avatarSuma Narayan

Summary

The web content is a reflective poem and accompanying narrative that delves into the themes of female empowerment, the societal constructs surrounding womanhood, and the importance of reclaiming the narrative around femininity and equality.

Abstract

The poem titled "Let In The Light" is a poignant exploration of the historical and cultural burdens placed upon women, characterized as the pillars of the home and yet often blamed for its downfall. It challenges the myths and stereotypes of women as impure or wicked, perpetuated by male-dominated narratives. The text advocates for the empowerment of women and girls through self-love, self-value, and the realization of their inherent strengths and divine nature. It emphasizes the need for women to own their stories, reject imposed impurity, and embrace their role as creators and nurturers of humanity. The narrative concludes with a call to action for women to shine brightly without hiding their light, suggesting that empowered women can reshape the world by reclaiming their truth and rightful place in society.

Opinions

  • The author critiques the traditional role of women as solely responsible for the harmony of the home and challenges the notion that a woman's virtue is intrinsically linked to the well-being of her household.
  • The poem reflects on the historical creation of negative female archetypes by men, which have been used to control and devalue women, justifying their mistreatment in society.
  • There is an emphasis on the importance of women empowering each other, which is seen as a key factor in changing the narrative and allowing women to believe in their own worth and truth.
  • The text suggests that menstruation, often stigmatized as unclean, should be revered as a life-giving and divine process, criticizing the patriarchal deities that label it as impure.
  • The author posits that when women are taught to love and value themselves, they can assert their voice and agency, refusing to surrender control of their lives and stories.
  • The poem concludes with the belief that if women are allowed to shine and share their light, they can contribute significantly to the betterment of humanity.

Let In The Light

A poem about Liberty, Equality, Sorority

Photo by Ashlyn Ciara on Unsplash

If (all girls are taught,) Anything goes wrong In the house Or a home It is the woman’s fault. She is the pillar of the house The temple precinct The backbone of the home If she strays If she stops being virtuous Or devout, or disciplined, The home comes crashing down.

Buttressed by legend and lore Created by men in austere caves Or temples, or palaces, or forests, Men waited on, served, looked after by a woman Who created the myth Of the witch, the wanton, the wicked woman The impure, the unclean, the ungodly The creature it was possible, Nay, advisable, to use…and discard If it was done for the ‘greater glory’ Of ‘man’kind , mankind or huManity.

There is no one Who can reclaim the narrative The story, the legend, the lore But a woman, a girl Empowered by another woman To believe in herself Her body, her truth Her right to say “no!” And have it believed …to realise, that a bleeding That creates life Is not unclean, but divine And that only a god created by a Man Would assign impurity to it.

If, (all girls are taught,) To love themselves first Before they love anyone else, To value themselves, In all their ferocious strengths and frailties, To realise that they have a voice, too Since they are Not only half of humanity They CREATED the other half of humanity To own their own stories and lives And not surrender control… Then, they would never have to hide their light And the eternal source it comes from.

2022 Suma Narayan. All Rights Reserved.

Shoutout to Dr. Fatima Imam for this delightful story:

And a shoutout to Ravyne Hawke, for this brave, brilliant piece:

Light
Life
Life Lessons
Feminism
Women
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