The tragic story of a Wells Fargo employee attests to the ills that Capitalism, Feminism and Individualism can bring to society.
Local reports state that 60-year-old Denise Prudhomme entered the Wells Fargo office building on the 1100 block of West Washington Street in Tempe, Arizona, at 7 a.m. on August 16. She scanned into her office on a Friday morning and was discovered dead at her desk four days later.
On August 20, building security alerted officials about a “subject down,” according to AZ Family. Speaking anonymously to 12News, an employee said a colleague discovered Prudhomme dead at her cubicle while walking around the building.
An employee who spoke to 12News said several people had complained about a foul odor, assuming it was due to plumbing issues. Another employee shared their shock, stating: “It’s really heartbreaking, and I’m thinking, ‘What if I were just sitting there? No one would check on me?’” They added, “To hear she’s been sitting at the desk like that would make me feel sick … and nobody did anything. That’s how she spent her last moments.”
In a statement to 12News, a Wells Fargo spokesperson expressed their condolences: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague at our Tempe office. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family and loved ones during this difficult time. Counsellors, through our employee assistance consulting service, are available to support our employees. We are fully cooperating with the Tempe police department in their investigation and will direct all further questions to them.”
Police have stated that their initial investigation did not indicate any foul play. The Tempe police criminal investigations bureau is working with the Maricopa County medical examiner to determine Prudhomme’s cause of death.
Prudhomme held a corporate position in the banking industry. The tragedy of her death is compounded by the fact that she did not have any family or loved ones who might have checked on her or inquired about her absence and why she hadn’t come home over the span of four days. While we do not know her personal circumstances, (it is possible that she lived alone and had adult children given her age), yet no one checked on her well-being. This situation highlights the disquieting reality that, in our capitalistic driven society, an individual can devote their entire life to satisfying their work colleagues, to the extent that their death goes unnoticed by those very people. Furthermore, family seems to be an institution only acknowledged on December 25 in the West.
In the study Why So Many Women Middle Aged Women on Antidepressants, it was found that a staggering 1 in 5 women aged between 40 and 59 over used antidepressants in USA from 2015-2018.
Similarly, in the longitudinal study conducted by Blanchflower Well-being over time in Britain and the USA, the rates of wellbeing among women between 1970 and 1990 in the USA and UK were analysed. 100,000 women were interviewed. Interestingly, the study concluded that there is no longer a feeling of rising well-being among women.
For women, being a homemaker is a role which is given supreme importance in Islam. Giving and receiving love and nurturing strong family bonds is evidently what makes women happy.
Seeking education is important for both genders in Islam.
Society cannot function harmoniously if women’s voices are unheard and they are confined to their homes 24 hours a day.
The notion that women are not needed in the workforce is nonsensical. There are for instance, outstanding female doctors who are very much needed. Last September, Yasmin Nazneen of India played a key role in the success of Chandrayaan-3’s Lunar Landing. Many of her professional accomplishments were achieved by working from home, even while she managed her newborn and maintained her marital relationship. Any opportunities that do not hinder a woman’s family life will not prove to be problematic.
A strong relationship with Allah (swt) and the Qur’an, companionship, fulfilling the role of a homemaker, physical exercise, mental stimulation and utilising the gifts and talents bestowed upon us by Allah swt are all essential components of a woman’s well-being.
