Hatred Continues

Now that many agencies are breaking new grounds in working with sexual minorities, the hatred has caught the eye of the media.

In a recent Bengali news site, a reporter who has obviously not done his background research on the topic, makes several erroneous statements on the work being currently conducted by international agencies in regards to awareness of HIV/AIDS among MSM (men who have sex with men) population. The journalist's concluded his article by stating how those very international agencies are promoting homosexuality.

Come again?

How does one equate working to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and providing essential public health services to a marginalized group encourage one form of sexuality?

The nature of the argument didn't astound me. By now, working in this particular line of work, I amused to hearing all kinds of arguments against the education of sexual rights. The one feature of the article that did astonish me were the several comments made by ordinary people who perpetuated and expressed their hatred against homosexuality.

One of my colleagues stated that as more agencies opt to work with sexual minorities, these types of ignorance-fueled hatred will frequently emerge. Ignorance and the fear of the unknown is understandable. Hence the awareness-building activities. But the blatant hatred that accompanies the ignorance is staggering. People simply refuses to accept an alternative form of desire beyond the hetero-normative model.

One thing is clear though, we can expect more and more of these types of reactions from all quarters.

Women and women

Living in a patriarchy society, it is astonishing to see how women tend to further suppress other women. Recent conversations with both sexes have verified the sad fact that women tend to be far more malicious of other women.

Some of us might shake our heads and remark how this is a stereotypical depiction of women generated by men to 'divide and conquer' the female race.

Unfortunately, that is the fact. Women, and I have seen plenty, readily vilify other women. Women tend to judge other women harshly, quick to plant labels as 'sluts', 'whores', and 'vixen'.

Why though? What are the underlying motives that compel women to tarnish and severely judge other women?

Insecurities? Older women feeling insecure about themselves when younger one emerge on to the scene? Or women in general feel insecure about themselves?

In a era where we have grown up with feminists and feminists theories dissecting and analyzing the world for us, it is quite a strange sight to encounter successful women swiftly and almost always negatively judge others. Whereas we should be forging community, building and nurturing bonds, encouraging and supporting each other, we fall back into petty jealousies and rivalries in the pursuit to emerge as the fairer and far appealing one.

It's upsetting to see the numbers of wonderful, inspiring, and successful women around me, and to know that at least half of them would never consider mentoring younger women. As much as we instinctively blame men and their patriarchy, we have to point the fingers at ourselves and really accept the blatant truth that we are the very proponents that prolongs and nurtures the patriarchical shackles in our society.

I have been fortunate to have met many women who have taken the time to nurture, encourage, inspire, and support me throughout the different phases of my evolution. But I don't find enough women are willing to mentor other to succeed akin to themselves.

This hesitation, insecurity, and refusal to welcome, nurture, and groom the younger generation of women needs cease now. Otherwise, we will continue inhabiting a world of men where females will always be considered the weaker sex.