Written by Dr. Sandra Nabachwa (PhD)
Dr. Sandra Nabachwa is a Director Uganda Martyrs Pro-life Apostolate (UMPA) – Kampala Archdiocese
The Future Tragedy Of Empowering The Girl-Child Without The Boy-Child
Empowering women and the Girl-child is an agenda that started more than two centuries ago at a time when women were so much marginalised. Women were treated as though they were sub-human and felt a need to rise up. In the mid-19th century, women advocated for their rights to vote and later right to education, employment and just pay. Feminist movements were started that have evolved over time. The word feminism was first documented in 1837 in France by a socialist Charles Fourier; it is a movement advocating for women’s social, political, legal and economic rights equal to those of men. By the early 1900s, feminism was associated with women’s right to vote, but later, it evolved and currently it has unfortunately deviated into promoting LGBTQ rights and right to abortion among others.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal.”
UN WOMEN
Many good and visible fruits have been born out of this movement towards empowering girls and women. Women can now vote and be voted for, can be employed, go to school, participate actively in Churches and are in Church leadership to mention but a few. However, there is still a lot that is wanting.
Male and female He created them” Gen 1:27
Today, 1 in 3 women experience violence in their lifetime; 830 women die every day from preventable pregnancy-related causes; only 1 in 4 parliamentarians worldwide are women.
However, while society has made great progress in uplifting women, a critical aspect of gender equality has often been overlooked: the empowerment of the boy child. We need women, men, boys and girls, citizens of the world to unite if equality is to be achieved. It is important to note that equality does not mean being the same. “Male and female He created them” Gen 1:27. God creates us different and we are made to compliment each other. It is good that we are different. “God looked at everything He had made, and He found it very good” Gen1:31. God created men and women equal in nature and dignity while remaining distinct. Therefore, women should not strive to be men but to be the best women that God intended them to be and also to help men be the best men God intended them to be. We need to support each other.
The consistent campaign for awareness of girl’s empowerment seems to be working but at the cost of the boy child. Extensive analysis of data indicates that boy child is neglected entirely and has lost his place in the society. As the world has focused on encouraging and supporting girls and women, boys and young men have often been left grappling with the shifting gender dynamics, without adequate guidance. In the race for equality, the boy child has fallen behind, confused about their place in the new landscape.
Traditional notions of masculinity
The traditional notions of masculinity, centered around strength and dominance, no longer align with the evolving societal expectations of shared responsibilities and mutual respect. Boys and young men are growing up in a world where emotional intelligence, empathy, and effective communication are increasingly valued yet they are not prepared to face the challenge. When they grow up and are told that a man is the head of the family, they do not know where to start from, they have not been taught how to take responsibility. They have not been trained to work hard and provide for the family.
Boys and young men are growing up in a world where emotional intelligence, empathy, and effective communication are increasingly valued yet they are not prepared to face the challenge.
Dr. Nabachwa
A study done in Kenya found out that the perception that the boy child is losing his position in the society is valid. The society has placed a high premium on the girl child over the boy child through interventions and programs, which have rendered the boy child prone to low self-esteem and loss of confidence. To cover up all this, the boy child has resulted to vices like crime, drug abuse, terrorism, truancy among others.
To address this gap, we must reorient our approach towards the boy child. They need mentorship and education that fosters their individual empowerment and understanding of gender equality. By equipping them with the tools to build healthy relationships, resolve conflicts peacefully, take responsibility as future husbands and fathers (heads of the family, protectors and providers) and communicate effectively, we can help them become active participants in creating a more equitable society.
Empowering the boy child is not just about individual well-being; it is a crucial pillar of gender equality. When boys and men are raised to value respect, empathy, and partnership, they are more likely to support and champion the empowerment of women.
The future is today
As we strive for a more just and equitable world, it is imperative that we prioritize the empowerment of both girls and boys. By investing in the education and development of the boy child, we can help to create a generation of men who are not only capable but also committed to building a more gender-equal society.
In a nutshell, it is crucial to raise a boy to be God-fearing so that he becomes spiritually empowered to meet the challenges of today’s world. This should be started at a very young age so that by the time they become men, boys have learnt to respect both themselves and the women. This will help them contribute to the development of women thereby promoting equality.
THE BOY CHILD: A BOMB READY TO EXPLODE
The Future Tragedy Of Empowering The Girl-Child Without The Boy-Child
— Social Communications Kampala Archdiocese