Running away from ‘women issues’

In a derogatory manner many issues that concern the family and the society at large are dismissed as ‘women issues’, therefore they are not worth a bother, unless you are a woman, that is. Every now and then in workshops on women advancement, you hear complaints that women journalists are often consigned to women desks, […]

In a derogatory manner many issues that concern the family and the society at large are dismissed as ‘women issues’, therefore they are not worth a bother, unless you are a woman, that is.
Every now and then in workshops on women advancement, you hear complaints that women journalists are often consigned to women desks, instead of being put in ‘serious’ beats like politics. They say women are undermined.
Apparently because of how the so-called women issues are not given serious attention, the attention they deserve, even some of the women journalists feel they are treated as inferior by being on the women beat.
However,  a lot is being missed because as the Chairman, Governing Council, National Human Rights Commission  (NHRC), Dr Chidi Odinkalu, said recently, that important things that are health issues , or crime issues such as rape  are referred to the women ministry, saying it is an awful way to deal with the affairs of 50 percent of the population.
He said if he had his way, he would abolish women ministries.
This means that issues that need urgent attention would just be sent to the ministry of women affairs to deal with.
Nevertheless, women issues are actually what concern everybody and in fact men should be as concerned as the women .The issues that are derided, yet concern all are: family life, children and pregnancy, among others.
I sincerely hope that men don’t really believe that pregnancy is a women issue only. That  when  the wife is going through the ordeal of pregnancy, the husband should be aloof and refuse to buy her what the hospital recommend she eats, and he would demand that she does a lot of work for his happiness, because she is ‘just’ pregnant and therefore should not be lazy.
Perhaps, because some men think that raising children is entirely a women issue that is why they neglect to give their children proper home training, and in the end the children may become wayward.
Besides, in the case of rape, how on earth is it  a women issue, may be that is why the rapists carry on with impunity. But this harrowing crime should make any decent man unhappy and ashamed that his fellow man is abusing  a woman (or a child) in the most  debasing manner imaginable.
And the very thought that it could happen to his sister or daughter is enough to make  a man take up the issue of rape as national issue that  threatens the very foundation of a decent society.
A society where women and young girls are attacked and raped  without qualms does not deserve respect if those that are supposed to be at the vanguard of protecting the vulnerable look the other way, since it is a ‘women issue.’
Another thing is that in terms of infertility that becomes source of worry to the couple, it is on record that the husband would push the wife to see a doctor why she has not conceived , never for once considering that the problem may be with him.
As such, a fundamental problem as infertility that may even threaten the marriage would be seen as women issue.
Another disturbing example on lumping important societal problems as women issue is if you look at agencies under ministries of women affairs in states you would see; orphanages and  the handicapped children’s homes as part of them.
Even the widows’ predicament that should be of concern to all is now a source of mockery because it is a women issue.
This should be condemned because widowhood affects men’s lives too. Some may have mothers as widows, sisters or daughters, and they must have an idea how they survive. Because even those that have some money may not find it easy, because the husband is no longer there to provide support.
There are many men who have become big men that were raised by their mothers as widows. The mothers suffered and endured the challenges to provide for their children to succeed in life. Yet, widows are neglected by the society  and the government, because their case is not big enough or rather political enough, since it is  women issues.
Therefore, if we want a more inclusive society, where everybody matters, women issues are everybody’s issues and should be regarded as such to gain the deserved attention.