By Boma Nwuke
The perception of the woman as a weak gender, whose contribution to society and impact on development is secondary, is fastly changing around the world.
Globally, women are leaving no one in doubt as having the mental development and capacity to improve their societies. From the highly celebrated democratic nations to dictatorial enclaves, the notion of the woman as excellent, indispensable and dependable “mover and shaker” for the good of all cannot be ignored .
From the context of the uneducated rural woman who toils the hard way to sustain her family to the literate urban female worker, the contribution of women is evidential .
The Socialist Party of America had the foresight of the importance of the woman when it organised a Women’s day in New York City on February 28,1909.
German delegates,Clara Zenkin, Kate Duncker and Paula Thiede who in 1910, at the International Socialist Women’s Conference, proposed the dedication of a day annually, to celebrate women were also visionary and undaunted to support and protect their kind.
The suffrage in 1917 by women in the then Soviet Union consolidated the clamour of proposal for a Women’s day.
March 8, therefore, became not only a national holiday in the Kremlin but adopted by many including socialist communist groups, and feminist movement before the United Nations declared it International Women’s Day.
The day is observed differently, by women. The mode of celebration reflects the mood of the women. Where rights are infringed, the mood is dreary, and the day sparks protest. Where there is effective representation and all is well, the mood swings brightness and tone enfleshes praise.
The Aba Women’s Riot of November December,1929 readily comes to mind as how dreary and daring angry women can be. ‘Hell is no fury like a woman scorned’, it is said.
The celebration of the day in countries where women leaders successfully tackled the coronavirus pandemic and other social problems would evoke the saying that ‘What a man can do, the woman can do it better’. lndeed the women, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, New Zealand’s leader, Jacinda Ardern and others made not only their country proud but women and those who advocate and advance a future for womenfolk.
Though the political climate in Nigeria and other countries had not seen the rise of women to the prime office of the land as a result of a clearly demonstrated cleaving to male dominance of power, women can heave a sigh of relief as trends evolving indicate the clock is ticking faster for women to assume the top than it looks.
Kamala Harris is a clear and classic example of history in the United States second most exalted office, The Office of the Vice President. And there is no longer any reason to doubt that a female President might just be in the offing.
In a similar vein, A Nigerian Woman,Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recently became the first African and first female to head the World Trade Organisation (WTO). A feat seen as exceptional, deserving and praise worthy.
Okonjo-Iweala was elected based on her rich resume elucidated in theory and practice that could make even the worst enemy grin.
The likes of Okonjo-Iweala and other internationally distinguished women have given us a clearer direction of the role and place of a woman if adequately supported.
We have lots of sung and unsung women to celebrate. From the rural woman who bears her children and still caters for them doing farming and petty trading to the traumatized widow, the government worker and politician who is discriminated and some times abused, Today is your day.
No matter what! We are proud to be women. Ours is not a cause to challenge the men but crave for patnership and equal opportunities and space with them.
Happy International Women’s Day.
