I AM NOW A FEMINIST...

This post was written yesterday and put up on Facebook. I hope  you enjoy reading.

"I've read quite a few of the seminal feminist texts, but for a long time, I didn't. And I like to think I learned a lot about gender and power by watching local women in Nigeria, particularly women who are sort of lower down on the class hierarchy because I kind of felt that so much was against them that sometimes they exhibit a kind of strength that I didn't find in more educated and privileged women." - Adichie

I always want to start with the above thought whenever I scribble down anything on feminism and that's because in the past, I didn't believe that today's girls are suffering half of what the older generation or even the poorer women suffer to be yapping about feminism and gender equality. In my then chauvinist state of mind, I'd think that 'the world is already making genders equal. A little more patience and we're there. Ranting about feminism won't perform magic'. Like I said, this was me in the past.

Fast forward to the me now... I have become a feminist. An unapologetic one at that. I've come to think and see and understand what these girls go through that I've taken a personal decision, not only to correct acts that promote gender inequality to the best of my ability but to raise a daughter - Awele Opuruiche Olanna Ijeoyibo (these names are in my list for one person) and a son - Odenigbo (I haven't seen another catchy one) who'll understand and live this equality.

In the past I used to have issues becoming a feminist. First because male feminists were seen as guys who'd want to appear all nicey to females just because they wanted sex. Second because of the strong backgrounds that promoted gender inequality including the Bible and the Koran... (religious addicts should please not talk to me about this).

But I have a problem... My fellow feminists should understand that feminism promotes equality of sexes in politics, socialization and otherwise and while it tends to correct gender imbalances, it is not a war against men. First, like I mentioned earlier, I am a feminist. So, feminism is not for women who are unhappy or unmarried and are clocking 40. I know extremely happy, beautiful, and even married feminists so... That's not about the discuss...

I agree that women's place isn't in the kitchen. They should have equal political opportunities. They should have opinions. But... That's just about one side of the coin...

Recently I read a post on facebook from an angry male who thinks the department of Microbiology in UNN had made a terrible mistake by "letting girls" win the posts of President, Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. I was overwhelmed with shame when I read that post and in the words of Ada Monique, I honestly wished I could "unread" what I had read. Of course I didn't fail to outrightly "finish" this guy. When Frank read my comments, he tagged it "cyber bullying". Now... I don't want to spite the said guy but... each time I think of that post, a new reply comes to my mind and I wish I could go back and take his case up again.

But, this is just about it for girls... what about the guys? I don't know whether some girls who sing the songs of being feminists think that because the word looks more like the word feminine, it means a fight of women against men.

Now, I've laughed hysterically when I meet some of these girls. They talk about laws and dictates against the girls/women and forget the ones against men. Some of them know entirely nothing about war treaties against killing of women and children (suggestive of men being the ones to die). They also forget that when planes crash or a ship is about to founder, women and children are given preference over men if safety rescue measures are being taken (Watch Titanic for example).

Some of these girls yap about feminism and still expect guys to pay for their food at restaurants or to attend parties where guys pay and girls are free or still call guys to send them money to make their hair whenever it was time for that simply because 'the guy loves her'... A guy is shy and a feminist girl tells him to 'be a man' because shyness is reserved for girls? A guy can't be just tired? He isn't a man if he can't pretend not to be afraid of many things? He's a female son if he doesn't like football? He must be the one to make money and "make it" and then come and propose?

I look at all these socially defined disparities and they are just as important to be addressed in this war against gender inequality.

I don't belong to any of the conventional 50-50 groups but just yesterday,  I got a message from Purple Club to come for my induction. Now, I didn't attend any of their interviews so I don't know where the induction gist came from but maybe, that message was just a sign.

So, today, I've become a feminist.

And I'm of the opinion that a girl who runs her mouth towards a guy should get mouth running in return. And the one who slaps a guy should be ready to be beaten and no one would try to make the guy less of a guy by calling him a woman-beater.

The purple induction is tomorrow. I just may attend.

But, today, this evening, I've become a feminist, I am not horny and I want my fellow feminists to practise feminism right.

Rt. Hon. Rotr. Kizito Eze - Odenigbo.
MHR SUG 2016
ASISD Rota-UNN

NWANYI OGBETE

"I've read quite a few of the seminal feminist texts, but for a long time, I didn't. And I like to think I learned a lot about gender and power by watching local women in Nigeria, particularly women who are sort of lower down on the class hierarchy because I kind of felt that so much was against them that sometimes they exhibit a kind of strength that I didn't find in more educated and privileged women." - Adichie

I personally find the single image of strength in women troubling. The bourgeoisie image. The very privileged image. The educated higher-middle class and upper class image.

Troubling because as a person who is interested in the "everydayness" of people, I've learned that strength defies social class.

I should tell you about the female Keke rider (commercial tricyclist) I once met at 7 and 8 junction and how she unflinchingly told this annoying man off after he had told her that she wasn't fit to be patronized because 'she's a woman'. Or this woman in a bus I boarded last year. How she talked about her husband who had lost his job, and how he joined her in working at her restaurant. How he did the dishes and served customers since his cooking wasn't really good. I remember how she flatly responded saying that they both have to because they both need to eat and survive and it isn't really that deep after some passengers had eulogized her husband for 'helping' his wife to wash plates.

I should tell you about a friend's mother who single-handedly runs one of the biggest soft drinks depots in Enugu, despite being constantly reminded of how it's a 'business for men'.

Or this particular meat market at Colliery Road with female butchers.

I particularly want to celebrate all the ordinary women who do extraordinary things everyday. Women who still hold their own with little or no formal education. Women that are never in the news. Women who haven't used 600 million naira for house renovation. Women who haven't embezzled 13 billion pounds in a space of less than seven years from a country struggling to attain development. Women with few privileges that still embody strength. Those women that sell fruits in UNN girls' hostels instead of their bodies at Otigba junction. Nwanyi Nsukka... that one that hustles day and night at Ogige selling Ugba and Abacha or Ogiri or Okpei or Azu Mangara or Azu Fridge or Vegetables or Okrika, or Okpa. Umunwanyi Ogbete... Those ones with sane and safe hustles amidst class intimidation existent in Enugu. Everyday women!

                  -Odenigbo