Are we singing from the same hymn book?

changes as it is transmitted from one end to the other.
I think it was meant to teach us about the effects of noise in communication. We would stand in a queue and the teacher would whisper something into the ear of one pupil.
The pupil would pass on the same message to the next person and so it would go on.
The last person in the queue would share the message with the rest of the class.
Always we discovered that the message would go through a metamorphosis as it goes down the chain, changing its meaning.
Everyone laughed and was surprised at the final message.
This happens in our everyday life. Messages change structure and meaning as they are transmitted from one end to the other.
People in the channel subtract from or add on to the message deliberately or otherwise.
This means that the intended purpose of the message changes and so is the action thereof.
Problems also come with how individuals interpret the message.
Some relationships have been severed due to problems in the channel of communication. This is why I think it is always important to check whether various interest groups pursuing a goal have a common understanding of issues.
These are some of the ideas that came to my head as I watched women from all walks of life dance at the International Women’s Day celebrations.
Two weeks ago I was part of the launch of the International Women’s Day in Chinhoyi.
The day was a mixed bag of events with speeches, dances, displays showcasing products of small businesses as well as works of art.
The occasion was attended by females and males of all ages.
It was refreshing to be out there, away from the usual and also getting time to network and interact with new faces.
I could see that I was not the only one happy to be out there especially when the Police band churned out some sungura music.
What I witnessed was unbelievable; sisters cast restraint and danced as if they were tasting freedom for the first time after years of bondage. I could not help but notice that society has gone through transformation.
Traditionally women were restrained by values and norms through socialisation.
I recall during the yester-years society operated to a large extend within specific norms and values that defined acceptable behaviour and decency. Errant behaviour was reprimanded by adults who were the custodians of cultural values. Society tended to be harder or stricter with women and girls.
As young girls we were taught how to sit, that we had to kneel down when greeting adults or doing chores such as serving food, cooking and so forth as a sign of respect. Men also had to crouch as they greeted elders or other respectable people such as mothers-in-law.
One elderly man said that the demands were even more during his days.
He said that his mother would not even allow his sisters to bend down (kukotama) in the presence of men.
Reflecting on this, one can say that this was well meant considering the anatomy of women.
Perhaps our elders wanted to limit exposure of the girl child or women to predators whose imaginations would not only run away with them but cause them to perpetrate sexual violence.
I know these days it is felt that some of these practices including society’s prescription on what is considered decent dressing are being challenged. I know some gender activists talk of individual rights and freedom of choice on behaviour and what to wear.
These days, things are fairly relaxed and women of today are not overly confined by norms and practices due to societal and cultural transformation. There are things from the past that have become irrelevant. The socio-economic context has changed.
People can still be respectful without going through some of the traditional motions.
I know women had to trade off frills and long dresses of the Victorian era for shorter ones and more user friendly clothes to enable them to work in factories around the Second World War.
As I watched the various dances some of them rather detailed and inappropriate for such a public event, I could not help but ask myself what gender equality means to different people.
What really interested me was the reaction of women that were part of the crowd watching the actors on stage. Women expressed shock, I remember one lady saying, “Mukadzi uyu haana hunhu, how can she do that nemiri wake iwoyo” (This woman has no decency especially with her body) referring to a lady who was showing her mastery of the art of on the dance floor. I was equally shocked. Personally I believe that there are basic principles of decent or good behaviour for both women and men.
Part of me was convinced that such behaviour was a manifestation of deep set repressed feelings. Women tend to live in confinement that is either self imposed due to socialisation or by society.
I asked myself whether such behaviour was a cry for help or simply an expression of self.
I could imagine some of these women feeling so free from all inhabitations as this was a day that no one could judge.
This was their day, the freedom day. I could not help but ponder on a number of issues.
I asked whether gender equality means that there are no boundaries for behaviour?
Does the modern world have a common definition for decency and dignity?
I wondered whether as women we have not thrown away the baby with the bath water in our quest for gender equality.
Those norms and values that made us natural custodians of the good cultural values that define us as a people. Is gender equality about singing and dancing?
Does gender equality mean that women are the same as men and therefore can sit anyhow, what we call in Shona “mutonono” (crouch position)?
Do we drink ourselves into a stupor as some men do and become a nuisance with dresses flying all over?
Does such behaviour not derail our noble fight for gender equality as we risk being dismissed as the dancing and singing queens?
I know music plays a very important role in mobilisation and therefore can be used effectively to create a shared vision on gender equality.
Dear readers do not get me wrong. I am not shooting down the need for gender equality. Gender discrimination is real and an evil that needs to be eliminated so women can unleash their potential for sustainable development and self actualisation.
According to UN sources gender equality is about giving equal value to the similarities and differences of men and women, and the role they play. This means that women and men are not the same they complement each other.
Some people think gender equality is about women and therefore dismiss that as “zvemadzimai.” Others think its about subduing men (kutonga varume).
While some groups assume that it is about limitless freedom and declare this as their individual ‘rights.’ What is your understanding of gender equality?
I think we need to do a quick check and establish whether we have a shared understanding of gender equality.
The question that I would want to leave with you is: are we all singing from the same hymn book on gender equality?
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