The family is referred to as the basic social unit of the society or nation. It can be defined as a group of persons united by ties of marriage, blood, and adoption, constituting a single household interacting and inter-communicating with each other in their respective social roles. The family is also seen as a living cell that provides life, dynamism, and strength to nation-building. It is one of the basic molders of a nation’s culture and values. It is the first and the most basic community to which every human being belongs.
Furthermore, dignity is the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or respected. It is accorded to any individual who proves him/ herself of having self-respect and good manners or good virtues from her biological family as a young girl, then practice it in her community as an adolescent and make it parts and parcel of her as a married woman in the society where she lives and serves. When a woman accords that dignity, it is obvious that its aroma will ooze out and people around her will perceive the fragrance of her good manners and reciprocate by honoring and respecting her. Parents should understand the importance of inculcating dignity into the young ones, especially the girls who are prospective mothers. However, these virtues could be inculcated via quality education, sound morals, protection from harm, giving a listening ear to their children, making them feel belonged in their family, being friendly to their children, being a model, teaching them self-control, self-discipline, and self-management, etc. If these principles are adhered to, it’s obvious that such habits will eventually be passed on to society at large. If this becomes part and parcel of them, there is no doubt also that they become women with dignity.
Howbeit, there are two kinds of dignity which include human dignity and social dignity.
Human dignity is the fundamental principle of human rights. it is the quality of values that belongs to every human being simply by being human. Human dignity justifies human rights. The ability to recognize and imbibe human dignity is very paramount for the good of the entire world.
In addition, social dignity refers to the quality of values that belongs to everybody in society. Social dignity rest solely on relationship practices. It encompasses respecting the rights of people, respecting laws of the family, church, or the nation, respecting the norms and culture of the land, care and supporting the marginalized, etc. However, what makes a strong woman in the family is her sense of self-worth, her right to have and to determine choices, her right to have access to opportunities and resources, her right to have power and little control of their own life within and outside the home, her ability to influence and direct the social environment. When these are achieved, such a woman can be accorded dignity both in her family and the community at large.
Furthermore, a woman’s Dignity consists of three major things namely, self-respect, respect for others, and full responsibility for her actions.
Self-respect/self-love entails a mother or wife treating herself with love, and care, being true to self, having no compromise, being self-disciplined, brave, having self-confidence, being patient, diligent, generous, and courageous. A healthy level of self-respect helps one to set firm boundaries and know one’s strengths and weaknesses. When a woman possesses such traits, she is perceived as being an epitome of tenderness, care, and wisdom by her husband and children.
Moreso, respect for others is another virtue a woman imbibes. She recognizes others beginning from her husband, children, relatives, and anywhere she finds herself. She builds a team network of support- protecting others’ interests, caring for others, being patient with others, showing gratitude to others, refusing to criticize others, trusting others, giving others rights due to them, etc. Sequel to these traits she will always be distinguished where ever she finds herself. The husband and children will be proud of her.
The woman takes full responsibility for her actions. The roles of women can never be over-emphasized, women are the organizers, primary decision-makers, administrators, economists, first teachers, etc. They play significant roles that are all essential to the families, communities, and the nation at large. Hence, a woman who portrays these attributes is regarded as a dignified woman. What makes a woman to be accorded dignity is her character as a wife, her generosity and gentle voice as a neighbor, her caring, humility, and forgiveness as a mother, her management nature as a woman, her gracefulness as a homemaker, etc. Strong families build up strong communities which her members in turn build a strong nation.
In conclusion, whatever the individual woman displays outside her family is a result of what she has learned and modeled from her family. These have a lot to contribute to the building or falling of the nation. The rise and fall of the nation depend on the rise and fall of the unit of our families. Therefore, the family is the frontline security of the nation. There is no doubt that any woman who is well-trained with both formal and informal education from her biological home is going to make her family, community, and nation proud. By so doing, dignity is accorded to her. Hence, we all must put more effort and strive to acquire at least reasonable attributes of a good family for the growth and development of the nation at large.
