Role of Women in Nation Building

Role of  Women in Nation Building 

 

 Outlines:
1. Introduction.
2. There does not exist any progress where women are kept in ignorance.
3. The view of orthodox.
4. Islamic point of view.
5. Economic independence of women.
6. Conclusion.
Woman plays the most important role in the making of a nation. As a mother, as a sister, as a wife, a woman performs different functions. Her most important duty is to bring up her children in such a way as to make them worthy citizens of a country. Rightly did Napoleon say, “Give me good mothers and I will give you a good nation.” Hence her role as a nation-builder demands more comprehensive training than that of a man whose job is comparatively easier.

 If we educate a man, we educate an individual; if we educate a woman, we educate a family. An educated mother means an enlightened home.
In a country where women are kept in ignorance, there is no progress. As a matter of fact, there can be no progress if half of the population of a country is illiterate. After some time, the other half also becomes illiterate. The country which is managed by ignorant, illiterate, superstitious people has fewer chances of survival in this age of mechanical advancement. It is an historical fact that the progress of a country has always synchronized with the liberation and education of women. In England, the era of industrial prosperity coincided with the feminist movement. ,p Japan, ninety-six percent of the women are literate. This is obviously one of the main reasons for the progress of Japan. Turkey awakened to this great need after the World War-1 and today we find that the Turkish women is in no way inferior to her European counterpart.
The orthodox amongst us express their disapproval of Female Education. According to them, the proper place for a woman is the home and not the polling booth or the Legislative Assembly where men and women scramble for interests, rights and privileges. This is not in accordance with the spirit of Islam. The Holy Quran has underlined the sex difference, but at the same time insisted upon equal rights for women. “And they (women) have rights similar to those against them in a just manner and the men are a degree above them."  Most of the parents think that the only aim of educating girts is to  equip them for marriage. No doubt, this is a worthy aim, but it should not be the only aim. 

We should educate our womenfolk to be good mothers as well as good citizens. A woman should be able to work a gun, fly an aeroplane, nurse a patient, run a school, ploughs a field, when the emergency demands it. She should be able to defend herself in the event of a war. Therefore, matrimony should not be the sole aim of a woman's education.
For her economic independence, she can take up professions like teaching and nursing. Women always make better teachers than men. The films are opening up new careers for talented young ladies. But it will take some time to remove the stigma attached to this profession.
When talking of female education, we should not overlook the fundamental difference existing between man and woman.
Ignorance of these differences has led the advocates of feminism to believe that both sexes should have the same responsibilities, hence the same type of education. Nothing can be more absurd than this. A man may learn cooking but he cannot bear a child. Similarly, a woman may handle a machine- gun but she cannot replace a Napoleon or a Julius Caesar. Nature meant her to be a creative artist. Let us understand this and give her education which makes her worthy of her great calling as a mother, as a nation-builder.