True Feminine Emancipation?
Feminine emancipation in Nigeria as advocated for by the likes of trail blazing Funmilayo Ransome Kuti and Margaret Ekpo who spearheaded social movements that sought equal right for women in the interest of the women and of the nation, has greatly evolved to receive a warm embrace of the society.
Nigeria has witnessed increased liberation of women from religious, legal, economic, social and sexual oppression over the decades. Women are increasingly finding a voice in these areas, and this is diversely expressed in their upward mobility in politics, corporate and business worlds and so on.
The young generation of Nigerian women is being defined by the discovery of their wings, by the formidable quest for identity that is banging hard on the cage of tradition
With access to resources that previous generations never dreamt of when they were their age, they are sending their minds on an adventure around the global village. Merging their heritage with the beckoning of the future, and finding an expression therein.
However, this diverse expression offers a subtle tendency to reach a conclusion that feminine emancipation is widely understood and accepted, while the percentage of women who are still bound in the dictates of tradition remains enormous.
Many Nigerian women still need to climb on the shoulders of past advocacies for recognition, to confront the new challenges posed by their struggle for freedom.
To realize that true feminine emancipation does not only lie in the acquisitive equality with men, but in the realization of the rich individual potentiality, where the feminine personality reaches its full and liberated potential without traces of passivity.
Inferring from the past what is valuable and merging it with the positive evaluations of the present without listening to obsolete rhymes of tradition.
The question of Nigerian women understanding true feminine emancipation therefore seems largely inconclusive; there has been much progress in identifying with it, but to what extent and by what percentage, remains significant in reaching a conclusion.
11 comments:
I like this post, and the way you write...
Will be back to go through your archives soon
It's good for women to come to the full realisation of their potentials and even discover other dimensiomns to it. However, we should not loose sight of our most sacred calling to be nurturers. What society will become tomorrow is largely dependent on the woman. Not only on a political or an economic terrain. It starts within the 4 walls of a home, no matter how small it's dimensions.
@nilla,
thanks for your compliments,i look forward to more of you.
@ariyiike.
well said. whatever we aquire from the realization of our potentials shouldnt take us away from our homes. it should also equipp us to be more purposeful in playing our nature assigned roles.
smooth,logical,creative n deep.Keep climbing.
@okenwa oko,
thanks a bunch!
Shola, I think that the voice of contemporary feminism in Nigeria is somewhat muted. Naturally, there are a number of factors that can be responsible for this. What is clear though, is that there's a lack of appreciation of the efforts made by Nigerian feminism of yesteryears.
In my opinion, the challenge (but also the solution) to feminine emancipation for Nigerian contemporary feminism, is the marrying-up of a recognition and celebration of the historical struggles and achievements of the Nigerian feminist movement of the past; as well as an absolute determination to secure the betterment of Nigerian women of the future.
In other words, we need to learn from the past and build on it, in order to improve the future!
Nice post.
"To realize that true feminine emancipation does not only lie in the acquisitive equality with men, but in the realization of the rich individual potentiality, where the feminine personality reaches its full and liberated potential without traces of passivity".
That for me is the spirit that we should go by....
Nice one Shola!
refinedone, that also stood out to me as well.
Most women are always trying to compete with men over who is more capable to be successful, have connections, money, power & influence etc ... While all those things are good, let us not forget that we are not in a competition but we are out to make a difference in our world and show that we are a strong people with a strong voice able to achieve our desired ambition. Moreso, we are to be reckoned with in our society.
I still think a challenge within our rural areas greatly hindering our women is lack of education.
...So true Jem.
Educate a woman you educate a genertion.
your post are always interesting, educational and inspiring... great job...
i agree with ariiyike, the liberation of women start from the home... young girls should be brought up knowing they can achieve their dreams....
thanks for stop by my blogging :)
its Kiara Patience from Kenya here! lots of congrats for your nobel initiative. Women need more than mere equal opportunities with men...
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