D-Empress, Contributor

D-Empress

Imagine if you could rewrite the story of creation. What would you change about the formation of man, our esteemed and beloved soulmate? Close your eyes and imagine we are in the garden, but this time, our Creator made you, the woman, first and then asked you, "So, what kind of companion would you like to have?". How would you fashion him?

A similar question was the subject matter of an email joke doing the rounds recently. In that story, God created woman first and (as the joke goes) found a good-for-nothing previously discarded item to make man. Apparently, it sparked much mirth but also left twinges of deep pain.

No laughing matter

Why would we laugh at effacing jokes about our significant others? Why would we choose to play an active role in dehumanising and belittling those who we claim to want the best of? Given the current status of man/woman relations, it is far from a laughing matter.

Truth is, we hear it every day! Less than loving descriptions of our existing and potential soulmates from light-hearted jokes to persistent diatribes between us and our long-suffering sisters, all lamenting about how 'there are no good black men out there'. I sense an element of a self-fulfilling prophecy at play.

I wonder how our children are processing such negativity heard as a constant background track in our homes. Just what kind of brand called man are we creating in their minds?

Women's month

In the build-up to South African women's month, which kicks off this week, I happened upon a radio talk show and heard a concerned man emotionally describing the state of bewilderment he believes men are in.

He admitted that he and other men he knew were mightily confused about what the notion of a 'good' man was. He suggested it's time men take the situation in their own hands and begin to rebrand themselves, as, clearly, they are being misrepresented.

Re-engineering a brand called good men; what a thought! Any takers? Successful brands clearly present their core truths exemplified through their attributes (values and virtues). So, brothers, in considering the offer to rebrand yourselves, know that we (your consumers) are keen to connect with your core truth - your hearts.

Sisters, maybe we should also consider re-engineering our brand? In the quest for a good man, have you defined your value proposition?

Throughout the following weeks, as we are mindful celebrating Emancipation and Jamaica's Independence and Women's Month in South Africa, let us free ourselves from the 'no-good-men-out-there' mindset and joyfully usher in heart-centred, soul-boosting visions of the men we intend for ourselves and the women we intend to be.

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