March 8- International Women’s Day Women and War: Who labelled them ‘Weaker Sex’?

• Women have already surpassed men in terms of high school and college graduation rates, globally, as well as in Sri Lanka. Women have outshone men in the fields of Finance, legal, Medicine and even encroached the Engineering field in recent years
• The increased strength in international women’s groups backed by several United Nations women’s conferences has helped as a rallying point to bolster and sustain women’s rights 
• At the turn of the twentieth century, the activities of labour movements in the Americas and Europe caused the birth of International Women’s Day

“I have an idea that the phrase weaker sex was coined by some woman to disarm some man she was preparing to overwhelm.”
—Ogden Nash: 
American poet 

The Russian onslaught has sparked massive dislocations, forcing many Ukrainian women to carry their little ones and flee their homes to neighbouring countries. UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten thinks, ‘it is also putting women at heightened risk of hostility’.  She continued, “Unless the conflict stops, thousands of families will be compulsorily displaced, dramatically increasing the scale of the already dreadful humanitarian situation, and growing risk of sexual violence and abuse.” The involvement of women themselves in the decision-making processes and caring response is therefore necessary to ensure that their civil rights and privileges are sustained. 

The history is full of occurrences where women have made remarkable contributions to their societies. Women have played multiple roles in wars over the centuries, while keeping the home fires burning— they have supported the forces with domestic labour in the early 18th Century, and engaged in nursing positions at the frontline too. Thousands of women volunteered as nurses and participated in war work during the First World War.  Many life-saving procedures they often carried out in spite of working in awful conditions. Due to the huge numbers of enrolled men, more vital roles, including work on the railways, police, factory-work had been entrusted to them.  In the upper classes, women supported the war endeavour by stitching uniforms for troops. Women’s roles extended greatly two decades later, during the World War II. Millions of women were working to provide the military with, ships, aircraft and ammunition. Women were also asked to enlist in military ranks, and seventy per cent of women who joined the army were volunteers. Young single women rushed to work free for the Voluntary Aid Detachment and the British Red Cross.

 “The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.”—Aristotle. However, the validity of this saying [in today’s context] by a philosopher who lived circa 384 BC is questionable.  Women have already surpassed men in terms of high school and college graduation rates, globally, as well as in Sri Lanka. Women have outshone men in the fields of Finance, legal, Medicine and even encroached the Engineering field in recent years.
An emotional meeting between the Buddha and his lay life queen, Bimba Devi took place in Kimbulwatt-pura, 26 centuries ago. King Suddhodana sent a message to Bimbavo, for her to appear before Buddha. She replied in the negative, 

“Surely, if I am worthy of any fondness, Sidhuhatt should come and see me in my chambers”—Yasodhara
The Buddha demonstrating his modest qualities and regard for his former partner in samsara invited his two chief disciples, Sariyuth and Mugalan to accompany him to her chambers. As the Buddha entered her chamber, where she was resting dressed in uncaring fabrics, she was unable to hold her respect. For a moment she failed to remember that the man whom she loved most was now the Buddha, she held him by his feet and cried desperately. 

International  Women’s Day

At the turn of the twentieth century, the activities of labour movements in the Americas and Europe caused the birth of International Women’s Day. It has assumed a new worldwide dimension for women in both the developed and developing countries. The increased strength in international women’s groups backed by several United Nations women’s conferences has helped as a rallying point to bolster and sustain women’s rights.  One of the earliest feminist movements, ‘Women’s Liberation’ has been a continuing encounter for over one and a half centuries. It is renowned for bringing to light the role and activities of women in the socio-political field. The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” 

The day will be marked with marches, talks, performances, rallies and networking events.
Let’s imagine a world free of bias, and discrimination, a world that is diverse, equitable, and gender equal world; a world where differences are valued and celebrated together and forge women’s equality.

‘Wives are mistresses to young men, companions for middle-aged, and nurses to old men.” --Francis Bacon 

They themselves are to be blamed?

When popular male celebrities perform on stage, young lasses who are fanatic music fans invade the stage. They embrace, hug and kiss them; throw their lingerie at them. This weird habit, a frequent occurrence in the Western music world, was once enacted in Sri Lanka as well. Will a male ever think of behaving in such an irregular way? Why do they surrender their chastity to a male through such absurd behaviour and later cry foul?
They should bear in mind that it is the self-esteem and decorum of their womanhood that upholds a dignified position for them in the society. They should not plead, appeal, beg, or grovel. They must courageously stand together, and struggle collectively. International Women’s Day is an occasion to reflect on past progresses. No man can make a woman feel inferior without her consent.

Bhadda alias Kundalakeshi daughter of a rich merchant fell in love with a criminal on a death sentence. Father gets the criminal freed for the girl to marry him. He requests her to a hike up a rock wearing all her jewellery.  Reaching the top, he tells he will now kill her.

 I quote Ms Usula P Wijesuriya’s truly amazing lyrical quality in her adapted version of Theri Gatha titled, ‘The Songs of the Sisters’ …

“Remove your jewels, foolish woman,
Bundle them and hand them quick,
Your time has come, you wayward nymph
Down this chasm you’ll go to your death.”
Bhadda though wayward was sharp in her wits,
She pleaded on bended knee,
“Kill me if you will, these jewels are yours,
But grant me a boon beloved lord,
Let me worship thee once, fore, aft and sides 
Like a true eastern wife extolled in sacred texts.”
“Be quick”, yelled the robber…
“I’ve no time for thee …”
Bhadda worshipped him fore, she touched 
his feet, 
She circled him aft, and with a mighty heave
Pushed him down the precipice.
A deity on a tree watching this tableaux unfold,
Smiled as he said, “Man cannot always the winner be,
Woman outsmarts him sometimes.”
- kksperera1@gmail.com