Women: The strength that carries the world
From the very beginning of humanity, women have been life-givers, nurturers, teachers, protectors and builders of families and communities.
Every August we are reminded to celebrate women. We read the familiar stories of the historic march to the Union Buildings, hear the well-known slogan "You strike a woman, you strike a rock," and once again pause to acknowledge the important role women have played in shaping South Africa.
Yet perhaps Women's Month should also encourage us to ask a simpler question. Why were women created? The answer goes far beyond history, careers or titles.
From the very beginning of humanity, women have been life-givers, nurturers, teachers, protectors and builders of families and communities. While men and women are different in many ways, those differences were never meant to compete with one another. They were meant to complement one another. One is not more important than the other. Together they create balance.
A woman's influence often begins long before the world notices it. She is usually the first voice a child hears, the first comforting embrace after a fall, the patient teacher of life's earliest lessons and, very often, the quiet strength that keeps a household together when life becomes difficult. Many of the values that shape future generations are first learned at a mother's knee or from a grandmother whose wisdom has been earned over decades.
Not every woman becomes a mother, yet every woman has the ability to nurture. Some do so in classrooms, hospitals, churches, businesses, sports fields or community organisations. Others become mentors, friends or neighbours whose kindness changes someone's life without ever making the headlines.
Women possess an extraordinary ability to care while remaining remarkably resilient. They often carry responsibilities that are invisible to others. They manage households, raise children, build careers, care for ageing parents, support partners and somehow still find the time to encourage those around them. Their contribution is rarely measured in awards or salaries, yet it is priceless.
There is an old saying that behind every successful man stands a woman. While that may still hold some truth, perhaps it is time to recognise that beside every successful woman also stands a network of people who have believed in her. The greatest achievements are seldom accomplished alone. Healthy families and strong communities flourish when men and women support one another rather than compete.
Throughout history women have shown extraordinary courage. They have survived wars, poverty, discrimination, loss and hardship, often emerging stronger than anyone expected. In countless homes they continue to display that same courage every single day, facing challenges with determination, grace and hope.
Modern society sometimes sends confusing messages about what a woman should be. She is expected to be successful, independent, compassionate, patient, attractive, confident and endlessly capable, all at the same time. The pressure to meet impossible expectations can leave many women feeling that they are never quite enough.
Perhaps the greatest gift we can offer the women in our lives is not another bouquet of flowers once a year, but genuine appreciation throughout the year. A simple "thank you", a helping hand, a listening ear or words of encouragement often carry far greater value than grand gestures.
Women's Month should remind us that the strength of a nation is reflected in the way it values its women. Families become stronger when women are respected. Communities become healthier when women are supported. Children thrive when they grow up seeing mothers, daughters, sisters and grandmothers treated with dignity and kindness.
Every woman carries a story. Some stories are filled with celebration, others with sacrifice.
Many are written quietly, away from applause, through countless acts of love that may never be recognised publicly. Perhaps that is the true significance of Women's Month. Not merely to celebrate what women have achieved, but to appreciate who they are. For the world has always needed women, and it always will.
ššš·š®š½š½š®.
Mariana Balt
Naomi Roebert
Liz Thorne
Comments ()