Who are the flag-bearers of morality?

A few weeks ago a man from Limpopo introduced the Virginity Awards. These awards are dedicated to young girls or women who keep their virginity till marriage. A radio journalist was asking why is it that when it comes to morality, women and girls are mostly advices to keep their virginity. What about men and boys? Is it not a sexist idea that one sex should be preached to more than the other?

I say, to uphold morality is the duty of every male and female, however the greater advice is given to women and young girls as they are more vulnerable. In an immoral society women greatly suffer the consequences much more than their male counterparts. Women and girls easily fall prey to emotional and physical abuse and they are left to deal with unwanted pregnancies, dropping out of school due to the strains of pregnancy, and are left with the responsibility of taking care of babies. We have “16 Days of activism against women and children abuse”, not because men are not being abused but because women and children are more exposed to violence and mistreatment.

If men and boys know that sex is not easily available to them but earned through a moral commitment, it will encourage them to step up to be better, reliable and responsible men. Men and boys too need that emphasized teaching on discipline and accountability.

We have sayings such as “to teach a woman is to teach a nation” because of the realisation of the revered and important state of women, and the role that they can play in order to raise or sink the society.  There has to be someone that sets precedence, women are more than capable of doing that for their communities if they so wish. Women being the first to come into contact with human life, the first teachers through motherhood, are in a better position to teach their sons to be reputable and liable from an early age. The often used negligent words, “a boy is a boy” or "a man is a man" to express that men or boys should be left to their bad behaviour are not working positively towards building a constructive, responsible and moral society, and sadly these words are mostly uttered by women.

To uphold morality is the duty of every male and female, nevertheless it is more of an honour than a burden to give the flag of morality to women. In conclusion Imam Ali bin Abu Talib (as) says “woman is a delicate creature with strong emotions, who has been created by the Almighty God to shoulder responsibility for educating society and moving toward perfection. God created woman as a symbol of His own beauty and to give solace to her partner and her family.”

May God guide and help us towards establishing a moral society.

Peace