Celebrating Women Amidst Gender-Based acts of Violence.
Yesterday, the world celebrated International Women’s Day. The day came while the pains and trauma remained fresh in the Forest Road ladies’ mind. In the minds of millions of ladies in the country reigned fears of falling victims to such assaults.
From the onset, let me say categorically that the incident at Forest Road was wrong and barbaric. Sometimes such behaviors become the stepping stone for taking us back to where we came from, although most of the time, it gives us the wake-up call we need to ensure we are on course in the fight against gender violence of whatever nature and magnitude.
Is letting the law take its course a tall order? Even if we have lost faith in our judicial systems, don’t we think there are other appropriate means to justice than violence? Why should it be that the loss of life and destruction of property is the black man’s first step for serving justice?
If anything is to worry us, it should be the woman’s place in modern society. Cases of violence against women are on the rise. Most of these are being experienced in family setups and are leading up to heightened levels of suicides and murders.
Looking at social media yesterday, and as it has always been, people celebrate women in their diversity. We celebrate women more than they celebrate us men. And I am not complaining, it is a simple fact that we have come accustomed to.
On that day, people go on to list all the praises and adjectives that come to their minds for their mothers, sisters, wives, female friends, workmates et cetera. Even on other days, aside from International Women’s Day, men still celebrate the central role women play in our lives.
Then an act, such as the one that happened on Forest Road comes to play and we start wondering if some of the men wear different characters depending on circumstances. That at other times, the men ranting praises on women forget all about the praises and rain animosity.
Playing along with the man whose life and songs and fantasies are all on women, then the right thing to do is ensure that even in the face of wrongdoing, the individuality and privacy of the person is safeguarded as well as life.
Yesterday, in looking at the milestones made in promoting gender inclusivity, parity, equality, and equity, I smiled and frowned at the same time. I did a post on this site a few days ago on the strides Kenyan Women have made towards occupying positions of influence in the boardroom tables.
I celebrated them and the country at large for making it happen. Yet a few days later I could see that despite all those strides made, partly to say, a lot of the women are still enclosed in their cocoons, not out of choice but because circumstances have pushed them to and society seems to have looked the other side.
Besides the few instances that come to the public domain, how many more cases of women are suffering in silence? How many of them face such harassment and videos don’t get taken to be posted on social media so that we can see them. When others celebrate such a day as of March 8th, what of those who don’t think there is anything to celebrate about?
The day came and went yesterday, yet for me, it was just but a continuation of a journey in my pursuit to ensure that our women are protected and cared for. It was another opportunity to continue the rallying call for gender inclusivity, equity and raise alarm against gender-based violence.
That way, in looking at the strides that could have been, a year from now in 2023, I will have a reason to celebrate the women in my life. And they, too, will have a reason to celebrate and smile. After all, we ought to celebrate more the small strides we make than the big ones.
It is the small strides that amount to the big ones. It is the small ones that amount to the journey. Commit yourself today to the cause of gender inclusivity, say no to gender-based violence, promote gender parity and equity, and together we shall hold hands and have a reason to celebrate another International Women’s Day in the year to come as we shall for International Men’s Day.