A CALL TO TREAT WOMEN WITH PRIDE AND DIGNITY

1.0 Introduction

In the era of globalization, modernization, and rationalization, one thing which is most applauded about is the pride and dignity of every being. There are universal conceptions and misconstrued arguments to the position of a woman in the society. For me, these are universal human problems that have to deal with the structure of human consciousness which always seek its autonomy outside the foundation of its unity. They are universal human problems, just as the phenomenon of excessive self-interest is human problem beyond races, nations and religions. Where we are not able to manage our tension-laden existential situations well, we are likely also to develop a divisive exclusivist type of mindset which evokes those problems we abhor. Looking at the widespread of these notions held in regards to the equality, pride and dignity of a woman; one will be tempted to tag these divergents views as paradox. This is a paradox and the tragedy of human ambivalent existential situations. It becomes very clear that hardly any human problem is a localised problem. Those who think that the call of treating women with pride and dignity are typical problems of any region of the world must think again.

The thrust of this article will be to unravel the immediate need to have a rethink, a universal common ground on the human existential situations hovering over the pride and dignity of a woman using dogmatic postulations to reconcile my claims.

2.0 The Need to Treat Women with Pride and Dignity

The strongest force that lies at the core of all human interactions and relationships is dignity. Human yearn for it at personal, social, and professional Levels. Everyone wants to be treated well with dignity. Yet, not everyone gets their fair share of it. Now, you will understand why I had to tag it: “The Paradox of Human Existential Situations”. In a situation where a woman’s pride and dignity is trampled upon, one immediately cast their minds on the concept of slave morality. Depriving the human person to access what nature had given freely without a price. There seems to be a big lacuna in some parts of the region. Sadly, in the African setting, the men load it on the Women folks, even at the esteemed workplace where she can prove herself itself becomes the place where her wings get clipped. Statistics has shown that, only 34% of women in the African continent are actively in the decision making and at the helm of affairs in politics compared to other nations. This is sad to note, as women here[Africa] are been relegated and limited to perform some household jobs and other domestic needs. In our local parlance, women belongs to “The Other Room”. What this means is simple, that women are vehicles of sexual gratification alone. The big question is: What becomes the pride and dignity of an African woman ?

Today, world leaders, politicians, the church and youth; and even the laymen talk about the blurring gap between men and women. But the irony is, it is all loose talk in the air, because when the time comes to execute it practically, women are always portrayed as weaklings. To take oneself to be better than other-simply as human-amounts to a denial that others share the same state as human. This can lead to a denial that others are owed the same forms of respectful treatment that we are, and hence a willingness to treat others in ways that we would consider out of bounds for ourselves. As a Catholic priest, I believe that: “ Dignity, Pride and Respect should be the core of every human being”. But the case is totally different today, as most women are denied of their identity, some being subjected to a desperate dignity. Our sense of identity becomes defined by what we do rather than who we are. Protecting people against such loss of pride is of utmost importance; personal dignity is vital to human well-being, since personal dignity depends on having a certain amount of pride in oneself, pride too is vital to human well-being, and ought to be protected.

As rational entities, we are bound by duty to treat one another with utmost dignity and respect. In his Critique of Practical Reason, Immanuel Kant writes: Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe the oftener and more steadily we reflect on them: The starry heavens above me and the moral law within me. This state to the fact that, we owe duty and moral obligation to act in a certain way.

3.0 The Biblical Notion of Pride and Dignity

Male hierarchy over women is not God’s original design; as scripture recognizes the equality of the human person . At creation , God created Adam and Eve ; male and female .He gave them charge over creation cf Gen 1:28. Complementarity was the purpose of creation not subordination. For this a man will leave his fathers house and be United to his wife , the two shall become one Mt 19:5 and Gen 2:24.

We see how women played important roles even in salvation history . We recognize figures like Esther whom God used to save his people cf Esther 5-10, Elizabeth the mother of John described as a woman who was "righteous in the eyes of God, careful to obey all of the Lord's commands and regulations" (Luke 1:6), the blessed Virgin Mary LK 1:26-28 and Mary Madaline who was the first to discover that Christ had risen from the dead .

It was at her promoting that the other disciples ran to the tomb to discover that He is no more but risen .
These and in many other places has the woman played important roles no less than man.

From the scripturally instances given, it is crystal clear that, holding a different view suggest subjectivism and not objectivism.

4.0 The Way forward and Conclusion

From the foregoing, the tone is clear that, there is a missing link in the service human beings render to each other. The service of treating the woman with pride and dignity. I wish to implore the principle of human integration which states thus:” All human actions are geared towards the joy of being.

The subject-object divide & tension, which is inherently in all beings pose a huge challenge towards the realization of the issue of pride and dignity in women. The need therefore, to adhere to a universal cultural norm that seeks to unify diverse cultures through its methods of dialogue and polylogue will go along way in addressing these concerns.

Finally, I remain committed to the insight that human beings ought be treated with pride and dignity despite our various cultural beliefs. Many folks seek to steer a course of a more liberal stand on the said discourse. How successful such approaches can become depends on how adequate their methods are towards addressing the conflict arising from the structure of human consciousness. We are indeed coevals in advocating that women should be treated with pride and dignity.