Sexism has been around us since the human has existed. Sexism which is “prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex”. People are sexist because they believe that men are better and more powerful than women. Under the patriarchal society, sexism was a way to keep women accessorial and submissive to men. Even in today’s society, many people are still facing the inequity solely because they are a woman. As I read the new from BBC “Uganda’s Punishment Island: ‘I was left to die on an island for getting pregnant’” I realize that from ancient time till today, sexism has gone deep into people’s life and caused profound impacts.
In traditional Uganda society, women could only get pregnant after marriage. For one family, marrying off a virgin daughter was very important because they could receive bride prices such as cows, goats or land. An unmarried pregnant girl would be seen as bringing shame to the family, and girls who broke the rule also mean the loss of bride price to their family. Usually, families would abandon these “unhallowed,” “worthless” pregnant girls on Punishment Island, and left them to die. The punishment of these girl’s’ death was seen as equal to the loss of the bride price.
The new happened in Uganda, a 12-year-old unmarried girls Mauda Kyitaragabirwe who got pregnant unexpectedly. When her family discovered that, they felt shameful of her behavior. Therefore, they put Mauda in a canoe and took her to Akampene (Punishment Island) and left her to die. The island is very tiny, she stayed there without water and food, experienced the cold and windy nights. Fortunately, there was a fisherman who was poor and could not afford to pay a bride price, so he tried to pick up a girl from Punishment Island to get a wife for free. And then this fisherman came along to save Mauda on the fifth day, and he said that he would take her home with him. Mauda is just one of the many victims of the sexism. In another part of the nation, pregnant girls would be thrown off a cliff at Kisiizi Falls. Unfortunately, no one ever survived at Kisiizi Falls. There is one fact that made me shock is that there was no punishment for the boys who caused girls’ pregnancy. Male were deemed as the “kings” of the family, so there was no way could punish them.
By reading the BBC new “Uganda’s Punishment Island: ‘I was left to die on an island for getting pregnant’,” it reminds me the story that I have read through during this semester Ueda Akinari’s “Bewitched”. Both stories reveal the lower status of women in society and the absence of equality. In “Bewitch,” I notice that women were played submissive power in society, and they were second to men within Japanese society. The accepted standard for women in Japanese society was to be dependent upon men, it’s also become a way for women to get into the upper-class. During that period, women’s destiny could be determined by marriage. Through Toyo-o’ response of Manago’s proposal, we can easily realize the social status of females. Toyo-o said: “I have no property of my own. . . I have no power to earn my own living. How could I support you?” This quote reveals the idea that women didn’t have power in the working force, they need to rely on men to support them. This long-term social culture and standard made women get used to follow, and women had to marry a wealthy merchant to get into the general public. Both “Bewitched” and Mauda’s experience are the vivid examples of sexism, which reflect the unjust social standing of female, and the prejudice of female. There were no equal rights under the patriarchal society. Sexism results in the female lack of the autonomy, independence, and self-confidence to challenge the unfair social norm, and fight for their own desired life.
Nowadays, sexism is still existing in the world, there still have many people are suffering the unfair treatment base upon gender. I think people shouldn’t blindly follow the authority, the traditional value. Instead, one should think skeptically about cause and effects, to doubt the desirability of one behavior such as sexism. Sexism has been caused miserable encounter and uncountable negative impacts. Therefore, it should be discontinued. So that no matter women or men can live a life without any oppression and injustice.
Work Cite:
Ueda Akirari. “Bewitch”. Tales of Moonlight and Rain (629). 1776. Print.
