ASSERTION OF PARRHESIA: A WOMEN’S CALL
Free speech in more masochistic society is a bit hard struggle. In a society today, how many among women have taken to a center stage to speak to its performance on human rights specifically the rights of women that are being heard? Having the consideration that efforts to control speech and information are also accelerating by both the government and some private sectors may it be in a form of censorship, restrictions on access, and even violent acts directed against those whose views or queries are perceived to be wrong . It is also notable that women have been fighting all forms of repression of rights and the right of speech around the globe.
In the call of PARRHESIA, it is giving women to speak with frankness though it could lead to a certain danger. It is giving women the real courage to speak their minds in a society that favoured to men better.
In her 2012 report, Shaheed flagged ways in which fundamentalism impinges on women’s exercise of their cultural rights, as when “solo female singing has been banned and restrictions have been placed on female musicians confront disproportionate opposition, including different forms of violence, for acts as apparently performing in public concerts.” She linked culture to violence against women, pointing out that when women try to deviate from the dominant culture of their communities or interpret and reshape them, “they often simple as choosing who to marry, how to dress, or where to go.” — Meredith Tax
Shaheed’s report was a clear manifestation that women are not given equal rights. It expressed subordination of women. It tackled the discrepancy between men and women in a culture of masochism. She has taken a proactive approach to women’s stand for social recognition. She had tried to shift the perspective of seeing culture as an obstacle for women to claim rightful human rights to a perspective that enable women to have equal cultural rights.
Freedom of speech means taking a risk. It is a painful truth that when we advocate freedom of speech, it also mean exposing ourselves to danger and vulnerabilities. Painful it maybe, in a climate of free speech and freedom of expression, a great collective benefit for women can be achieved. It also gives a wider recognition that freedom of speech is vital to equality for women. It is a way too, to turn back the traditional values of mankind where in equality does not need to consider gender.
The subordination of women is basic to all social systems based on dominance. When women go out to streets and demonstrate protests because of the unfair treatments and discriminations, the government tells them to keep quiet. The government will even explain that women are being considered and that women are even in the constitution. They are being given the right to cast votes and to choose leaders whom they think are most qualified. This thing is already such a privilege and a consideration. In that way, women have no right to complain.
However, having been given the right to cast vote does not define and quantify equality for women. To be heard in the society that being ruled by men, being given the right to free expression and being assumed equal opportunity as men enjoy are far important than having the right to vote.
It is evident in the work place how women struggle in order to attain the recognition and credit highly due to them. There are many situations wherein promotions are given to a man than to woman who well deserved it simply because the company has to maintain the established status quo. Since the society thinks that men are tough leaders and have the capacity to handle challenging situations, most credits are passed on to them. This is quite an unfair judgment our society has for women. A good leadership a woman could display is taken as a threat to a system built on gender hierarchy.
A conference on human rights in Vienna declared that all human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated. This means that every society must give treatment to women based on fairness and equality with the same footing and emphasis given to men.
Thus, what men enjoy and claim have to be claimed and enjoyed by women as well. Equal opportunities and fairness in competition may it be in a work place and the like have to be practiced.
It would feel so good to live in a place wherein both men and women are equal members, have the same opportunity to participate all kinds of social activities at will and equally enjoy any political, economic and cultural welfare and benefits.
The recognition of a truly comfortable society is anchored on the social structure that prohibits rigid and stereotyped gender roles. Example of stereotyping is assuming that child rearing and nursing are exclusively women’s roles and the men are the workers, providers of the family, therefore the decision makers.
Each one of us needs to reconsider our assessments and prejudices notions on gender-biased roles so that we will materialized a society where men and women participate together in politics, at the workplace and at home, and lead exciting and fulfilling lives.
