I have grown up in a society where tons of illogical rules, customs, and traditions are set for women to follow in order to be considered decent, respectable, and God-fearing. One of these rules is to avoid working in a mixed-gender environment. A lot of women who work in such places are considered depraved and disreputable because they work with the opposite sex. It is as if a pure woman would lose all the good morals she possesses once she sees a man. How can a man trust a woman who works with different men on a daily basis? How can he make sure that she is virtuous? And how can he know if she is going to abuse the freedom she is given? All of these questions are asked by most of my society, including my tribe. I believe that women must not be stigmatized for their basic daily communication with men. What makes a woman virtuous or not is her deeply seated beliefs, principles, morals and ethics, not her workplace, as long as it is proper. A woman of good morals can work with millions of men and know how to keep her relationship with them respectful, and proper. She knows how to act properly and decently. Also, she knows how to stop anyone if he tries to cross any of her red lines. Personally, I see this type of women every day.
However, there is the antithesis of such women; a woman who doesn't mind having a friendly relationship with her male co-workers. However, her interaction with them borders on indecency. She tries to come up with easier ways than hard work to achieve what she wants. Needless to say, this woman doesn't need to work in a mixed-gender environment to act improperly, because she can so if she works in an all-female workplace or even if she sits at home all day; as they say, where there's a will there's a way. Furthermore, there is nothing on earth that can force a woman to adhere to any morals if they are not deeply instilled in her mind.
Ironically, most of the men who think that women who work in mixed-gender environments are indecent, usually have many extramarital relationships with women. If they come across one woman who flirts openly with them, they readily form the opinion that all women are easy to pursue. Forgive me, dear reader, for pointing out what I have assumed is already obvious: if a man has some female colleagues of this type, there is absolutely no need to expect all women to be the same.
But I do have to ask: Who gets to judge the virtue of a woman We were not born to judge people, all people - including women. So who gave men the right to doubt a woman's morals only because she works with men. Personally, I am surrounded by great respectful women who work with men on a daily basis, but they never step out of line. This is because deep down they believe in the importance of having excellent morals. They choose to move up the ranks through sheer hard work. People should stop assuming that female employees who work in mixed-gender environments are immoral and untrustworthy. They must also learn how to respect women for their contribution to society, and their great accomplishments rather than view them as creatures of inherent sin, wherever they go and whatever they do.
