Glenda Simms, ColumnistAll over the world and at every point in human history little girls are on a training course to become women. In our not-too-distant past this training was designed, developed and delivered in a framework of the limitations of what women could and should be. This was the time when the little girl of all social classes knew that she had better not expect to fly jet planes, launch rockets, rule countries or inherit the family estate or business.
Today, every little girl in most societies is being told that she needs not restrict her vision within the parameters of the "old time scenario". Every one who has a say in the trends of the times, is busy convincing the
little girl that the compass that directs her has dramatically changed direction, and her fortunes are just over the horizon at the end of the rainbow.
encouragement
Indeed, she is encouraged to get an education so that she can unravel the strictures of the feminine prescription that determined the choices available to her mother, grandmother and great grandmother in their time.
In the words of Stephen R. Covery "The key to quality of life is in the compass it's in the choices we make every day."
In a real sense, the great social, economic, technological and political changes of the past 50 years have come together to give every little girl the idea that she can choose the kind of woman she desires to become when she grows up, because her compass is pointing her to unlimited choices.
This vision is the fundamental force that energises the majority of little girls who are ensured the best of the educational benefits of their society, the privilege of class and caste, and the opportunity to attach themselves to the coattails of the men who control the heights of the global financial and social empires.
Within this framework there are significant numbers of prime
examples of little girls whose
training afforded them 'break-through spots' on many fronts.
Dr. Condoleezza Rice, a black woman who declared that slavery was a mere birthmark on American history, is now the most powerful woman in the entire world.
Also, Angela Merkel, whose girlhood was honed in the former communist state of East Germany, was recently elected to be the first female Chancellor of Germany. These are just two of the outcomes of the perceived grand design of the female and her potential.
On some verandahs and in some posh living rooms, groups of well-heeled women sometimes convince each other that these stellar examples of female achievement is evidence that every little girl is guaranteed her place in the sun once we have eradicated poverty, stop waging wars and find the right formula to help minorities to integrate in the mainstream.
These are the kinds of women who have become quite hostile to any discussion about sexism and racism as enduring societal barriers to development. As far as they are concerned, the social problems in much of the world are connected to laziness, loose living and stupidity.
RESTRICTING LITTLE GIRLS
One story that should be of interest to 'the verandah brigade' was carried in the November 4, 2005 edition of the Daily Telegraph out of Tokyo. This report brought home to the world the continuing resistance to change and the passion employed by some social systems to restrict the life chances of little girls who dare to dream to become women who have the right to be who they should be.
This report details the views of 59-year-old Prince Tomohito of Japan who is fifth in line to the Japanese throne. This member of the royal house is totally opposed to three-year-old Princess Aiko "the only daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito" becoming the Empress of Japan after her father.
In his response to the spectre of a woman inheriting the
imperial throne Prince Tomohito argues that the imperial line is precious because of "the undeniable fact that male succession has continued without exception in an unbroken line for 125
generations of emperors."
In order to maintain this tradition, the prince has strongly suggested that the male members of the royal house should return to a time when they openly took on concubines to ensure that sons were produced. In other words, since there is no guarantee that the chosen wife will produce a son, men must set up and maintain systems that will keep them in power and control to the end of time.
This case of resistance to a
little Japanese girl who was born to the right family, and who enjoys all the material luxuries and social privileges of her background, is a stark reminder to every little girl, in every corner of the world, that she is in training not for the woman that she could be, but for the woman that patriarchal systems decide that she should be.
The struggle continues!
Glenda P. Simms is a gender expert and consultant.
