Public Agenda (Accra)
Elizabeth Naa Atswei Mensah
5 November 2007
opinion
The bell of gender equity and development in women has been ringing for some time now, but before it can be well heard, the subject must be addressed and discussed at the basic level in the life of every female.
Development starts from one stage to another; and that is why its concerns should begin at the initial stages.
Most women grow up to be vulnerable and intimidated due to some kind of abuse or violence meted on them at their initial stages.
Some of these abuses and violence are defilement, rape, psychological and emotional stress etc.
Defilement is defined as having sexual intercourse with a child who is under sixteen years of age with or without the person's consent.
When children under sixteen years are defiled and the culprits are not dealt with, they begin to feel that it is their fault to go through what happened to them and that they are not worthy.
They feel uncomfortable among friends and relatives and due to that, they find it difficult to approach people to help them develop themselves. To them everybody is the same, nobody cares, and they grow up with this frame of mind.
Children grow with the humor that they are susceptible and anybody or anything at all can tame or daunt them. They think they should always be at the offering side in order to get what they want.
Most victims of such violence and abuses are females.
It is these same children who grow up to be adults in our societies and with this kind of stigma, how do we expect them to feel equal with the opposite sex and become women of substance.
Psychological and emotional stress come as a result of some bad treatment meted to children by wicked mothers, stepmothers, relatives and people in the society in which they live.
These things are ignored at the initial stages of the girl child which they grow with and become part of her social, academic, moral, economical and psychological life.
Most teachers, lecturers and managers tend to take this advantage to lure innocent girls to bed and deprive them of their virginity with the excuse that they will give them better grades or salaries.
Majority of women, especially at the tertiary level will do anything regardless of its implications to get higher grades and when they get to the job market since their grades do not match with their ability, they have to satisfy their bosses before getting jobs.
By critically considering this issue, one will realize that either most of these women were defiled or raped at their initial stages in life or the stigma is still with them.
If this continues the possibility of gender equality will be far fetched.
If the fight for development in women and gender equity will be won then it means women should join hands to fight against basic things that are suppressing the female race.
Women must get on their feet and say no to violence and abuses. They must be ready to report every culprit no matter the status.
If these things are overcome at their initial stages then the achievement of gender equity and development in women will be achieved within a twinkle of the eye.
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