Children they say are blessings from God and the fruit of marriage, a successful marriage some
would say. Children whether male or female, should be appreciated and treated
equally. Yes! Because that is how it was designed to be, and is currently been
practiced in most civilized nations like the United States of America. But down here in Africa, especially the eastern part
of Nigeria where I come from, the reverse has become the case.
This age long believes have come to live with us, that I
don’t see it been abolished or changed anytime soon. Families in search of a
male child have been forced to give birth to so many children (female)
all in the name of waiting for a male child.
Why so? I have asked so many women from such homes, and they
keep insisting it’s what their husband, parent in-laws and even their own
parents want from them. These women live a very sorrowful and unfulfilled life,
until they give birth to a male child or more male children. They are daily threatened with divorce, for a
better woman (in quote) that can produce a male child. This fear leaves them
vulnerable to so many child births
against their wishes all in the name of pleasing their husbands and parents.
Consequently, female children from such homes
are made to feel inferior, they feel less important as their fathers feel they
are not child enough the mothers feeling they aren’t child enough to help them
secure their marriages. When eventually
a male child is born to such homes, it is usually accompanied with a wild
jubilation and party to usher in the real “child” and marriage sealer, and thus
the beginning or more sorrow and frustrations for the female child/children.
Reasons are simply that the fathers say they needed a male
child to keep the family name and posterity. My question now is can’t a female
child keep a family name or posterity? Even though she is married out as they
fear, does it really change a thing? Isn’t she still your child.
I am so impressed when I see the western families, been so proud of
their female children, not even minding if they are their only child. They love
them so much, care for them and eventually bring them up with every sense of
pride and responsibility, these children in turn grow up enjoying all the full
rights and privileges.
Why is it not the case with us down here in Africa/. The question
now is who will champion this course, or who is championing the course already
in educating parents especially they African
father, on the need to appreciating their female children as special gifts from
God.
-Stop seeing the wife as a less woman for giving birth to a
female child alone.
-Are there any court of law or a group that these female
children can cry to?
-Are there legislation's
that will prohibit such madness?
Time will really fail
me to talk more, but my real aim is to tell these female children from such homes
how special they are, and should not allow any one ruin their lives or make them feel otherwise, to also make
mothers from these homes to take up cases to court of assaults or molestation's
against them by their husbands or members of their families for not giving
birth to a male child, and finally to plead with men to accept their female children
as special gifts from God, love, protect and make sure they are well empowered
to become better adults, wives and mothers that will carry on with pro-creation
after we are long gone from this planet
earth.
I salute men like the former presidents of the United States
of America. Bill Clinton,George Bush and even President Barrack Obama. Please let our African men learn from these
great leaders, they love their female children and cherish their wives as well
not minding.
From my desk here I wish you a great weekend if there are
campaign groups around you, please do let us know, so that we can join this fight
to protect our Girl child.
Bye
No comments:
Post a Comment