“Wives, submit
yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the
head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the
saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the
wives be to their own husbands in everything."
Ummmmm… I need to let
this one sink in!
So a few months ago, after
coming to my brother’s house to pick up my 2 “monster-angels” after work, I
asked my son who came in their kitchen to look inside the pots on the stove a
couple questions. It went something like this:
“Did you have diner already? Are you hungry?”
He quickly answered, “Yes I’m
hungry and no I haven’t.”
I kept doing whatever
it was I was doing in the kitchen and after a few minutes I realized that my
son had left the kitchen, although I couldn't recall him fixing himself a
plate…
“Baby did you fix yourself something to eat? Didn't you just say you were hungry?” I asked him as I found him sitting in front of the TV in the living
room
“Oh… I thought you were going to fix my plate…”
He replied…
Naaaaah, I just didn't hear that… He has to be joking, right? Was it an episode of “Prank my mom” that
someone set me up on? Well no… My little man is actually sitting down,
oblivious and we are staring at each other. The whole time I was thinking, “My
son just lost his everlasting mind!” And he was just there, with an innocent
look that says “did you hear me mom?”
“Get your butt up and go fix your plate now!”
“Its okay mom, I’m not hungry anymore” (is he trying to guilt trip me? Really!!!)
“I said NOW!”
Is this what our
little ones are learning when seeing women doing nice things for the men in
their life? I know my sister-in-law (90% of the time) fixes my brother’s plate
and my children’s plates because of a habit she doesn't mind having. I also,
will fix their plates (more often than I would fix the hubby’s) however; that doesn't mean that it is a duty and an
expected obligation.
So let’s fast forward
to this weekend. I was having a great time with one of my favorite couples, “NicMuiks” (a nickname given to my
cousin and her hubby – a combination of their first names, like “Brangelina”) who
were in town for my brother’s 50th birthday celebration. As usual, there
were good times, us teasing each other, laughs and smiles, never ending
conversations, storytelling, and drinking. Then, all of a sudden we’re in this
convo about how times have changed. We’re suddenly talking about how today’s woman is not the dedicated woman she used to be back in
the days, and how “emancipation” has apparently changed things. WHAT!? And
apparently, how today’s woman has
forgotten where her place in society (and family dynamic) is. She has chosen to
not recall when she is supposed to speak, eat, or display any brain activity…
And while the hubby and my cousin’s hubby relentlessly continued to
ruffle our feathers, he actually remembers a story that leaves me speechless
and had me wondering if we will ever escape “the inferior species” label we
were so graciously given…
I’m going to try and
remember the story as best as I can, but trust… you will get the gist of it… So,
my cousin’s-hubby’s-brother had a “traditional” engagement ceremony where the
father of the bride to be wasn't present for the event as he was home in Africa.
He was represented by his brother and the rest of his family who at the time
lived in Europe. At some point (after the ceremony) a video of the festivity
was brought to the father. Everyone was sitting down - watching, commenting,
and enjoying watching the event when all of a sudden the father’s voice rose up,
while asking to slightly rewind the tape; to which someone quickly obliged. He
looked at the rewinded part and all of the sudden a look of disappointment came
over his face. He right away called his daughter and asked, “What is this? How can you let this happen?” He was referring to part
of the footage where his daughter’s new fiancé reached out and fixed himself a
drink. The patriarch was ashamed and highly upset that his new son-in-law to be
was seen serving himself a beverage during an event that was supposed to honor
him (follow me here…his daughter’s engagement however her fiancé was the one
being honored…yes!).
This is a true story
which happened within the past five to six years… This is a true representation of the culture that surrounded me while growing up. Culture can change, culture are meant to evolve and this is one of those I wouldn't mind seeing move forward instead of staying at a standstill...
Back in the Stone Ages, history has women
being generally viewed as being inferior to men; a view commonly accepted by
both men and women. Women were taught at a very young age how to behave and the
importance of being obedient to their husbands; quiet and humble. But I’m
talking about the 21st century… I’m talking about right now… I’m
talking about the perception that society has about us women.
Aren't the days of food gathering and hunting over? Aren't the days of child-bearing,
child-rearing, and being wife-and-maid in your own home (as the sole
responsibility of a woman) over? Haven’t men realized that you don’t need big
muscles any more to do their work but an educated brain? Aren't the days when women
were considered being primarily put here to be submissive over? Aren't the days
when we were merely the other side of the coin gone?
Napoleon said, “Give me good mothers and I
will give you a good nation.”…
We (no matter what class standing we belonged to in society) would be expected
to be good housewives and experts in anticipatory service for our male
counterparts. The main responsibility of a woman is to preserve the human race.
As a mother, we have a very unique stand; we bring up children with extreme
care. The first school of a child, all that he/she learns is from the mother’s
mouth, while sitting on the lap of his/her mother. It is quite true that great
men had great mothers. The progress of a nation depends upon the way the
mothers bring up their children. While Women played a very vital role in human
progress and had a significant place in the society for that reason, it is even
still more than often, always in the background of men.
Men and woman have been rightly compared to
the wheels of the same carriage. We are not inferior to men; we are capable of
handling and sharing all of life’s responsibilities and while we do it, we also
preserve our compassionate, nurturing side that makes us natural at being
considerate of other people.
But considerate doesn't translate to being
a servant, at least not in my book. "Serving" anyone isn't any
instinct of mine. I try to be a good hostess when others are in my home, but
that's because it's polite. I enjoy, at times, fixing (for the ones in my
household) their plates or getting their drinks. And when I do, it’s because I
feel like doing it and not because it’s a duty; an obligation of the female
gender. In my home, it has to be a give and take... We are considerate of each
other, serve each other, and help each other... Because it's the right thing to
do and it is how you treat people you care about. You do this to make life
easier at a particular moment for your loved one(s). I serve because I love and
not because it’s a requirement in “wifey-hood”, “motherhood”, “sisterhood”, or
any “hood” we can come up with! I can
recognize when I’m being taken advantage of, when my kindness is being taken
for granted and trust I can nip it in the bud just as quickly, as the thought
of the expectation is being formed in one’s brain!
While I enjoy bringing ease, support, and
comfort to my loved ones, it is unfathomable to me to accept that today’s
society still believes that we (women) were put here on earth for the mere
simple reason to be of service to the men in our lives…
I’m not here for your pleasure! This includes
viewing pleasure, entertainment, physical/mental enjoyment, and any other act that makes us into toys for your amusement.
I’m here for both of our pleasures, I’m here because I love and want the best
for us.
Let’s make sure we
teach that no one is entitled to anything from another human being and to keep
expectations to the reciprocity of what we are willing to give! Servitude is a
mutual benefit and not a one way action…
No one can make
you feel inferior without your consent.
~Eleanor Roosevelt
RosieSandz