Dear Editor,

It is admirable that men are trying to stop violence against women, children - anybody, and are turning up twice each week to SVSG to educate themselves about the problem.

The problem I see in some societies, Samoa included, is that males have to be seen as the heads of families. Bunkum to that I say!

In this day and age of everyone spreading the word about teamwork, isn’t it time you all got away from that antiquated, centuries-old notion that males lead?

There are a great many good women in Samoa, and all deserve better than what is being dished out to them at the moment. It’s time for improvement.

Women of Samoa are trying their hardest to get equal rights, and yet this ridiculous, misguided, out-of-date mindset that males are, or need to be, the head of households - heads of families, are still being put up there. Unfortunately, even some women who are trying to get equal rights have this notion that males have to be the leaders.

Samoa is missing out, and women are not doing their emancipation/equality cause any favours by putting themselves behind the men in the first place.

It’s not just time for women to speak out for their betterment, but for males to help as well. Men, get off your high horses before you fall off – or get pushed!

It is no wonder there are so few women in parliament.

Males lead the household, represent the families at meetings, and are on the village councils.

It’s a wonder there are any women in parliament at all.

Marriage is a team thing, a partnership of equals, there should be no head of family, figurehead, leader, boss or whatever term you want to put on it.

I couldn’t imagine myself lording over my wife, she is my best friend – ever. And if she did it to me, we may never have gotten together in the first place.

I prefer my best friend to be with me, not some subservient person, she tells me this is so for her as well!

You can call us – Team Murphy!

Larry Murphy