" HALF THE SKY "..

Empowering women..why is that so important?.. to me, women are the asset of the country, they help out to develop the country no matter in economic, politic, social and so on.. sounds like I’m one of the feminism, right? Well, according to the history in our legal system, feminism was developed in any country due to the awareness that women are the species that should be protected from violence, most of it has proven that women used to be the victim of men especially when it comes to family matters i.e they be the victim of domestic violence as well as they are denied from their rights.

I remembered at one time during this semester when I wrote my assignment on feminism, the ‘isme’ that I think is inspired from the west. I do see that from Islamic view, making that ‘isme’ looks like impossible to be implied in Islam whereas Islam really uphold the status of women itself, besides, there are so much hadiths on women that indicate the requirement of them to be protected, loved, concerned and so on. In religion, to balance the rights between men and women is improper since the nature of gender require different responsibility, rights as well as legal injunctions. As muslim women, I do feel the advantages being the muslim women and I thankful to Allah granting such many guidelines which I think really secure me.

However, when talking about other aspect of life, it’s different. There should be just and fair position and provision towards women, as what being given to men. Watching ‘The Oprah’ just now really wakes me up ..There are so many women out there who have been opposed, probably due to the system of their country where they think that women are not less than as a tool to please men’s lusts. Once again, I’m thankful to Allah for giving me a chance to live in this peace country where most all of the rights could be achieved just as men.

One of the stories from that show that has touched me a lot is about a Zimbabwe women, her name is Terrori, if I weren’t not mistaken, or maybe her name starts something with ‘T’..

The story begins in Zimbabwe where the women are forbidden to have a chance to get education. They are not allowed to learn at school despite of men can. I don’t know the justification having such rules, but Terrori said that women only should get married and be the slaves of their husbands. At that time, she was mere a young girl and she used to tell her father how desired of wanting to go schooling just like her brother, but what happened after that, she was scolded and beat just like she’d done the huge mistakes.

Without anyone knowing, she finished her brother’s home works and began to learn reading. Years passing by, till finally the teacher revealed the secret and tried to persuade Terrori’s father to let her to school, but that man reluctant and forced her to get marry. At the age of 11th, she married and gave birth. Later, though she had a few of children, the dream to study still in her soul. Whenever she told her husband that she wanted to study, she would be beat.

Till one day, a woman, Joe Luck from America came to her village and they had a circle-group discussion together with other girls, and they had a chat pertaining on their dreams. Terrori did tell her that she wanted to go to America and finished her studies to the highest level, PhD. Joe really supported her and the adventure began. One of the significant parts of the story was, when she wrote all her dreams, kept it in a box and buried it nearby her house. Whenever she achieved her dreams in America, she’ll go back to her hometown to tick it as done. The success works chronologically, after gaining her first degree, masters and now she’s completing her PhD.

Knowing her experiences in life, she suffered a lot. While struggling for her first degree, she had to look after her husband who suffered for AIDS besides had to do many part time jobs to support her family. And now, she had re-married with another man and had undergone a beautiful life just like others.

That story is just one of the sad stories in the world that was written in ‘HALF THE SKY’ by Nicolas and sheryl. It’s where the freedom of women had been restricted. Anyhow, one will endeavor to achieve for the best in her life whenever they hold their dream tightly besides they are given opportunity. The moral is, prepare for the best in life.

Speaking as muslim especially, Islam do encourage their followers to grab for the best in life purposely for HIM as they know all of the deeds will be counted in the hereafter. Last but not least, I felt much greater when i read the stories of muslims women and how they devote themselves just for the sake of Islam..

Wallahualam..