In many societies, there are traditions and customs that have been passed down from generation to generation. These traditions somehow shape how we live today. While some of them have a positive impact, others have a negative one.
Of course, as time passed, some of these traditions began to fade with the advent of civilization. In terms of gender roles —especially for women—civilization has shed light on some of the unfair traditions that women have faced and helped to bring more fairness to them.
To be honest, I’m not much of a feminist (fighting for equal rights), but I believe every gender should be treated fairly. After all, we are all human. In my locality, there are some traditions that I consider unfair to women.
One thing that really irks me is the tradition that says “Inheritance belongs to the male of the house”, leaving women with no right to family inheritance. Some tribes/families still cling to this doctrine, while others have abandoned it.
This tradition dictates that if the man(husband) of the house passes away, only the sons have the right to inherit. If the man has no sons, his brother or another male relative from his family (the husband's family) will inherit the property. Neither the wife nor the daughters has any right to the inheritance.
It always seems so absurd to me because this implies that women are insignificant to the family, reduced to merely being carriers of children. I have seen many cases where the wife is left to struggle alone after her husband’s death.
This also places immense pressure on women to give birth to a male child, so they can indirectly secure a position in the family. Some women end up having many children, hoping to have a son. I’ve seen a woman give birth to nine girls because she was desperate for a male child (which she didn’t have)
No matter the justification—such as ‘the male carries the family name, while the female changes hers’—I firmly believe it is deeply unfair for women to be excluded from inheriting the property of their deceased loved ones.
Those who still continue this tradition are clinging to an absurd belief!
Another issue is the Pressure on women to marry, women are expected to marry early. Yes, I understand concerns about menopause and childbirth, but some women value having a bit of freedom before committing to marriage.
This tradition has placed a social stigma on women who aren’t married or who choose not to marry by a certain age. They face intense pressure, discrimination, and abuse, which can negatively affect their well-being as individuals.
This seems unfair to me. If a woman chooses to marry later in life, she should have the right to do so when she is ready. Some don’t even intend to marry late, but they haven’t been lucky in finding the right partner, and the pressure and stigma sometimes push them into making the wrong choices.
These traditions are totally unfair to women in the society. Civilization has helped fight gender unfairness but some remnants of these practices linger. This isn’t just about women; it’s about humanity.
I hope that, as time goes on, people develop a sense of fairness toward women and all humans, creating a world where everyone is treated with respect and fairness.
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Thumbnail image is from Canva. Image is mine.
