With the rise and sensitization of women empowerment and their rights around the world, I feel like the term feminism has been hugely misunderstood. The mention of the term has become very uncomfortable for many people. To men, it seems like the women are out here to fight them and take their places in the society while on the other hand women have neglected their natural born gifts to out seat the men and take their place. Again, I insist, gender equality is equal opportunity for everyone to do what feels best in their hearts and minds. Women are powerful and strong in their own right. And so are men, but for this article I will talk about lyrics that remind women of their empowerment.
The lyrics to the song ‘Girl on fire’ by Alicia Keys speaks on the resilience that women have. Despite the living in a world that is filled with catastrophe she stands strong, lights up the world and does not back down. When the world is burning down, she puts her feet on the ground and faces the challenge head on. We have seen such women in positions of power in our society.
Women have been in positions of power since way back in history. Margaret Thatcher was in fact referred to as the iron lady for the way she held her position of power, Cleopatra was known for her rule with superior intelligence and Mekatilili wa Menza led her Mijikenda tribe in the Kenyan coast to resistance against the British colonial rule. These are just a few of the many women known in history and today that should remind us of the position of women in the society. Their gender did not stop them from fulfilling their societal duties.
We have seen women excel in the field of science and have come up with life changing inventions in the society. Hedy Lamar, a Hollywood actress introduced the world to wireless communication that our generation depends on almost entirely. She was a woman of both beauty and brains. This reminds me of the lyrics to ‘Every woman’ by Whitney Houston. Women have always been all round and can adapt to various situations. It is a natural born gift and can deliver anything when need be. “Everything you want done, she does naturally.” and who can forget the contribution and dedication of Marie Curie in the fields of Chemistry and Physics? Women run the world. They are strong enough to have a day job, come home and be the heart of the family, make millions, bare children and get back to business as said by Beyonce in ‘Run the world’.
Tupac Shakur celebrates her mother for putting up with him despite all the trouble he caused during his time. In the lyrics to the song, ‘dear mama,’ he admits that he finally understands that it was not easy for her yet she did it. She was always committed to her children. The emotional support of women had impacts on their children, family, spouses and in the society at large. For instance, Eva Peron to Argentina. She used her position as first lady to speak on behalf of labor rights. To this day she is championed as setting up a position for women.
Princess Diana before her untimely death did a lot of charity work in the third world countries. Elton John in his tribute to her referred to her as the England’s rose. Women have broken bounds of history and fought for what they felt was right for the society, the friendship of Ella Fitzgerald, a woman of color and Norma Jean (Marilyn Monroe) during a time of racial segregation. Marilyn Monroe helped her really close friend, Ella get her foot in the door at a time when black people were not getting much attention. Their celebrity status had an impact on other people, that it did not matter where you were from, we are all the same.
However, with the strength they possess, women should learn to use it for the good of their society. Women have inspired the rise and fall of empires and not for selfish reasons. From the Bible (for non-Christians this is the only religious text I am familiar with), we saw Eve lead Adam to the fall of man that led the entire human race out of the garden of Eden. Delilah used her feminine to find the secret behind the strength that Samson led to the destruction of an entire country.
Pharaoh’s wife used her gender to put joseph behind bars. For those who do not subscribe to Christianity can read some of these texts are stories to get the perspective and the point I am trying to put across. I am convinced that if more women believed in the strengths they possess, they would have dignity for themselves and the world would be a better place. The lyrics to Aretha franklin’s R.E.S.P.E.C.T talks of the willingness of a woman to play her role in your life, only she asks that you find out what respect means to her and give it to her.
One unbeatable strength of women is that they are not afraid to show their emotions. With this they remind us of the most human character we all have and it is being able to show our emotions and understand those of other people. To be of support to those that need emotional support. Trust a woman to put a smile upon your face with her beauty, her curves, her soft skin and the warmth she gives you when she hugs you, as described by shaggy in the lyrics to the song, strength of a woman.
I believe feminism is respecting women’s rights to choose who to be in the society. Respecting their ability to break the glass ceiling. Respecting their resilience to work instead of selling them short for their softness. They have a fire burning inside and can move the society way ahead. The world needs women in their natural gifts and fighting them makes them lose some of it. In the lyrics to the song, ‘keep ya head up’. Tupac reminds us that we came from a woman, got our names from women and our game and we should respect them. Otherwise we will create a generation that is going to hate on women. Real men respect women, and to women, ‘Keep your head up.’