The recent demolition of Asher Hotel in Barnawa, Kaduna South, the purported venue for a sex party, highlights the age-long moral decadence across youths in Nigeria. Self-worth and moral discipline which are central characteristics of human species are ebbing away. Cultural values which were prescribed by tradition and religion is being replaced with new modern way life of intense love of material wealth and excessive pleasure. While at the receiving end, women’s sense of dignity is being stripped off with the consequences of lacking their decent position of humanity.
Demolition of the hotel for the performance of devilish act is highly commendable, and perpetrators must be brought to book to face the wrath of the law. Authorities and stakeholders should map out policies backed up with real implementation that will guarantee the maximum protection of women and the girl child from public indecency. Immoral act of such magnitude should not be allowed to take place, and the offenders must not go scot free.
The abuse of women and the girl child that society is facing is on the high side. To stem the tide of this social ill, pragmatic measures must be taken for women to reclaim her dignity in the society, because as a mother and wife her stability is dependent on the general stability of the society.
Women and the girl child today have more than their fair share of victims of domestic violence, sexual exploitations, rape, sexual abuse, drug addiction, poverty, illiteracy, and marginalization and many other forms of social vices. They are stripped of their shame and public decency. Being exploited by the sex predators in various industries, women’s glorious position must be restored if society wants stability and peaceful living, because they are the backbone of social harmony.
In order to protect women and the girl child, some state governors introduced draconian law of surgical castration or the death sentence for rape offenders, others spelt out maximum of 14 years jail term. But it is equally important to find out the root causes of the crime and to render psychological help for the victims. Massive orientation campaign should be intensified for the general populace to appreciate women as human beings deserving sympathy and worthy of respect as well as capable of making right decisions in their life.
There must be adequate opportunities for women to participate in public and private affairs. Their inputs in terms of making decisions on every policy implementation should be welcomed. They should be encouraged to have a sense of belonging and social participation. Women must not be subjected to gender stereotype as always ”weaker sex”; there are hundreds of women endowed with knowledge and rational thinking even better than some of their male counterparts.
From creation, women have been playing a key role for societal stability and harmony. She gives birth and provides the basis for education for the child by shaping his world view before his contact with the larger society. With her immense contributions in building society, she influences the world with the type of children she brings forth. Therefore, no society can stand firmly on its feet if women are neglected without proper counseling about their own paramount duty. A woman is the first school for every child and breeding ground for his better life ahead.
Even in developed countries, women are encouraged to get married and to raise children in order to stem the tidal wave of shrinking population. In Europe and South America, some countries grant incentives for women having recognised their key role as agents of social harmony. They are empowered to make their contributions towards developing society as caretakers for societal strength or failure. Therefore, no nation can develop without women’s unrivaled contributions.
It is said if you educate a female child you educate the whole society. It is scientifically proved that a mother has more character influence on the child than the father. Her character and emotion are vital to the child’s development. Therefore, a woman must be trained with the right attitude and character in order to make her a role model of her children. Many social ills in our society today can be curbed if a woman is well-equipped with knowledge and sound character.
For a woman to succeed, beauty is not enough. It may take her into some level- probably illegitimate, but it will not sustain her beyond a couple of years. Women must be contented with their looks by thanking God who has created them that way, and they should not try to look like what media portrays as perfect ideal of beauty which even in reality is not unachievable. Young women should feel self-esteemed and self-confident with their God-given complexion and body shape.
Bearing that there many aspects of life to develop and be successful, women should not get obsessed with their looks. Beauty is relative to time and place. William Shakespeare says, ”Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”. Young ladies should work hard and develop their talents to fulfill their dreams in life of becoming what they want not just to rely on their beauty.
Projecting a woman as an object only capable of selling her beauty and glamour is reprehensible. Women should not feel the same way by posting their beautiful pictures on social media platforms. Experts attribute the causes of incessant rape cases to the way the media portrays women as an object of satisfying a man’s sexual desire. Some organisatios use women as selling point of their goods and services.
Society will crumble if women are denigrated to awful conditions; the sanctity of marriage will be desecrated and there will be no future for the upcoming generation.
Adam wites from Rangaza Quarters, Ungogo Kano.via [email protected]
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