17/12/2024
By:
Apande Bol Gong
A few years ago, someone asked me a thought-provoking question, if I had a choice, would I want to be a woman or a man? Without hesitation, I answered, a woman. The person seemed surprised and said, you’re one of the few to say that, I found that hard to believe, but perhaps those who would choose to be a man feel that being a woman has somehow disadvantaged them. I can understand that perspective. There are undeniable challenges that come with being a woman, challenges that sometimes feel insurmountable. However, I have never seen womanhood as a limitation, nor as something I would trade away.
For me, being a woman is deeply empowering. There is an incredible strength in womanhood, a strength that often goes unnoticed or undervalued. Women carry immense burdens, yet we find ways to nurture, to create, to endure, and to rise. We are life-givers, caretakers, leaders, and problem solvers. Our resilience is both our gift and our armour. And despite the barriers, there is beauty in the ways women navigate the world around them, balancing grace with grit.
That being said, I am not blind to the difficulties. In recent years, it does feel like being a woman has grown harder. The fight for equality, autonomy, and safety has intensified particularly in the west where I mostly reside. But overall, women still face societal expectations, systemic biases, and a constant battle to be seen and heard in spaces where our voices have long been stifled. But even with all of that, I would still choose to be a woman. Because within those struggles lies purpose. Within those challenges lies a chance to grow.
Interestingly, I think it’s also important to acknowledge that being a man is not an easy task. While society often portrays men as the ones holding power, many men carry a silent weight. They are expected to be strong, stoic, and unwavering providers. They are often denied the freedom to be vulnerable or to express themselves fully. Men, too, are shaped.