To say that Nigeria is not ready for feminism would be an understatement, but that’s okay because I don’t think any nation – no matter how advanced – is ever ready for feminism. That’s why Nigerian women cannot and should not wait for Nigeria to be ready for feminism. Sometimes, one does not have to prepare for greatness before greatness is thrust upon them.
Granted, there has been a lot of foolishness on the internet, done in the name of feminism, and perhaps, they have shed a comical and unserious light on feminism, making the rest of us look stupid, but when I see women denouncing feminism, I assume that this is because they are simply confused by what feminism actually means. Perhaps, they are just hung up on the word. So naturally, especially in light of recent events, I have compiled a list of what feminism is and isn’t for the confused Nigerian woman. You’re welcome.
What Feminism Is:
1. Advocacy of political, social, and economic equality for women.
2. An end to discrimination against women based on gender.
Simple enough?
What Feminism Isn’t:
1. Hate or disregard of men or husbands
2. Lesbianism
3. Dragging of manhood (we like our literal and figurative genitals, just as they are)
4. Cancellation of menstrual cycle
5. Severing of the uterus or womb
6. Devil worshipping
7. Non-belief in marriage and/or motherhood (like that time Chimamanda dared to be pregnant)
8. Disobedience of the bible
9. Growing wings (humans are actually incapable of doing this)
10. Cessation of cooking (especially in these turbulent times that it can lead to attempted suicide).
11. Dragging of the front seat of your husband’s car (this should not be an issue because the seat is the wife’s, not the mother in-law’s – unless she wants to start sleeping with her son).
12. Morphing into a transgendered person. (I assure you that feminism isn’t what turned Bruce Jenner into Caitlyn)
13. Being a whore.
14. Hatred of love and romance, and anything that implies it
15. Intent to or interest in becoming wrestlers, so we can beat our men up
16. A desire to change our tires ourselves.
17. A desire to look like men.
18. A secret plot to steal all our husband’s money
19. Infidelity/adultery
20. Western juju to turn our men into fuck boys.
We just want to be given equal opportunities. Given what women and the world stand to gain from feminism, why would anyone not want it? Think about your wife, mother, sister, and daughter(s). Think about you, the woman.
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Thank you o! I doubt if anyone could have put it better. I’m tired of all these ladies who claim to be feminists when they have not succeeded in being human beings first.
Lol. Habeebah, I’m hopeful that a new time is coming for Nigerian women where we will collectively be able to collect what’s ours
Haha, great minds think alike 😉 I just wrote a post on balancing feminism with Christianity…you should check it out http://fivecoveredcolonnades.blogspot.com/2016/05/gender-equality-and-your-christian.html
Gbam!! Off to check.
I don’t believe in feminism the way we carry on with it. A successful woman has no barriers…I don’t believe there is an inequality. If women step up, they will get the spotlight faster than men…that I know.
Jenny, why do women have to “step up?” And what is your definition of a step up? The average Nigerian man and the average Nigerian woman (in Nigeria) are not on the same level playing field. Just by being a woman, she is already behind and has to work twice as hard to get half as far.
Nice Post!
But I must say that I agree with Jenny that we Nigerian women need to step up. While I don’t label myself a feminist (I’m not big on labels), my thoughts/actions are quite feminist. I’ll be the first person to point out the many ways in which our society is still patriarchal. But the truth is women could do a lot to help their situation. Like Myles Munroe said, our rights do not belong to men and so we don’t need to beg or ask for it. Our rights belong to us, we simply need to exercise them.
We need to stop putting ourselves in second position and then blaming men for treating us like we’re second-class. We can’t claim to want a level playing field, and expect a man (who’s not our parent) to foot all our bills. We can’t keep tearing down successful women (especially unmarried ones). We need to start celebrating the hardworking, independent women, whether or not they have become rich, over (or alongside) the women who get married to rich older men and open big boutiques/salons etc.
We need to be fair to the men! To understand that expecting to get things easy just because we’re women is to further propagate the idea that women are inferior. there are hardworking women hustling alongside men and breaking grounds. we need to celebrate and emulate them, and stop expecting to be able to charm our way into getting a job/contract etc.
As for domestic abuse, I think it’s beyond women’s right really. Even in countries with strict laws to protect women, women still remain in abusive relationships. Apparently men are sometimes victims too. It’s a complex matter.
Is No. 11 on the Not feminism list set on stone?
Looooooooooooooooool!!!! I had to go and read number 11. Cam, what is it exactly you want to say to the people (of Verastic)? Say it! Lol.
Vera has anyone told you come off sounding very condescending whenever you talk about Nigeria people in general.. I have noticed it and wanted to just bring it to your attention in case you haven’t realised.thanks
Eiya, pele, Lola. If there’s anything the Nigerian people need more of, it’s someone to notice people who sound condescending whenever they talk about Nigerian people in general (and of course, bring it to the people’s attention, in case they haven’t realized). Thank you to you, too.
Wow. This is just the best of it I’ve come across so far.
Please accept my love, sister.
Thank you. Gertrude!