Craig’s phone rang almost immediately after they were done eating. It was his mom calling to remind him of his sister’s wedding and to relay the doctor’s report on his dad’s health to him. He finally answered the call after Mrs Jackson’s (Craig’s mom) fourth trial.
Craig’s countenance changed as soon as the call ended. He seemed noticeably uneasy. Lola couldn’t help but ask “what is the matter with you? Is everything ok?” Craig tried to act as though nothing was wrong and that he was fine, but his countenance kept giving him away.
“I understand that I am a stranger and should not for a reason whatsoever, pry into your private matter. But you never can tell. I may be able to help. But there is no way I will be able to do that without knowing what the problem is. So, you should speak up.” Lola attempted to persuade him.
“Worry less Lola, I can handle it,” Craig said, with so much doubt written all over his face. Lola stared at him blankly, looking straight into his eyes. Craig felt uncomfortable and then muttered “it’s late already. We should get going.” After about a minute of silence, Lola succumbed.
They were both silent while Craig was driving, until the reporter of the radio station they were tuned in to, asked their guest “what is feminism?” Craig quickly increased the volume to hear the guest’s view of feminism.
The guest then responded, “feminism means I, as a woman should be entitled to the same opportunity as a man wherever I find myself; at my place of work, and in society as a whole.
“I should be respected and not be looked down on, because I am a female. More focus and concerns should be based on my qualifications, capacity, and capability, and not on my gender.”
“That is it!” Craig said in agreement. “I am actually not finding this funny anymore. I mean it used to be this, which this woman has.
Craig retorted that feminism advocates that women be treated equally just as men. Fortunately, the movement has enjoyed tremendous success over the years. All thanks to the women who stood up for it.
“Nowadays, what some women do in the guise of fronting the course of feminism could be termed as prejudice against men.
“The philosophy that “what men can do, women can do better” has become lethal and could blow up in the faces of women who advocate for such.
“It just so lacks a sense of good reasoning to think or expect that two fundamentally different beings be, and act as the same.
“Feminism is not going about saying or thinking men are the same as women or women are the same as men. Some ignorant women fueled by hate and past experiences must stop going about spreading such hate under the umbrella of feminism.
“Many women whose associations or dealings with men have been pathologized, fail to see the difference between male capability and competence, and male tyrannical power because all they see as a gender called “male” is an oppressive figure, most likely, because they were ill-treated by men while growing up.
“Their experiences may have hurt so badly that any differentiation may never occur, but they need to have experiences with good men too, for them to see the difference because they need to know that there is a difference.
“I will advise that women, don’t go about thinking they should get a job or an opportunity merely because of their gender. They must also rid themselves of the claim that men get what they want because they are men.
“They must come to term and to the realization that on this space called earth, everyone earns things because they deserve (work for) them not because they are a woman or a man. THE UNIVERSE DOES NOT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN GENDERS.
If one’s gender predisposes them to success and opportunity, why then aren’t all males successful? Or haven’t you seen a male beggar or criminal? Why are the majority of inmates in our prison cells mostly males, when in fact there are more females in the world than males?
Or what do you think about Craig’s analogy? Should we then wait for Lola’s response next week?
To be continued….
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