Phantom phalluses

I was recently ambushed by three young women while on my way to the pharmacy. They were peddling small chocolate bars and peanuts in a desperate effort to earn a little money. One, a 22-year-old, gave me her telephone number and begged me to find a job (in a store, shop or home) for her because she had a baby to feed. Of course, I inquired about the child's father, and she related the usual woeful tale of abandonment that I have heard innumerable times.

Our society (especially in the lower-income bracket) is filled with phantom phalluses that only give the illusion of having some substance, until they get what they want and then disappear into thin air the first chance they get.

Too many Jamaicans never know their fathers, are completely out of touch with them or know precious little about them. That robs physicians of half the patient's family history and, therefore, of clues to their predispositions (risk factors for diabetes mellitus, hypertension and some cancers, among many others). And, we know that fragmented family nuclei are the major cause of the criminality.

I'm not surprised by the vanishing act of phantom phalluses (that's their modus operandi). However, the predictable gullibility of women who repeatedly fall for the insincere words, lies, macho attitudes, false sense of security and empty promises that the phantom phalluses feed them and have been feeding them for generations baffles me.

Phantom phalluses see women as toys and (sometimes) as vessels for their 'youths'. Consequently, women birth youths for one phantom phallus after another in the utterly vain hope that one will remain and act maturely. This, even though phantom phalluses very rarely accept responsibility for the youths they 'get' (the term 'father' has sober connotations foreign to phantom phalluses). Women have seen family, friends and children abandoned, suffer grave indignities, violence and incredible hardships because of phantom phalluses - yet they fail to learn, even vicariously.

Irreparable harm

Phantom phalluses always seek to conquer as many women as they can. The human female owning the object that they desire, has to be wooed, convinced, cajoled, tricked or even coerced into giving it up. Women discuss, criticise and complain about phantom phalluses and the irreparable harm they have done to so many others, yet they inexplicably allow themselves to fall prey to and be conquered by phantom phalluses anyway. I find that incredible.

It's sad, but true, that many uneducated and/or desperate women seek financial help from phantom phalluses. However, after the phantom phalluses do their disappearing act, the women end up right back where they started, but worse for the wear and often with another mouth to feed (a youth to raise) all by herself.

Abandoned women, abandoned children, abandoned families, abandoned communities, abandoned morals, horrific crime, murder and mayhem all stem from the actions of phantom phalluses, yet women cling to the same self-destructive practices that play out over and over again and ruin our society from within its core.

Nothing but trouble

I take every opportunity to warn young women that phantom phalluses don't see them as sentient beings with personal needs and a future life. Phantom phalluses are completely self-indulgent and will say and do anything to get to their goal.

For the sake of their psychological and physical health, for the sake of their future, for the sake of their children, for the sake of our country, it's time that women treat these phantom phalluses like what they truly are - nothing, nothing but trouble that is.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.