If
one is blind, deaf, dumb, cripple, with missing body parts ... be that
physical or mind, born so or result of an accident, others, the whole
and the healthy, think of you as 'not normal'. The more compassionate
treat you with courtesy, respect and concealed pity. More are those who
regard you, at least behind your back, as inferior or even sub-human;
to be ignored or disdained.
Especially
if you are a woman and God forbid, infertile. You are labeled as
'incomplete', not a real woman. They whisper to one another that of
your 'defect' as if it's a shameful disease, in tones of pity or scorn.
Why
should women be considered a 'real' woman only if she has also a
reproductive stomach? When a man is unproductive in the same sense,
others are more lenient, offer good advice like adoption or malicious
ones disguised as humour like 'Get a divorce' or 'Take a lover'. A
woman would be jeered at with remarks like 'flat chested', but few men
are criticised of having a crooked little thingy between his legs.
A
woman has the right to be infertile without feeling shame or guilt,
without hiding herself behind any kind of excuse. In ancient times a
woman not able to bear children lost their role in the society,
practically seen as the only roll, to become useless, a blemish and
tabu. An insult she didn't deserve. Those who can't reproduce or choose
not to are severely criticised as being selfish. But all people,
everybody, is selfish to a more or lesser degree, irrespective of
whether they have children or not.Why is this stupid idea still exists
today in many parts of the world, and in some modern and educated minds
of many?
Sterile
means barren, unproductive, but isn't it ridiculously used in just one
respect regarding her ability to produce a child? Regardless of how
much she is creative in art, craft, skills in almost all kinds of
professional fields, contributing her time, talent and effort for the
good of mankind and the well-being of the society. Not only they are
productive but prolific in culture, literature, health projects,
administrative and even governmental duties. They work on the land, at
sea, in the air, down the mines and up in aircraft. Where would the
world be without them?
