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Positive Aspects of Womyn's Roles in Traditional Rastafari
The respect that Rastamen pay to Rastawomyn draws greatly upon the history of the"Queen Omega"phenomenon. Haile Selassie's wife, Empress Menen, was referred to as Queen Omega. Leonard P. Howell in The Promised Key describes the title of Queen Omega as follows:
"Queen Omega, the Ethiopian woman is the crown woman of this world. She hands us the rule book from the poles of Supreme Authority. She is the Canon Mistress of our creation, King Alpha [Haile Selassie] and Queen Omega are the paymasters of the world. Queen Omega being the blaming mistress of many worlds, she charges the powerhouse right now"(Jahug, Pg. 37).
Hence, Queen Omega was taken to mean the crown empress of Ethiopia at the given time, i.e. Empress Menen. The above quote shows that the title is honorific and respectful. Moreover, the quote shows that Queen Omega is a strong woman who challenges oppression and the 44 powerhouse"(ibid, pg. 38). The Rastas believe that the Rastawomyn are the daughters of Queen Omega. Hence, they see the positive qualities associated with Queen Omega in every Rastafari womyn, and the title of Queen Omega can be extended to womyn of the Rasta culture to be a symbol of the deep respect held for that individual. This is the highest title that a womyn can be given.
Just as the Rastamen modeled themselves after the Emperor Haile Selassie, the Rastawomyn took on Empress Menen, Queen Omega, as their own role model. Similarly, the religious tenets of Rastafari dictated that the men should treat their womyn with the same respect that is due to the Queen Omega Empress Menen. Furthermore,"the psychological effect upon the black womyn to have an Afrikan womyn reigning as empress in regal splendor and being paid homage"(ibid, pg. 38) was extremely significant. It gave Rastawomyn an esteem and selfrespect that they had never before been granted. In this respect, the idea of Queen Omega took on a more abstract meaning in that it became a symbol of the esteem and honor that is due to all Rastawomyn. This not only affected the way the Rastawomyn saw themselves, but it also affected how they were seen and treated by their male counterparts. However, Empress Menen's early death led to a decreased focus on the Rastawomyn and her important role in the community.
In addition, the titles men use for Rastawomyn symbolize the respect they have for them. If there is one thing I have learned in this class it is that rhetoric and the use of specific language in certain ways can have very powerful effects. It is often noted that much of the language used in the Rasta culture as well as in reggae music is masculinist and sexist. However, one must not overlook the fact that amidst that sexist and patriarchal ideology also lies a deep respect that Rastamen have for their womyn. The titles that Rastawomyn are given reflect this respect. The womyn are called either"Sisters,""Daughters,"or"Queens."These titles are distributed regardless of one's age, status (sexual, marital, or familial), or appearance. Each of the"roles are accorded the natural familial connotations of respect, love, protection, and support"(Nicholas, 1966: 64). Respectful titles may not seem like a very big deal to many westerners, but they are very important in the Rasta culture. The titles reflect the fact that, regardless of the way that many dancehall musicians refer to womyn (which is usually in a degrading manner), traditional Rasta culture views womyn with respect and honor.
In addition to honorific titles, another positive aspect of men's treatment toward womyn is their desire to keep womyn relaxed and contented at all times (ibid, pg. 64). Rastamen feel as though womyn should never have to worry or be upset for any reasons; rather, they wish them to be at ease with themselves and at peace with the world at all times. This is reflected in Bob Marley's popular song lyrics"No woman, no cry"(ibid, pg. 64). However, as we will see later, this may also have negative effects such that the desire to keep womyn at ease may push them out of socio-political thought and reasoning for fear that it would put them at unease and discontent.
The Rastafarian emphasis on nature, love, and peace also has positive effects on the Rastawomyn. In contrast to much of western culture, Rastawomyn are not socialized to believe that their worth lies in how they look. Rather, their worth lies in who they are and how they conduct themselves. Furthermore, the Rasta culture is also relatively free from the competition among womyn for the affection of men that is so common to the minority world."A womyn is what she is or isn't born with, and her worth in life is relative only to her acceptance of Rastafari, the resultant peace and love within herself and her contribution to her family and community"(ibid, pg. 65). This content with one's natural being and life course fosters a community with relatively little jealousy or competition among Rastawomyn.
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