The Facade of Modern Empowerment: A Reflection on Failed Roles and Hollow Pride
By Dr. Aiyeku Olufemi Samuel
In a world where traditional roles are often dismissed as archaic relics, we encounter figures who embody the stark consequences of such disregard. Consider the archetype of a woman who has faltered in her duties as a mother, sister, and wife—irresponsible and unreliable, her failures casting long shadows over those who depend on her What happens when feminism, a movement born of noble intentions for equality, becomes a shield for personal shortcomings? Is it empowerment or merely an excuse for neglect?
Rhetorically, one might ask: Who is this woman parading her pride and arrogance as badges of honour? The answer lies in her actions—or rather, her inactions. As a mother, she abdicated the sacred trust of nurturing and guiding her children, leaving them adrift in a sea of unmet needs. “Motherhood is the exquisite inconvenience of being absolutely needed,” as Anna Quindlen once poignantly observed. Yet, for this figure, that inconvenience seems too burdensome, her feminist ideals perhaps prioritizing self over sacrifice. What value does such a stance hold? Precious little, when it erodes the very foundation of family.
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Turning to her role as a wife, the picture grows even more disheartening. A partnership built on mutual reliability crumbles under the weight of inconsistency and disregard. How can a union thrive when one party views commitment as optional? The answer is clear: It can not. Proverbs from ancient wisdom remind us, “A wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down” (Proverbs 14:1). In this case, the tearing down is not with hands but with apathy fueled by an arrogant dismissal of traditional bonds. Feminism, when wielded as a weapon against accountability, transforms from a force for good into a veil for irresponsibility.
And what of her as a sister? Sibling ties, meant to be threads of support and solidarity, fray when reliability is absent. Why should one expect loyalty from others when they offer none in return? The response echoes hollowly: Because pride demands it, even as it alienates. This arrogance, so disgusting and disheartening, becomes the ultimate annoyance—a constant reminder of untapped potential squandered in the name of misguided independence.
Yet, amid this critique, we must pause and reflect: Is there a redemption in acknowledging these failures? Perhaps, if humility replaces hubris. As Gloria Steinem, a pillar of feminism herself, noted, “The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” For this woman, confronting her shortcomings could be the path to genuine value, transcending the empty shell of pride. Until then, her story serves as a cautionary tale: True empowerment lies not in rejecting roles but in fulfilling them with grace and responsibility.
In the end, what is her worth in this web of failures? The question lingers, urging us to examine our own lives. For in her mirror, we see the perils of arrogance unchecked—disgusting, disheartening, and above all, avoidable.
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