In Praise of Women

This week was all about “Fathers’ Day.” The media, the web, everybody’s talking about the day; how fathers are important in the lives of their children, the good deeds fathers do, …  All these are great, giving credit for the man of the house.

But today, all these have changed dramatically. And it was all because of 18 women, collectively named “Lucy.” The Ethiopian National Women Football Team beat its Tanzanian counterpart 3-1 on aggregate to qualify for the 8^th African Women Cup of Nations to be held in Equatorial Guinea in November. Everyone here is happy about it. Their victory has, once again, brought joy to the football fans who are still looking for such success in the men’s department for the last 30+ years. These women have proved to the nation that they can put a smile on everybody’s face, among other things.

I have come to know a lot of women who stood against the odds to succeed in life, and bring change to others. My mother and my sister are, for once, among those who faced a lot of challenges, and became outstanding leaders at home and/or at the workplace. Other women that I know from different walks of life have managed to overcome norms of the society and contributed a lot to their localities, and to the world.

In Ethiopia, views towards women are mostly discouraging. Our proverbs, sayings, and beliefs all have been degrading women for a long time. But now, things are changing. A number of women have reached to levels that were once considered the “Man’s sole territory.” It’s a fact that is hard to swallow for a number of men; some even claim the women got these chances thanks to their “womanhood.”

As a man, I can understand the men’s frustration. That’s how we are raised to think. Add sexist ego to it, and the mix is quite bitter. But we must admit; this wasn’t always the case. Some women may use their charm to achieve their goals, but I can say, with full confidence, most of the successful women have worked hard to make their dreams a reality. And for that, we must give respect for our women. Besides, women are humans too. Also, as Shaina Twain puts it, they are “not just a pretty face.”

I never wished to be a woman, and never will (no offense, ladies). But I wish I had a fraction of the self-confidence, determination, and compassion these successful women have exhibited in their journeys to success in mine. That’s what we all need to have in our hearts, if we truly want to be “perfect” in what we do in our lives. What our female footballers have given the Ethiopian people today and the years before is far greater than the game. They have achieved all this without adequate assistance from the concerned parties. They proved to us one outstanding fact. Women can change the world. Women are mothers, care-givers, hard workers, lovers, wives, and many more. They can create something out of nothing. So let’s praise them, give them their proper places in the society.