The Fault in Underestimating Women in Power Positions
Ruhi Kulkarni
Underestimation: to think of (someone or something) as being lower in value, influence, or ability than that person or thing actually is. It is something that women face on a daily basis. There’s so much substance under every woman’s apron that many fail to recognize and acknowledge. So how can one’s abilities be doubted when they have not yet been tested?
Lieutenant Colonel Iman Elman is the only female department head in the Somali military, one of the highest ranking women and one of 900 women out of 25,000 soldiers to defy patriarchal norms. Since obtaining this high rank in the Somali military, Elman has been working on establishing meaningful reforms and giving proper training to the army’s soldiers and officers on human rights and sexual assault. It is obvious that since joining Somalia’s army she has done nothing but better the environment, which she mentions “seemed ‘nearly impossible’ to implement when she first suggested it to her superiors.” When no man took the measures necessary to benefit everyone, Lieutenant Colonel Iman Elman, a woman, did. In the New York Times, Abdi Latif dahir writes, “ In discussions with soldiers, however, she [Lieutenant Colonel Iman Elman] was surprised by how quickly the male officers tried to discourage her, saying that she would be assigned only domestic roles like cooking and cleaning. Their resistance only steered her determination.”
Assumptions like these are the prime factor in the underestimation of women. Women can do just as much as men, or even more. But if women don’t get the chance to prove that, then society will never know. If it was a man in this position, a role in the military wouldn’t be anything to consider— it is a normalized standard. It is thus extremely disappointing that a woman in that exact position is “discouraged” from doing something that is only benefiting her country. Perhaps the discomfort in stepping away from the gender stereotypical roles mentioned lies in the what if. What if women are capable of holding positions of power, instead of men? What if men are no longer the only “heroes of battle”? What if women are better in such a position than men? The only way that countries like Somalia have the chance at prominent peace, is with a united front: men and women. For that to happen, women assuming positions of power have to be normalized. The reality is that gender has no role in what good can be accomplished and facing that is the only way to take a step forward.
In Somalia’s bordering nation, Kenya, eight Maasai women were the first to create a wildlife ranger team called Team Lioness, which defends against poachers. Once again, these women faced “community resistance” because of their aspirations to do work other than household chores and give birth. They were considered unfit and “too weak” for the job, according to Purity Ameleset, a foot patrol on team Lioness. Yet the process of giving birth is in fact the epitome of strength and incomparable to the job of a wildlife ranger. Women haven’t been given the chance to prove themselves, their power, and their courage. The head of community rangers for the group ranch surrounding the national park, Partick Papatiti, stated, “There was also fear that this project would empower women, and if it's successful then definitely other perceptions in society can be challenged.” And it has proven to be successful. Papatiti’s statement makes it clear as glass that society isn’t looking to change the patriarchal standards that stand in the way of motivating women to take on roles of power. Society is comfortable in old fashioned ways and isn’t ready to challenge them and view women in a new light. Unsurprisingly, Team Lioness exceeded expectations, using their high school education to create the best data collection unit. In addition, they were trusted easily, using that to their advantage to truly gain all data needed.
Once given the chance, women prove time and time again that they can and they will. These eight Maasai women were not limited due to their gender, just like so many other women wouldn’t be, given the opportunity. But once again, it’s the fear of unfamiliarity of a world where men and women have equal power that prevents people from taking this step forward. Women in positions of power are beneficial to society and influential to future generations. In the past, that very statement would have been looked down upon or unacknowledged. But in the present day, through women like Lieutenant Colonel Iman Elman and those in Team Lioness, there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that women are just as capable.
Skirts don’t represent women, the same way combat uniforms aren’t reserved for men. It is perfectly okay for a woman in the twenty-first century to be a housewife. Similarly, it is perfectly okay for a woman to serve for the army, as well. The problem lies in the fact that it isn’t normalized yet globally. Things are rapidly changing in the modern day world. No day is the same as the last and no year is the same as the preceding ones— a blink of an eye and things are totally different. It truly lies in society’s hands to encourage and allow the change. Within the last century, women have finally been starting to be recognized for the unstoppable force that they are. So to make every little girl's dream of gender equality the reality of today, let’s create new norms— norms that empower women instead of underestimating them.
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