Yes, it’s Friday 13th and for some this is a really bad day.
It’s August 2021 and there is an unmitigated tragedy unfolding in Afghanistan.
The women and children of that country have already suffered massively under the ruthlessly mysognistic treatment by the Taliban, and this is being horrifically compounded by the current war. Education of women has been violently suppressed here in recent years. In 2012, 14 year old Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban on her way to school in Pakistan. Having survived the attack, she has been an outspoken advocate for the education of girls on developing countries.Freedom of self-expression for women and girls seems non existent.
It seems horrific that such an ideology still exists in our world today.
While this seems like a never ending war between fighting factions for control of a country – it also occurs like a gender war – a war on women – where their ‘minds’ are at stake. They are systematically undermined, undervalued, and severely under-represented in any leadership positions.
What is happening in Afghanistan is an extremely exaggerated version of what could still be happening in many aspects of our more enlightened societies.
Women are not spared from violence in their own homes.
Women seeking justice do not always have full faith in the legal system.
Sometimes the Health Care system lets us down.
Women are not seen as equal ‘partners’ in co-creation on this planet.
It is not all that long ago ( in the great scheme of things) that educating women and girls had to be avoided at all costs.
Women only got the vote in western countries early in this century.
There is still a gender pay disparity .. as if women’s work is not seen to be of equal value to their male counterparts.
Women are more easily subjected to feelings of guilt and shame – often the response to a childhood or adolescent experience of abuse. The #metoo movement didn’t come as a surprise to too many of us!!
Why was the reality of educating women so hard fought for?
Why does the thought of empowering women seem so difficult?
Would giving women more power be such a problem?
Do women occur as a threat?
What is the threat?
Quoting Nelson Mandela “Education is the most powerful weapon we have to change the world”.
Countries that resist educating women and girls are doomed to remain in ‘the dark ages’ – existing in a world of fear, ignorance and hate.
Like the unequal global distribution of life saving vaccines puts us all at the risk of a new viral variant, the unequal distribution of education puts us at risk of another 9/11.
Ignorance, fear and hate are lethal weapons. Educating women will educate an entire society. Education and empowerment. These women are victims of a brutal system. It is an alien concept to think that women would want to bring children into the world who are destined to brutalise other women and children. They live with this horror. Women are being forced to perpetuate this vicious cycle. These women – and child brides – are being ruthlessly used to breed more ruthless soldiers. Only the education and empowerment of women will break this cycle.
This cycle could be broken in our lifetime. We have the means to educate the world at the touch of a screen with our modern technology.
We must act fast … and not wait for a better time … or more favourable circumstances. Procrastination never helped anyone. If a child is drowning .. you don’t wait too see if they can save themselves!! You dive in.
If you see an opportunity to help, please seize it. If you don’t see one, perhaps you could create one.
We must learn the lessons of the past or we will be doomed to repeat them. We have learnt a lot in this country about keeping secrets and trying to cover up the lies! ‘Truth is the only daughter of time’.
We also know the power of community (and conversation) and the danger of isolation.
There are still women afraid to speak up and tell the truth. There are men afraid to speak up and tell the truth.
We must encourage everyone, especially girls and women, to speak up and tell the truth, and then we must empower them to face their ‘attackers’ and then we must support them on their journey. ‘Coming out’ may be one thing; Staying out is another! We must learn to trust one another. Other women are always our best friends in this life.
Who will come out and stand for the women of Afghanistan?
Can we just watch from the sidelines and say ‘we’re ok’ – or turn away – we don’t want to see – or just ‘turn a blind eye’ like we don’t actually see what we’re looking at? ‘There are none so blind as those who will not see’.
Are we closing our eyes and ears to their cries?
Our sisters are suffering.
We may not be in a position to help the women of Afghanistan but there may be women in our own community who are suffering degradation, violence or subjugation.
Be a listening ear for the quiet request for help … and for the silent scream.
Your listening may be all they need.
xx
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