The Sunday Mail
Prince Mushawevato
THERE is a new type of woman, one holding her own in everything, the truly independent woman.
Gone are the days when women used to depend on men to have the best of what the country, even the world, has to offer. Local women now typify the “Independent Woman”, as sung by the now defunct American girl group Destiny’s Child.
Zimbabwean women have stepped up to the plate and are swinging their bats in an impressive manner.
The women drive top-of-the-range cars, push grocery trolleys filled to the brim and make payments for all types of services with their money.
It is no longer a surprise to find women at the helm in the mining, security and financial services.
And these women have transformed life as we used to know it.
It is no longer a surprise to find men being hosted by women in hotels, bars and restaurants.
Interestingly, it is now common to find groups of women, with no men involved, having the time of their lives at various pleasure joints. Back in the days, such groups were faultily classified as sex workers or opportunists baiting well-to-do men.
Yes, it is true that devious characters still exist and frequent the same places with this new breed of independent women, but an umbrella verdict is no longer applicable.
A number of women interviewed shared similar positive sentiments over the development.
For them, the turn in tables creates a balance within the national and family set-up.
Last week, Botanic Expressions co-director and socialite Enacia Murimi argued that the previous status quo was oppressive and it promoted stereotyping in a way.
“For long, men have been viewed as the key to happiness. This scenario has in a way promoted domestic abuse. A number of ladies would give up a lot to be with a guy or man they thought would make them happy and provide the necessities of life,” said Murimi.
The women have literally mastered the art of spoiling themselves. A visit to some of the joints that they frequent would certainly make any chauvinist turn green with envy. They dance, wiggle and ululate to loud playing music and make no effort to hook the super machos around them.
On too many times, men have had to walk away with tails neatly tucked between their legs after attempts to appear jazzy and buy drinks for this new class of women has been turned down.
The women have literally assumed roles that were previously male-dominated. These women have made it their responsibility to spoil their partners. The ladies not only provide transport to and from entertainment joints, but also provide the much-needed cash for the outing to be a success.
“Of course, it is good to have your partner take you out, but this should not be because you are financially incapacitated. The problem with relying on a man taking you out is that he will end up having too much control over your life and if they abuse you in the process, it will be difficult for you to stand your ground,” noted a Bulawayo-based socialite, Lisa McKenzie.
“I have since made it a policy that I foot the bills everytime I go out with my partner, this way I’m always safe. Should I decide to move on with my life, it would be without hassles,” she added.
But the rise of this new order has been received with mixed feelings by men. While some have embraced the paradigm shift, others with huge egos have tried to maintain the arrangement by looking for alternative ways to maintain their dominance.
In African societies, a sizeable number of men are intimidated by women who are not submissive to traditional gender roles.
For instance, a number of couples have gone on to divorce when the man can no longer provide for the family or the woman has all of sudden eclipsed the husband, financially.
A popular celebrity who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity acknowledged that changes in lifestyles had, indeed, taken place in this country. He, however, said it would be difficult for him to allow any lady to take him out.
“I don’t mind receiving a treat on my birthday or some other special day like Valentine’s Day. What I will not allow, though, is to make those treats an order of the day, what then will classify me as a man? If you allow that (being taken out), you might as well let the lady marry you,” he explained.
On the flip-side, Pride Tinarwo, a mechanic by profession, believes there is no problem in men being spoilt by their partners, even on a daily basis.
“That is gender equality. We are now separated by our physical and biological make-up only. Whoever has money should take care of their partner in a relationship. There is no need to make a fuss about the issue. After all, partying is partying, it doesn’t matter where the funds are coming from,” argued Tinarwo.
