Live and Let Live.

Due to the civilization process, the exposure of the female child to education and the subsequent campaign for gender equality, women are now more visible in socio-political scene than they used to be. The corporate world buzzes with women occupying key offices in top organizations, Political offices that hitherto were the exclusive reserve of the male gender are now being occupied by women, there are even more female Professors, Engineers, Medical Doctors, Pilots than there used to be; Professions that used to be male-dominated. Several bills to promote gender equality and a fair if not equal chance for both genders have been assented overtime. As a result, the female gender is now more heard in the society and they actively participate in the policy-making process at various levels.
According to various sources however, this revolution has come as a threat to the male who according to various report quoted the “liberation” as a reason to various misdemeanors on their part (women). The African society as a whole believe the man is the head of the family, relegating the woman to the number two position and also believe that since the campaign for gender equality, women are now less submissive to their husband than is expected of them. Some schools of thought have even quoted the increased level of exposure to education as a contributing factor to this development. According to them, learned women tend to be egoistic and over-independent. This is because they are more exposed and knowledgeable than their unlearned counterpart and tend to make decisions for themselves without involving their spouse. The increase in the rate of divorce and the single-parenthood has also been blamed to the recent awareness by women that they are equal and have the same right over matters in the home. This has led to men trying to get into relationships with less educated and less placed women (in terms of occupation) women whom they can control.
Another twist to the story is that despite its supposed embrace of the gender equality movement, the African society still continues to encourage the relegation of women to the background. The female child is continually reminded that her place remains in her husband’s kitchen no matter her level of education. From a very young age she is taught to slave for the male gender and put them first in everything she does; women are encouraged to give up their careers(and lives) so that their husbands do not feel “inferior”, a single lady who can afford a very comfortable life is told by her mother that a “flashy” car will drive away suitors, a lazy who is not married at the age of 30 is seen as unfulfilled by the society no matter her educational and occupational status, there is a level of education a woman must attain so she does not scare men away(PHD is for men), A woman who has a thriving career must have slept her way to the top, one who has the privilege of support from her husband(If he helps in the kitchen or bathes the children while the woman makes ready breakfast) has “jazzed’ him. It has become so bad that women are encouraged to stay in abusive relationships because “men are scare”. A divorced woman is seen as loose no matter the reason for her leaving the union. The men on realizing this demi-god position the society places them start to misuse it. There are situation where a woman is asked to chose between the relationship and her job, the man is supposed to be in control of finances, some men outrightly ask their wives to be full housewives, even those with degrees! Some men are quick to state that it is the uneducated men that treat their wives as slaves forgetting how they react when they get home from work to meet their equally working-class wife still in the kitchen cooking. Even some undergraduate male believe they are superior to the female; at a church function, a brother expected the same sister who served him food to pack the plates he used in eating. These situations have continued to put the female gender in jeopardy. They are restricted and their full potentials not actualized.
However, what the society fails to realize is that a thriving woman is only but the pride of her husband. A woman who is doing well is a bonus to her husband and to the home, even though many will argue that a sit-at-home mom will raise better kids, this has not always been a contributing factor. God forbid a man loses his job; an up-and-doing woman will keep the wolf away from the door until the man finds another job. The argument that women tend to be uncontrollable does not always, a true man is that who can wield authority where and when necessary. A woman is supposed to be a helper for her husband and her place of work does not necessarily have to be in the kitchen. They should help each other and that includes where career is concerned. As a man, let your wife grow and help her grow, not nip her career in the bud while continuing to build yours. I believe if our Fathers wanted us to be full house wives they would not have bothered sending us to school at all. Live and let live!