The fight against racism, though far from over, is one that has and continues to receive the biggest inputs from almost all human institutions. The fight against apartheid was described by many as, “the world versus racial discrimination’.

The stories of Rosa Parks, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Malcom X, the Legendary Robert Nesta Marley and even the initial chapters of the life and works of the infamous Rev. Jim Jones, all have chapters that make these individuals still relevant in the never ending fight against racism. Rev. Jim Jones holds the record of committing the biggest mass murder in the United States.

Rev. Jones broke away from a church and formed the People’s Temple partly because of racial segregation that existed in the church at the time. Good intentions later turned bad and lots of lives were lost.

Sex and gender, hitherto, was used interchangeably, but thanks to our scholars of modern day dynamic English Language, the distinction is clear. In short, sex is biological or physiological and gender is social or cultural. But with recent developments in the world, these scholars will have to go back to the table sooner than they expected to decipher which one we should pay attention to – the true or previous sex you were born with or the doctored or present sex you acquired? So your birth certificate has ‘M’ and your death certificate has ‘F’. Born a man and died a woman. The ninth wonder of the world is already here. What a wow!

Gender equality is a human right. Men and women are supposed to be of equal political, religious and social value and importance. Biological and physiological make-up should not be a basis to deprive women equal opportunities as men. But this has not been the case since creation or should I say evolution. Why?

Humanity has discriminated against women since antiquity eventually embossing the tag,“the weaker sex “,on them. Not long ago in my beloved country, some very decent ladies were prevented from entering a plush hotel to do “girls-girls” – all girls outing – on a friend’s birthday. In some countries women are prevented from driving, let alone own a car.

Some countries even prevent women from exercising their franchise, which is supposed to be a fundamental human right. There are also some countries where women have a strict dress code and cannot open a bank account without the approval of his husbands.

In fact some women in some countries cannot travel alone without a male escort. I have not been specific in the above instances, not because these are speculations, but because this piece is not intended to attack or label any particular entity.

Some religious institutions have leadership positions solely reserved for men and a woman dare not dream about aspiring or rising to that position no matter her qualification and her capabilities. In fact I am yet to see or hear of any religious institution with a woman as it overall boss or supreme leader. I am yet to hear of a wizard’s camp where wizards are given inhumane treatment.

So what happened to, “ what a man can do, a woman can do better”, “…if you educate a woman you educate a family (nation)” and so on? If these are just gimmicks and have no truth, then I will rest my case and conclude that, the fight against gender inequality is a futile fight and need not continue. Again I have not been specific in the above instances because this piece is not intended to attack or label any particular entity.

Gender inequality is known to be gargantuan barrier to human development that is why it has received so much attention in terms of advocacy and resources. The fight against gender inequality is gradually being won as we see more women in political positions and attain higher and higher positions in religious institutions as well; nonetheless we still remain miles before the last lap.

Politics and religion are the two most powerful institutions that have continuously shaped and ruled the world. Some people who think they have existed independently have proposed a marriage for them while others on the opposite side think that any association they might be in is not benefiting each other and have proposed a divorce or separation. Almost everyone belongs to a political party or a religious institution.

Today the questions I humbly ask are; which of these two institutions through its works and evolution contributed more to the problem of gender inequality and which is also doing more currently to reduce the gender inequality gap? Finally, I also want to ask, which of these two powerful institutions should lead the other in the fight against gender inequality?

Let's get talking again.

 

Dr Bernard Dampson

bernarddampson@gmail.com