Asian Women and Their Needs

by SMK Anwar

March. 10, 2007

Allah (God) created Adam from the clay, but he was alone and started feeling restless, so Allah took out his left rib and created Eve (Hawwa). Different religions have different beliefs about the creation of humans, but we all have in common that we have men and women. Women are equal to men in our society. We can not minimize their importance simply because they are girls, women or female. If this important creature does not exist, then it will be very hard to keep a balance in our society. There are cases in some parts of India that the gender ratio has been changed and now it is hard to find a bride for the groom. In some other parts, the female ratio is high and there are lots of girls waiting for the right man. Who is to blame for all of this inequality? Isn't this our own man made crisis?

Asia is the most populated continent in the world: more than half of the population of the world lives in the region. It would follow that more than half of the world's female population lives in this area. One of the shames of this region is that we have so many red light areas, where sex is sold for some money. Some places in our continent are considered to be havens for any kind of sex. There are even some that are very famous in India. I do not think any of these women who are involved in this trade willingly pushed themselves. There was a time when all of these women had dreamed that they would have a husband, babies and home, but their dreams were shattered by some selfish people who either wanted to enjoy their nights or wanted to make some quick bucks.

Nowadays, everybody is looking for their rights, but no one likes that they have some responsibilities, too. We do not understand there are two Rs, not just one. We demand something, convinced of its necessity, but when it comes to fulfill the obligation, we conveniently ignore or neglect it. In a different way, this is also true for women. In their push for social equality, some big issues are being pushed aside. Sure, some chores can be shared, but some things are not in the realm of duty to be shared. We are made in two different genders by God. Two completely different identities for two different purposes. What is wrong with men going out to earn the bread, and women staying home to take care of children and the house? A more traditional role does not have to mean that women are less appreciated and valued as members of society at large.

The Taliban banned education for women. Education should be compulsory for everybody. Knowledge is power. Educated women can better understand the important roles of nurturing and mothering. There is no more powerful model and attachment than our mothers. Many women hold high positions in our society, but we have some problems here: to build their career, many women are neglecting the important part of being a mother. Some women do not like to be married, and some married women do not like to be pregnant, and some mothers do not wish to breastfeed. They feel breastfeeding will make their figure bad. Breastfeeding is very important: this not only makes a better immune system for the baby, but it creates and strengthens a bond between baby and mother.

Poverty in Asia is a big reason that our women are illiterate. There are still areas that place heavy emphasis on training boys and ignore the needs of girls as far as education. Getting married too early or, alternatively, very late, is a becoming a problem in our society. It should be when a young woman fully understands what is right and what is wrong. She should have a clear expectation about her role in her new home, and she should be assured that she will be treated fairly and respectfully. Many husbands think their wife is just a thing to use and play with. We all know of men who feel their wife is too old, and they want a younger one. These kinds of men cast their wives aside without so much as a thought for their wellbeing. How many women are abandoned in this way year after year?

Women are stressed by poverty, too many children and husbands who do not work due to lack of opportunity, or a simple lack of ambition. As in many other countries, some husbands are alcoholics or drug addicted. For some men, the wife is suitable for the bedroom, with no thought about her dignity or humanity. Divorce is becoming more common, and families are shattered daily. Still men do not understand their responsibilities towards their own kids.

Life is not a bed of roses for many Asian women. Due to difficult circumstances, they are the sole bread winner for their family. We do not seem so mindful of an adage: Behind Every Successful Man, There is a Woman. I know that every bad situation that women find themselves in can not always be the fault of a man, but it is my opinion that the cases where a woman is at fault are rare.
 

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