Challenging Culture
by larawilliams | October 5, 2010 at 11:57 AM
In our society the most resistant thing to change is the cultural mindset of our people. Culture is such a power tool that it affects every facet of our lives and society.
It is almost impossible to carry out a simple project without the interplay of culture in the realization of any work, be it social, economic, political or even academic in my society.
However the changes in culture are first personal before they are societal. In our community, women are to be seen and not heard. However how is that possible? We work, we take care of parents, siblings, our homes, husbands, children, we work at jobs for income generation, we work in society to keep its engine running effectively. So how can women be seen and not heard??
But its the women themselves that create such constant pressure that hold the cultural status quo in place, especially in the local villages where obeying the cultural traditions are the norm.
'Umuadas' are the guardians of burial ceremonies in Eastern Nigeria. These are older women who are also widows and have undergone horriffic, really horrific traditions that are extremely harmful to the well being of anyone talk less of a woman.
However, these Umuadas see to it that the same and even worse fate is meted out to other women who are brought to them in widowhood.
To bring change, these Umuadas must realize to change the culture, they have to resist the call to illtreat women when the men who are the community leaders tell them to do so.
Pulsewire is a great network to expand the exposure of women in grassroot communites whereby they can stand against abuse, violence and harmful traditional cultures. Through the internet women can connect and share stories and then change will come
Comments
You Have Said it All
Dear sister,
You have said it all but we have to rise up to the occasion, raise our voices whenever we have the opportunity.
Like this Umandas, we can put pressure on them through writings and other Network.
Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for highlighting
Thank you for highlighting the importance of cultural attitudes in community development work. I hope that you are able to continue to work on this front.
Nureen.
I find your post really
I find your post really interesting, and I really appreciate your sharing of how sometimes it is the traditions and rituals in our cultures and communities that contribute to attitudes about women. I know that it always has to start with me, right? I have to change one thing about the way I approach people, and hope that it spreads. Good luck as you work to make sure women are heard in your community!
Dear Jen, Like you said - it
Dear Jen,
Like you said - it starts with me. To transform others I must first be transformed. As women we are assets everywhere we are and we have to acknowledge that first to ourselves and then we can to others.
Dear Jen, Like you said - it
Dear Jen,
Like you said - it starts with me. To transform others I must first be transformed. As women we are assets everywhere we are and we have to acknowledge that first to ourselves and then we can to others.