Ayang Imchen
D.Min (Scholar), Discipleship Bible College, Dimapur
Gender equality is, first and foremost a human right. A woman is entitled to live with dignity and freedom. To advance development, empowering women is an indispensable tool. The talk about women empowerment, Gender equality is not new today. The query here is, will it just remain a topic to be discussed and kept written? Even today, women face a lot of discrimination – gender-based violence, economic discrimination, traditional practices etc. From time immemorial, women have been considered inferior to men. The decisions made and the understanding to uplift women in all spheres is still in words and not implemented practically in many areas.
In urban and rural, women are still face hurdles to enjoying her rights. Today, if we look at the place or position where women stand, in the secular world –from the lowest to the highest ranking, women are actively involved and not exempted. Ironically, if it was done through the Patriarchal system of understanding, it is doubtful whether women would be given or allowed to acquire that very position. To attain or acquire a position in secular world, both men and women are treated equally in appointment through various exams and interviews. So, we can say that capable women get through this and acquire the position because of their efforts and not b because men understood that women should be treated equally. It is her hard work and determination that makes her eligible. Therefore, women should also understand that it does have something to do with gender equality. Gender equality goes beyond this – how a woman is respected in her workplace, how far is she given the opportunity inside the workplace and with men.
As said earlier, even though gender equality is understood and talked about by all, women still live behind the fear and complexity of “being a woman” mindset. It is very questionable whether a woman knows and understands her status and role, her rights in society. Compared to the days of the old when the patriarchal system controlled all the societal nature, today we can say and see that even if our cultural system exists, women are given the freedom to pursue their rights. Women today in urban and rural areas are no longer confined to the four walls of the home - the obligation to their family only. We see many women coming forward in both public and private sectors as great successful entrepreneurs and in the highest official position. Some women are breadwinners of the family too. Even in the local markets, we see women vendors actively participating in the uplift of economy. There are many strong capable, learned and educated women today. Their contributions to uplifting women and setting an example for women cannot go unnoticed.
The report in NE News Now, 3 Mar 2019, 44.7 percent of the total workforce are women, it is also stated that the rural sector in Nagaland has a better female workforce participation rate of 52.3% compared to the urban sector which has only 25.9%. There is a huge gap in rural and urban female workforce participation; if we specify what the rural women do, we will find that most of them are cultivators and labourers. Then, Are women satisfied with being cultivators and labourers and being satisfied with percentage as contributors of economy. We can’t say that this is gender equality and that women enjoy full participation without discrimination. Why are women in the majority just in petty jobs without education?
Women are still, silently suppressed and discriminated. Women should open up more and come out from the “inferior complex.” Women are suppressed or held back by many vices. Even though the platform is open, she is still understood in many ways as inferior, which eventually makes her lame. The rationale for women not to come forward is many. It’s not only from the patriarchal set-up understanding but even among womenfolk – lack of encouragement and support from women themselves. It so happened in a village that the Village Council – (the highest governing body in tribal villages), in a meeting decided unanimously to undertake a step or to bring a change, which was not applicable nor contributing for the different societies in the village. So, a women group leader brought up the subject and discussed its drawbacks. She wanted to approach the Council with the problem. But the women in her group were not willing to say, “How can a woman or women question or go against a decision made by the Council comprising of men?” The subject became null and void and the societies were compelled to undertake the council’s decision silently even though it was not appropriate and had a negative result.
Even when men understand and pave the way for women to actively participate equally, if the women themselves do not understand their status and rights, how can we go forward? . Women discouraging women, women being comfortable as inferior and wholly comfortably dependent on men without voicing her rights etc, are some of the drawbacks brought about by women themselves which hinders her quest for equality. Even if women face discrimination and inequality from men , if women themselves continue to understand themselves inferior and discourage the same gender, then it is far from breaking the bias.
The social structure “Patriarchal society” hinders women from fully participating and enjoying equal opportunity in terms of leadership. This debars women from the power structure. Culturally, women in our context are hardly given the platform to talk or deliver on any topic relating to customary laws. This is considered as a men’s topic. Women quietly face economic exclusion, social silencing, socio-political silencing, religiously inefficient when the leadership subject comes up.
Coming to the participation of women in Church, marginalization is felt or seen silently. Even inside the church, women face gender discrimination. To be the Pastor in a church is still not acceptable. It is undeniable very few countable churches and associations have adapted means to pave way for women‘s equal participation i.e. to be a pastor or to be on the Deacon Board. But generally, women are only given second place or position. Women are considered weak and physically incompetent compared to men, and the list goes on. Even if many capable women are deemed to be a pastor, the first preference is a male pastor, whether he is capable or not. Surprisingly, this concept of a ‘male Pastor’ is even accepted by women. Instead of supporting, women support this concept. They totally deny the idea of a female Pastor leading the church, serving in the Lord’s supper, baptisms, weddings etc are solely being vested in the ‘male pastor’. The women leader is the observer and participant only.
Socially, women are termed as just a ‘bunch of leaves’ or ‘no inheritance’ which can be understood as having no identity. Even today, these terms are used verbally and practically, making a woman helpless and powerless. Yes, there are plenty of cracks if we look into the reality of the existing women’s struggle for empowerment and equality. Even if it is understood theoretically, it is not achieved or implemented practically. It has been some decades since the subject- of gender equality - came up, but nothing much has changed. Inequality, marginalization and denial in power structure are still imminent.
Every woman should understand her role in uplifting each other. Women together should work hand in hand to break the barriers which are hindering their growth from achieving more, from having equal participation, respect, and acceptance in society socially, religiously, culturally and politically.
It should be seen or dealt with comprehensively and open-mindedly. Women should come out from the complex of inferiority impacted by the Patriarchal set-up. Women should not think herself, “I am just a woman, what can I do?”. “I am physically incompetent”, “I should be gentle and humble as a woman and stay quiet”. All these voices residing inside women should be silenced. Women should and can do far better than they are today. Let all women support and encourage each other. Let all women understand their worth and equally participate in achieving greater heights.
