WOMEN IN PUBLIC SPEAKING

Philosophy Students are familiar with Philosophers like Plato, Immanuel Kant, Socrates, Aristotle, Rene' Descartes, Karl Max, Thomas Aquinas, Confucious & many others. These famous Philosophers are all men. Now, just before you conclude based on the above statement that our thinking was shaped only by male Philosophers, history has recorded women philosophers like Hannah Arendt. Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) was a German Philosopher and Political Theorist. "There are no dangerous thoughts; thinking itself is dangerous" she wrote. Ayn Rand (1905-1982) a half Russian, half American writer and Philosopher. Quoting her words Ayn wrote, "The question isn't who is going to let me; it is who is going to stop me?" The challenge of women philosophers among other things was that women think emotionally rather than rationally. Because philosophy is a field of critical thinking, women who are already deemed emotional beings are already disqualified or disqualify themselves. Public Speaking, arguments and debates dominated philosophy. Women who were still regarded weaker vessels, home-makers and emotional beings are unlikely to pursue this field of Public Speaking because a woman can't be seen arguing against men. Women winning against men, women articulating themselves in front of men goes against the cultural norms of those days, even now. Most women in family gatherings and in corporate world come up with brilliant well thought through solutions, but are shot down, dismissed by male colleagues because to them a woman is incapable to think rationally. Speaking in gatherings whether family or village is a duty for leaders in those cultures where men lead, and where women follow it's difficult for women to consider Public Speaking. Because rational thinking has to do with intellectual, critical thinking, women who are deemed emotional thinkers can't be given space in Public Speaking because those who speak, lead. Those who listen and obey, follow. Have you messed up an assignment from your boss and you said, "I thought....." and before you could finish your sentence your boss shouted, "I didn't hire you to think but to do as told". More and more our culture is discouraging thinking. Thinkers are pushed away and their ideas frowned upon. We proud ourselves by these words, "why reinvent a wheel" and with these words our will to think is demotivated. We can't make changes to the wheel, improve on the wheel or change the wheel altogether because we don't have the will to think differently and independently. Therefore in a culture where women aren't allowed to be leaders, public speaking remain predominantly a domain of male Speakers. Truth is very few Public Speakers are Philosophers or thinkers. We don't want to reinvent the wheel, we tag along with Plato, Kant, Socrates, Karl Marx without critically applying our minds. The Motivational Speakers continue to recycle the same ideas from John C Maxwell religiously. Coming back to women, I believe and know that there are many women out there who are thinkers. But thinking alone is not enough. One has to labor thinking with their intellect but most importantly convey, communicate, speak forth their thinking in a language of influence. Those who think without writing or speaking go to their graves loaded with gold that was never offloaded. I speak to women to step out of their cultural, social, political and religious box of limitations and break the boundaries, break them rules! If you don't, your thoughts that would have contributed to medicine, politics, education, economics, humanitarian, art etc. will go with you to the grave without offloading. Don't allow culture to make you die full, you are not allowed to die full. Empty yourself! Those who speak out their thinking begin to influence lives through spoken word. And we know that those who master in spoken word become influencers. And we know that those who influence others eventually lead others. The question you may be asking, "Is leadership associated with public speaking?" Yes it is! Precisely why women struggle to step up and speak out because speaking is leading, it is leadership. As I encourage you all but especially women to face your fear of public speaking and and step up let me quote the words of a female Philosopher

Hannah Arendt, "There are no dangerous thoughts; thinking itself is dangerous". Whoever controls your thoughts controls you. Think them thoughts! Love thoughts, spiritual thoughts, deep thoughts, weird thoughts, crazy thoughts, intimate thoughts, political thoughts, leadership thoughts, powerful thoughts, angry thoughts, dangerous thoughts, and keep on thinking them thoughts! The freedom to think is dangerous. Precisely why Dictators, politicians and religious leaders discourage you from thinking so you won't rebel against the regime. Another female Philosopher's words, "The question isn't who is going to let me; it is who is going to stop me?" Wow powerful! Whoever you are if you considering Public Speaking don't wait until someone gives you a gig. Don't be a victim in line waiting for a man to let you into the industry. Don't wait for someone to introduce you. Step up and say, "who is going to stop me Now?