There is power in Femininity.

Ebun, Inclusions

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie states that in Africa masculinity is defined in a very narrow way; we teach boys to be afraid of weakness, vulnerability, taught to mask themselves because they must be in Nigerian speak a ‘hardman’. In a recent TED talk, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie argued that we should all be Feminists, and during her TED talk the mention of masculinity as a force that treats women in an inferior way stirred me to challenge this view. Additionally, as a woman it is important to pursue success directly for yourself rather than depend on solely on a male figure i.e. in marriage. Do not misunderstand me, marriage is a great and necessary institution where when done accordingly is to uplift both the man and woman as they work together and individually in the workplace, home etc. But I believe women should not have to feel the need to shrink back to appeal to a male figure or appear desirable. Rather in African societies women should be taught even more to be unafraid when pursuing a successful career thus earning her own money, conquering her goals, paying due bills, these are important skills for life in general and one could argue in preparation for marriage. Simply marriage is a partnership where both men and women can be able to support their family financially (solely my opinion, as this has been the example I have seen from my parents). “Boys and girls are undeniably different, biologically but socialisation exaggerates the difference- then it becomes a self-fulling process”. Another soundbite from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, she explains that typically in Africa females are socialised, raised to see cooking and cleaning as their normative role. On the other hand, the son is not taught the same rules because of gender expectations placed in African societies and around the world. She also mentions how an important skill to ‘nourish oneself’ will be left in the hands of another, in other words why is it not more of a norm for a man to feed himself? I am aware that gender roles have stretched and more men are doing what is typically a ‘female role’, looking after the children and so on, but my challenge is that these gender expectations can result to harm. Due to lack of money, poverty and conditions like these, child labour takes place. Sub-Sahara Africa studies have revealed that 49 million children are involved in child labour usually between the ages 10 and 14 most are likely to be females; in a case such as, helping around the house. Thus, my point is that in instances where females are expected to conform to gender expectations it can lead to children who become victims of various abuses such as, Trafficking, Oppression. “Focus on ability instead of gender” Here are 5 names of successful women in Africa who have paved the way in proving that there is power in Femininity beyond traditional gender expectations. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie– renowned Nigerian novelist. She is regarded as one of the most powerful voices on women issues. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf– she is the first elected female President in Africa. Also known for turning Liberia around fighting the deadly Ebola crisis. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala– Finance minister of Nigeria and Harvard educated economist. Dambisa Moyo– accomplished economist and author. She worked at the World Bank and eight years At Goldman Sachs. Mimi Alenmayehou– is credited as one of the architects of President Obama’s Power Africa initiative to increase energy access across Africa.

Sources:

We should all be feminists, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie TEDxEuston https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg3umXU_qWc Makama, Godiya Allanana, PATRIARCHY AND GENDER INEQUALITY IN NIGERIA: THE WAY FORWARD http://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/1161 Omotosho, Babatunde Joshua and Adefolaju, Toyin, ATTITUDES OF CIVIL SERVANTS TO THE USE OF DOMESTIC HELPERS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA. http://www.idpublications.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ATTITUDES-OF-CIVIL-SERVANTS-TO-THE-USE-OF-DOMESTIC-HELPERS-IN-SOUTHWEST-NIGERIA.pdf THE AFRICAN EXPONENT https://www.africanexponent.com/post/8082-most-powerful-women-in-africa