IMPORTANT ESSAYS FOR B.A. ENGLISH

ROLE OF WOMEN IN SOCIETY

OUTLINE
(i) In the past women did not enjoy many rights. They were expected to limit their activities to the kitchen.
(ii) Now women are conscious of their rights as citizens and consider themselves equal to men in every field of life.
(iii) They have proved their worth in every field of life. Now they cannot be kept as slaves in the house.
(iv) They are biologically different from men. Their main function is to produce and look after children.
(v) Our religion Islam is not against the education of women. It does not forbid them from taking part in the social activities of life.
ESSAY
     In the past, women were looked upon as slaves. Their main profession was to obey and entertain their husbands. As Ruskin puts it, " A true wife in her husband's house is his servant, it is in his heart that she is a queen". Upto the 19th century, it was thought that marriage and home life were the best outlets for a woman's energies. Thus a woman's activities were confined to the kitchen and the nursery. Towards the end of the 19th century, there came the revolt of women. 
     Literature of 19th century made them conscious of their duties and privileges. Education more than anything else was responsible for the emancipation of women. With education came the realization that she could do what man had done. She made a great demand for the right to vote. She succeeded in it. At present a number of women are members of the parliament. Today, women are working as typists in offices, telephone operators, teachers, doctors and what not. In Russia and Japan, they were trained as soldiers to serve in the Second World War. Even in Pakistan, we have women athletes, writers, leaders and administrators. They are leaving Purdah and taking an active part in the social life of the country.
     However, there is a group of thinkers who believe that women should not take part in the social and cultural activities of the country. They believe that man is for the sword and woman for the needle, man is to command and woman is to obey. Their judgment is based on prejudice and it is one sided. The real danger is that women are making a wrong use of their emancipation. They are trying to imitate man in everything. With the result, they are losing their essential womanhood. They are losing the sight of the fact that delicacy and modesty are two of their finest virtues. Without them, they would be simply apologies for women.
     Let us discuss the problem in the light of human psychology. Women are different from men in their bodily form and constitution. It is her sacred duty to produce children and look after them. Not only this but she has also to build a nation of morally sound people. She has to play the role of a teacher for her children. The Holy Prophet has said, "Paradise lies under the feet of mother". This shows that in Islam, a woman enjoys great status. Her rights are equal with men but her duties are different. Nepolean once said, "Give me good mothers and I shall give you a good nation". This means that morally good mothers build a nation of brave and strong people.
     Islam does not prohibit women to do jobs. Women can do any job provided they do it within the framework of Islam. Women can become doctors and nurses in hospitals. They can also become teachers, typists, clerks and receptionists. Women should do a job when they are actually in need of it. They should first of all look after their children and make them good citizens. However, in case of dire necessity, they can take part in social and cultural activities.