MEN AND WOMEN:

                                               WHO ARE MORE IMPORTANT?
 

The topic above reminds me of the old debate on the same issue done in the primary schools or junior secondary schools in years past. Then as it should be, the boys will argue in the favour of the boys, while the girls will argue in their favour too. The two groups will find many very important reasons to validate the claims that their side is superior. Their points will range from biological functions of the both male and female, physical prowess, intellectual prowess, etc. As they give their points, you cannot but appreciate the efforts they make to prove to their audience that their different claims are valid respectively. And of course as in debate situations, the judgment will be given based on several aspects not only on their points or reasons so to say.

Yes the debate on who is more important between the men and the women is discussed outside the academic arena. And quite often and naturally, those involved in the debate will argue for their gender. This they equally do after enumerating several points or reasons.

However, the question as to who is more important between the men and the women is a fundamental question. This is so because the question attempts to know ontologically who is more important between men and women. A critical look at the question itself presupposes that men and female are very important (in their own kind) in the world. Of course this is true because so many reasons abound to show that their importance in the world is such that one cannot sufficiently live/do without the other.

Biologically, with regards to the issue of child bearing, (which people usually present to validate their claims) there are two important requirements for child bearing.  These are the ovary and the sperm, which comes from the female body and male body. The ovum releases eggs/ova which rely on the sperm for its fertilization; for the union of the male sperm cell with the ovum results in fertilization. And it is at this moment that human life begins. This is because scientists believe that the first cell of a new human being, called a zygote, is formed when a sperm fertilizes an egg.

Another argument that may follow from these is that even when this is the case, it is still the woman that will provide the womb to nurture the new life before it matures. Yes, this is true. But it is naturally made to be so and as such we cannot hold unto it as a case to prove that women are more important. After all if there is no sperm there will be no fertilization nor the child in the womb and  it is possible for the male to provide the womb if the creator of life had wanted it that way.

Another instance again to show that women and men are very important is in the social life of man- the family. Psychologists and experiences have shown over the years that a one-parent family cannot be fruitful as the family with both parents. This is shown as children from two-parent families have more psychological stability that those of one-parent. Hence the father and mother are very important in the upbringing of the children in the family. After all they two started the family and as such will be present in making it a success.

These and many other instances show that men and women are important in themselves such that one of the parties cannot be absolutely “successful” without the other. The biblical experience of Adam before Eve is a clear example.

Moreover, when the argument comes to the area of human endeavours such as occupation and profession, the men tend to argue here that there are some jobs they engage in that the women cannot do. Such jobs as mechanic jobs, palm wine tapping, etc which over the years have been done by men alone cannot be used to say that men are more important than women. This is because most of these jobs are dependent on societies; as in some societies women actually carry out those jobs that are peculiar to men alone in some other societies. At least in Yoruba land, women carry out brick-laying jobs which in Igbo land are very rare. Again that the men carry out these jobs alone does not mean that the women cannot do so in future.

Similarly, women claim that they alone can cook very well and because of that they are more important. It is actually the case that women cook very well. It is also true that some women cannot cook at all. It is also a clear fact that some men are professional cooks at least in the Western world. These instances show that we cannot hold on to this case as the criterion for saying that women are more important than men in the society.

Moreover, the men may tend to argue that because their members are the majority in some important professions like the Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Lecturers, etc therefore they are more important; for it shows that they the men are more intellectually inclined that the women. This cannot be true because there are also in those same Professions who are doing very well and even better that some men in that area. And the fact that the members are more in females does not validate the claim since we are unaware of the intricacies that made it so.

All these and many others show that most of the activities the men do, the women also engage in them and vice versa. Again that some jobs are peculiar to either the men or the women do not necessarily mean that the other group cannot engage in them since most of them are culture-dependent. Also, we cannot conclusively infer that the situation will remain the same in future or even in unobserved societies.

Nevertheless, another instance the men give to validate their position that they are more important is that they are physically more powerful that the women. This is shown in their strength or prowess for things and their courage to carry out some activities as experiences have shown. This is a good claim but not a better one. The same experience has equally shown that some women are very powerful in terms of physical strength. At least we have seen some girls beating some boys. Again some women have even greater courage to carry out some activities especially negative ones. Any woman that suggests plans, executes, and praises abortion or abandonment of babies in some ugly places has more courage than men! Thus we cannot hold on to this instance or similar ones.

From the foregoing, we can say that men and women are very important in the human society and one cannot stand without the other and remains very comfortable.

Consequently, as for who is more important, we cannot absolutely account for that, for to account for that will require a basic criterion for that judgment and then instances that show that any of the party can comfortably carry out its life activities without the other. Until this is met we cannot say who is more important. What we only know that men and women are very important to the human society and the absence of any of them will make living difficult. And to further the argument is to bring huge problems to humanity for men and women are the components of humanity. Any of them cannot be humanity on its own! This is how the creator has made it and it will always be!

 

NWANYANWU CHRISTOPHER