winning the war at Adwa and founding of the capital. We can talk about the first independent judge, Birtukan Mideksa. The issue of women’s liberation or emancipation had been the political agenda in the world during the latter part of the 19th Century. Here in our country, however, women had enjoyed equal status with men. They had the rights to bequeath property and share legacies not to mention even the throne.

I am trying to argue that our politics of the day has usurped their human right of equality and pushed women down to the level of according them a reduced or unequal status. Drawing on my lessons in literature provided by Leo Ziffel, I have chosen the title, From the Womb to the Tomb to keep me far from finishing the whole message in one sentence instead of making readers inquisitive. Just like me, constructing a house starting from the foundation upwards, women are like steel frame both in our physical make up and our thoughts.

When we refer to the women’s inequality issue, we can reflect on such names as the Israeli leader Golda Meir, the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Indira Ghandi of India, Chancellor Angela Merkel and many others. But these are only exceptions to the rule. Considering the number of women in our world and the roles that women play in our lives, these exceptions are only peanuts.

My 52 years of married life to one and the same partner added to my years of youth with my mother. I can confidently and squarely argue that our political set up is severely lacking in treating women democratically.

We are told that some 20pc or 30pc of the total number of seats in the parliament are allocated for women representatives. That figure does not match up to the total number of women eligible for election. The very essence of the statement that claims to have raised the percentage of representation is in itself presumptuous and understes the democratic right of gender equality.

Who are we men to decide the number of seats for men and women as if we are doing it out of philanthropy or the male gender generosity we show towards the fairer sex. By the same token, allocating a certain percentage, say 20pc to women of the lots to be casted for the condominium project has no base that is coherent to the principle of lot casting.

We also see gender biased devolution of power even at the level of the highest echelons of power in the ruling party. I am aware that female ministers are not more than the fingers on one hand.

In households, women play the lion’s share of nursing and feeding babies, teaching them how to toddle, how to get up straight, run, learn the alphabet and how to read and write. My mother used to play doctor when I got sick! She would rinse some leaves of medicinal herbs and make me gulp it down despite my frantic expression of rejecting. She would scare me that she would call Aya Jebo or the wild beast hyena, which would eat me to its heart’s desire.

Sometimes I ask myself whether our mothers have made us scared of wild beasts, a tendency inculcated in our minds to the extent of our tendency to kill wild animals, like the lion, tiger, leopard or what have you, and had to wear earrings to sport our manhood. My stretched imagination makes me think why we seem to be very keen on killing rather than saving lives.

Take the high tone serenade of melancholic and nostalgic song “Tizita” accompanied by Kirar and Masinqo culminates with the chorus “Aha Gedaye” meaning nothing but praising the “killer”.

On the other hand, when Aster Awoke sings “Ebolala” in Guragna and confesses that she would be better off marrying a merchant, I get the notion that certain communities tend to be entrepreneurs or businessmen. I leave that for research topic for post graduate students to deliberate more on that.

It may be rather strange to note that the scramble for script writing either for films or short novels or even love songs condemns the fair sex for infidelity, for betrayal and similar incriminating plots as if there are no gallant women who have stood their grounds on behalf of the good and respect for fellow mankind in general and their partners in particular.

It goes without saying that if this country is to move forward, be it in the field of economic, social and political development, women must be recognised as equal partners and take their rightful places.


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