Diane Mbeo is PROUD to be a WOMAN!!!

“It’s a man’s world, a woman’s place is pregnant, barefoot, and in the kitchen.” These phrases were commonly spoken by members of the community I grew up in, and it disheartened me to see several potent women resign themselves to such backward and primitive sayings. That is why this has come to be my portal into a new era, one in which my fellow sisters and I take a stand and show our male counterparts that we too have a place at the table.

I am proud to say that I took part in this year’s teleconference held on March 5th to celebrate International Women’s Day. This day is becoming increasingly important around the world; in Bosnia for example, every man buys flowers for every woman in his life to celebrate it. In Iraq and Africa, this day is even bigger than mother’s day! You see, my sisters, we must celebrate ourselves first if we want our men to celebrate us. In traditional African mythology, the lion is portrayed as the king of the jungle; this translates to the man being the head of his household. Behind every successful lion, is a strong lioness. Chinua Achebe, a famous Nigerian writer, demonstrated this concept in his books.

They say a woman should treat her man like a king, just as a man should regard his wife as a queen. BUT, this should not be expected to come automatically, for a king must love his wife into her place. I say this to urge my fellow sisters not to be intimidated into mindless servitude by chauvinistic men, and to bear in mind that we should never shy away from demanding the same love and respect that our men think they deserve.

A final word of advice to my sisters, let’s thirst for knowledge and education, for this is the key to success. President Obama said, “In a global economy, where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity, it’s a prerequisite.” In most places today, women still have to work twice as hard as men to obtain only half the recognition, especially in the workplace. Let’s not listen to people when they say “school isn’t for everyone.” Infact, if you’re a woman, education is definitely for you, go get it. Let’s show the world that the corporate ladder can be climbed in heels.

This is 2009, two-thousand-and-MINE, my (our) time to shine. Join me in celebrating all things feminine.


By Diane Mbeo