A cry for change

With Women's Day upon us, the air takes on a triumph note as we look at how far we've come in history. Over centuries, women have fought for an equal stance in society, created changes in social attitudes and reformed policies, to get us to where we are today. While there is much to celebrate for, there is also much more room for change. Noted elocutionist Progga Laboni notes that today is a good day to reflect on some of the questions society must ask themselves.

“It is easy to speak about the liberation of women and other issues pertaining to our gender. But what bothers me is the collective social perception of women being inferior to men, and that is the position we have been working from. We are far more superior, and that is why men want to prove us wrong all the time. Patriarchy seems to have existed in perpetuity, and today we must ask ourselves what we really want.”

“We need safety and comfort at work, and venture outside without fear. We need more respect at home and on the streets. The problem in our country is that the law sides with the rich and superior. The police, who should be our protectors, are the members we are most afraid of. In this regard I feel that we are quite behind compared to other counties. In Canada, if you state to the police you are not comfortable with someone within your proximity that is all that is required for any course of action to take place. In our part of the world, women are the victims of violence every day, and their voices are not validated. Celebrating women just this one day almost seems farcical. Everyday should be a day for women.”