WOMAN
by Zaldy Gutierrez
As a child, the girl is usually our mothers’ helper. While we, boys, play outside, our sister helps with the household chores like cooking, washing the dishes, doing the laundry, ironing, and other domestic tasks commanding skills that may come in handy someday when she starts her own families. Our poor sister usually gives way, whether by will or force, to us during disagreements, especially when our parents are not around.
As a teen, she begins to outwit us because of her natural analytical skills. Suddenly, she turns into the person who can understand our sensitive side. She is the one who patiently listens to us when we can’t tell the world how we feel, when our machismo prevents us from opening up to our kakosa, when we try to hide our telenovela moments by drinking, throwing jokes around and singing rock ‘n’ roll.
As a partner, a steady or a wife, she is the source of our energy and glory, the one who satisfies us even if we often forget to ask if she feels the same way. Staying quietly in the background, she manages to keep our lives in order. Indeed, behind every successful man is a supportive woman.
Despite her impact, society still views the woman as fragile, always the damsel in distress needing rescue from the man of steel. Yet, no man can ever match the bravery of the woman that she can readily give up her life for her child. For nine months, sometimes less, she carries the fruit of a man’s nine-second pleasure, sacrificing her beautiful body and pretty face, exposing her bare breast to the public if only to console her weeping child.
For all of these and more, I admit, I am grateful for the women in my life.
