In nations and communities where a woman’s right to choose her husband is trampled, condemnations on the Internet will not alter the reality on the ground, unless proponents of anti-women practices read the words of their neighbours online.

Unless one’s remarks online are read and discussed by persons in the real life community, such online rebukes have no effect. Perpetrators need to perceive that opposition to their misogyny is real, indisputable and near.

Persons who are accustomed to planning violence against women must be shown that someone whom they know despises the way they treat women.

Right thinking persons in the society, neighbourhood, and home have the duty to pioneer social justice, raise the voice, and stand against misogynistic cultures.

Advocacy for women’s freedoms should not wait for group action.

One can demonstrate that an individual can create positive social trends by living on the principle of social justice for women – friends and foes.

A false flag, in addition to online condemnations, is to disguise misogyny with a presentation of achievements of women in the community.

If a woman has been the president or prime minister, of what significance is that, if a woman is not safe in front of a court, considering the judiciary is an arm of government?

If a woman can be a pilot of an airplane, that matters not, if another woman is denied the right to pilot her affairs.

If a woman is a Professor in the university, what academic accolade is available to the woman down the street, if the society frown at the education of women?

If a woman is a medical doctor, of what use is that to the woman denied healthcare by her husband?

If a woman attains the position of director of a multinational corporation, of what relevance is that, if male members of her family direct her life?

The advancement of a woman is a source of glory for that individual woman and all women in general only when she reserves the right to:

a) Think without concerns over offending men.

b) Speak without uttering the words penned by men.

c) Walk without a male bodyguard.

d) Dine without waiting on a man to complete his meals.

e) Choose without consulting men.

f) Decline without being disowned by male family members.

g) Smile without being slandered.

h) Learn without considerations of family tradition of prestige.

i) Socialize without obtaining male approval.

j) Abide by the very same social rules as a man.

We all have a responsibility to effect changes beginning with self.

A third camouflage is to attribute repression of women to illiteracy. Several persons who hold anti-women views are educated to the tertiary level. Many come from affluent households.

It is worth noting that this publication, in no way, dismisses behind-the-scene roles of women in social injustices against other women.

•Umm Sulaim is the Publisher of Umm Sulaim’s Thoughts (https://iamummsulaim.wordpress.com).

Copyright © 2019 Umm Sulaim. All rights reserved.

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