Rev Fr. Dr. Joe Mariadhas, Director
Shalom Rehabilitation Centre
Chumukedima, Nagaland
“A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.”-Diane Mariechild
The quality of our lives depends on the altitude of our thoughts. We live in a world that is changing very quickly and rapidly, thus it has become a challenge to our lives and society in many aspects. Societies are constantly in transformation and its influence in the society is greatly felt by all sections of people. We need to understand our own lives and those that are quite remote from us to realise our need today. Our society is at the wheel of a paradigm change in its growth and its position in the world. Women play a pivotal role in the development and the growth of every society. There is a shift in our way of life from traditional societies to a more independent and self sufficiency. But we should not forget that history has witnessed women who have in the past demonstrated unique leadership capabilities and thus brought change and development to the society. Our women need to think big and scale up rapidly in each and every area, be it education, infrastructure, industry, financial services and in other areas on this International Women’s Day 2013.
God has gifted women with compassion, tender-heartedness, caring nature, concern for others. These are very positive signs which imply that women can be leaders. Though some women have shown their mettle yet a large number of them have to sharpen their leadership qualities in various ways. In order to help women to be in limelight, they need to be empowered. Therefore, empowerment of women is the prerequisite to transform a developing state into a developed state. Empowerment has multiple, interrelated and interdependent dimensions economic, social, cultural and political. Ample opportunities have to be provided to our women today to empower them to take decisions that are wise and developmental oriented. Women have to take initiatives in identifying the social evils that need attention and action to heal the broken world with tender love and care. They are the master pieces created by God to cultivate human values in these challenging times.
Some important qualities that our women need to realize in themselves. They are women's sense of self worth; their right to have the power of controls their own lives, both within and outside home; and their ability to influence the direction of social change to create a just social and economic order in every walk of life. Every woman is capable of creating a change in them and can make a difference in the life of others through their interaction and influence. This is a call for our women today who still wait for someone else to take the lead and thus postponed their call to be a leader. Leadership is not only political or social, it is much more than all these. It is a power that is within every woman to lead, to take control of one’s life and to empower other women who are in need of care and support.
The best gift parents today can give to their daughters is education. Educational attainment and economic participation are they key constituents in ensuring the empowerment of women. Educational attainment is essential for empowering women in all spheres of society. The economic empowerment of women is a vital element of strong economic growth in any society. Empowering women enhances their ability to influence changes and to create a better society. Other than educational and economic empowerment, changes in women's mobility and social interaction and changes in intra-household decision-making are necessary. Traditionally, women basically decide on food preparation and other household activities while men make the financial decision. But the challenge for women today is the increasing number of men into addiction to alcohol and other addictive habits that devastates family life. Our women are forced to take decisions that are vital for family life that affects them drastically.
Women are one of the greatest assets in our society. Women have great powers within to create, nurture and transform. The empowerment process has already begun in our society and our need is proper guidance and intellectual insights. We are now witnessing a steady improvement in the enrollment of women in schools, colleges and even in professional institutes. Their health is better as compared to earlier decades. Women are entering into the job market in increasing numbers. They are showing their skills even in non-traditional sectors like police, defence, administration, media and research fields. Our women need appreciation and recognition for what they do and achieve. Often we neglect to do this thinking that someone else will do it. Time has come to search for these women outstanding in our society and recognize them with awards and rewards. Our women can reach their zenith through empowerment.
A woman is dynamic in the many roles she plays. “Our deepest wishes are whispers of our authentic selves. We must learn to respect them. We must learn to listen.” said Sarah Ban Breathnach. Women have to remember that they are also rational, intelligent and thinking human beings who are capable of handling themselves in any circumstances. Dependent women are not empowered women and they fail to see the capacity of power within. Empowerment means to inspire women with the courage to break free from the chains of limiting beliefs, patterns and societal or religious conditions that have traditionally kept women suppressed and unable to realize their true beauty and power. Innovation is the key to empowerment of women. Our women need to have political, legal, economic and health awareness and knowledge about support groups and positive attitudes towards life. Our young women need to set goals for future and strive to achieve them with courage. It is a wake-up call for women to awake from their deep slumber and understand the true meaning of their empowerment. "Women as the motherhood of the nation should be strong, aware and alert". Innovation is the key to empowerment and development.
By holding a positive focus, our women can begin tapping into a deeper power or ability to create life and change them into the way they wish to be rather than the one they may have settled for. Our women face many social challenges today. We need empower women to face the present challenges by providing tools and techniques that help to eliminate individual stress. A sense of community spirit has to be created that allows women to face these similar challenges as a team rather than individually. There is a feeling within that women never belong wholly to themselves; they are the property of others throughout their lives. Their physical well-being, health, security and bodily integrity are often beyond their own control. But it is not true they are the masters of their own lives and they can shape their destiny. Take courage to change your thoughts and attitudes and that is the beginning of your empowerment.
In traditional societies, even more than elsewhere, women's empowerment does not occur easily or overnight. Creativity and the process of innovation are essential to the growth and well being of individuals, organizations, and nations. Our women have to create the opportunity to learn how they can be a strong positive force in our society and how to pass on our knowledge and experience to others so that everyone will prosper. The time has come to change our attitudes and thoughts for positive and self sustained growth. There is a saying that determination leads to destination, our women need determination, dedication, courage, confidence, clarity of purpose and above all fear of God to change this chaotic world into a society of peace and harmony that will bring prosperity.
You are the amazing gift from God to our families and society. You can make a change and here is a poem recited for you on this “International Women’s Day” taken from Tia Sparkles Singh, 2011.
