By Shannon Wannakuwatte
If you’re unaware of this concept, it’s one that (if my History serves me right) is one of the cornerstones on which Patriarchy is based. Of course I’m exaggerating a little, but at the heart of the matter is the fact that women, in literature, popular culture and the media, are almost always portrayed as either the virgin/madonna, the nag/hag or the whore. Women have been used and abused throughout history, repeatedly as a symbol of purity – which is why the ‘whore’ is mistreated and judged so very harshly, everywhere.
It’s been a couple of centuries of ‘literal’ and ‘legal’ female empowerment. We have franchise and we have the illusion of choice. We are constantly seeing more women in the spotlight. What’s interesting is that if a woman is to fulfill her true potential she has to always, always, fulfill certain caveats. OR she has to be outside the conventional box of social acceptance; “she’s divorced no, so it’s ok for her to behave like that”, “yes but you know her husband died so tragically – no wonder she’s mad now”. You get the gist right? You’ve probably said this yourself.
What I take issue with is the level of HYPOCRISY in our Government today. “Yes we’d really like you to be empowered and increase representation in Government, but aney darling you can’t drink”. I mean. What. The. Actual. Hell.
Yes, yes I know he’s trying to garner votes etc etc etc but I mean what does this say about the position of women in this country? Are we not a nation of strong women like Vihara Maha Devi (who fit in the mould of Virgin/Goddess)? Or warrior queens like Kuveni (who Vijaya didn’t like so he demonized the poor thing)? Did women not own land and practice polyandry? Yes they did. We have clung, very tightly, onto the Victorian values forced down our throats and now we just don’t want to regurgitate them.
I like to drink. I have no qualms admitting this. I think alcohol is sometimes necessary when you’ve had a hard day at work; when the kids have been particularly exhausting; when you’re PMSing; when its just you and the girls, alcohol is nice. Of course, alcohol (like anything else food, sex, drugs) must be consumed in moderation. I mean, we’re all adults and with adulthood, maturity (in most cases) is a given. So I can represent my gender in parliament, represent my province, district whatever; I can raise future sons and daughters of my country, who must be pious and honest and decent; I can drive and have a job and be independent (to an extent) – but I can’t have a DRINK?! WHERE IS THE LOGIC IN THAT?!
Do my ovaries and breasts, that make me so very feminine, enable the alcohol to affect me differently to a man? Does the fact that I bleed every month mean that I may jeopardise the lives of others if I am given a Cocktail? Do my nurturing and mothering abilities diminish because I have a hangover?! It is utter bullshit.
In case you’re a bit dim, I’m not arguing for the sake of alcohol. I am not advocating that all women must drink because their lives are sucky under the strong hand of a patriarchal man. No. I am saying that if a woman has THE CHOICE to decide that she can run for office, why the actual eff can she not have THE CHOICE to have a whiskey, or vodka, or rum?!
Now that I have calmed down I realize this is futile. Even if this stupid, ignorant and backward law is revoked, a woman who is seen having a drink, enjoying life, laughing without restriction and behaving like a PERSON, will still be judged. She will be looked at, by her own gender, with narrowed eyes. Who am I kidding? This woman will never be elected into public office; she’ll be chewed to bits by her own kind. By her sisters who propagate this oppressive and narrow system. She should stay at home. Be with her kids. Promote the religion. Be the Goddess. The ‘Madonna’. God forbid she decides to be phenomenal, like Maya Angelou intended us all to be.
I hope you’re happy Mr. President. I hope that you realize you are enslaving, yes shackling and chaining, over 50% of your population into a dichotomy, into a stereotype they have no choice over. You are pushing them into these little boxes. Taking away their individuality, their spark, their fire. You are allowing the men out there to say, “only we can drink – you must drive drunk man home”. You are turning a blind eye to all the corruption and debasement that happens to women in every bus, train and street corner because you will not ENABLE women to be empowered. You’re all fart and no shit Mr. President. You talk of preserving culture, you’re enabling tempestuousness.
It’s true what Shakespeare, Donne and all the great poets have said: women are fickle, we are changeable and we’re unpredictable. That’s because we’re fighting to break free of the mould you have put us in; sometimes we succeed, and sometimes we subside.