What are the roles and responsibilities of a man? This is a question that has raised so much interest in our society from way back till today. During the olden days, men were expected to head families, be sole bread winners and lead the society. Every head and mouth looked up to the man to be led and fed. There has not been any great change even today. Although the issue on women empowerment is hitting the waves nowadays, still the girl child in particular has the same burden.
For instance, a man will always be expected to lead in the family in terms of money and power. The man cannot be defeated by his sibling sisters no matter the age. If the vice versa happens, the family starts to intimidate the man and sees him useless.
Despite inspiration of the girl child being granted equality with the man, majority of women still depend on men for money. It's a norm that the man is the one to pay for dates and almost everything needed during courtship. Ladies say that they just can't date broke men despite of having money themselves.
In marriages, the husband is looked up to by the wife and children for provision. There is a lot of intimidation and disrespect if a husband doesn't have means to provide or has a low pay compared to the wife. With the saying, "your money is ours while my money is mine", controlling women, men undergo through so much stress to keep their families together.
The family on the other hand doesn't make it easier for the boy child. As the man becomes of age, he is expected to support his siblings in school, help his parents and also do home projects. This is oblivious to whether he is done with his studies or has a job or not. Whatever way, he is supposed to be "responsible" as a man.
Just when he thinks of settling and get a wife the issue of dowry and a perfect wedding is demanded by the wife-to- be and her parents.Some families go to the extent of demanding for almost a fortune in order to give away their daughter which in the end leaves the man frustrated and helpless.
Many men decide to leave school in order to educate their siblings, save the little they have to feed their children and yet no one wants to know if they have needs, what they wear or whether they had lunch.
Cases of men committing suicide due to lack of employment are increasing compared to those of women. This is due to the pressure on them to have money to cater for different needs and the society doesn't allow them to lack. And if they lack it is a crime that seems impossible to forgive.
Let's give the man a chance to be free and more relaxed. His life is not just about giving money, they require to be loved, taken care of, and their problems addressed like any other person's. Let's save our men from mental and emotional trauma just because they have no means of giving.
STORY By LILIAN MUENI, Second Year Journalism and Mass Communication Student at Chuka University
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
No comments
Post a Comment