Skip to main content

A Letter to Feminists

For most women, it is easier to hear others call them feminists than them openly saying they are feminists. For a long time feminism has been associated with the wrong things; so much that when one is called a feminist, it is meant to mean they are bad people or they hate men.

Today I write to remind ourselves of this noble movement. Today I write to tell my fellow feminists not to relent in this fight. To tell them not to be intimidated by those who oppose this cause. It is not a sin to be a feminist. We should not buy the fear and intimidation that the opposers keep hawking.

They that think that feminists are a group of angry women who hate men. They forget or rather, are ignorant of what feminism is about. We even have men who are feminists too, but these agents of intimidation will ignore this.  When they call us angry women, tell me, who was happy when fighting? Who smiles when their rights are infringed? Tell me who is glad when their opinions are ignored and their voices oppressed or silenced? Who??

Today I write to encourage those women who have lost something for standing up against prejudice against women. That woman who men “fear” to talk to as she is too aggressive and she seemingly does not know her place. I write to that man who was told to have “umama mwingi” for standing up for that woman. I write to the woman who fellow women have told, “you will not get married if you keep up with this feminism.” To that one at the verge of changing cause and forsaking all and buying into this fear. To you is say,"Do not purchase of their intimidation! Do not relent in fighting what you feel and see is wrong. Do not be silenced by vicious societal norms that are the reason you became a feminist in the first place. Do not let them win."

Need I remind you that it is feminism that got women the voice to vote back when her opinion did not matter. It is feminism that has liberated women from abusive relationships and seen the culprits jailed. It is feminism that has seen governments make adjustments to allow for inclusion of women, youths and the minority. It is feminism that spearheaded the fight against oppressive traditions like FGM and early child marriages. The list is endless.

Just like every other original thing has counterfeits, we are not ignorant of those that use feminism for a wrong gain. Even the good gospel has had its share on this. And just like the true gospel keeps spreading even in the midst of all this false gospel, so shall true feminism thrive until the world is a better place for everyone.

Be encouraged, read more on this and when you must speak, do so with grace and wisdom.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Of partial truths that alter history in the long run

There is this meme on social media that talks of how men lie and how it is possible Eve did not even eat the fruit at the garden of Eden and probably Adam did and lied about it considering it is him with left over evidence of an Adam’s apple down his throat.  The other day a local TV station ran a story of Wangu Wa Makeri and turns out all I was taught about her is pure lies. Turns out she was a firm leader and not that she actually sat on men’s back. She would not be intimidated and was hell bent to do what she thought was right, something that did not rub well with many men. This is not the history me and most people read about her. If anything, we grew up ridiculing her methods and being told not to be like her, a woman should be humble. It is also such narratives that have left women struggling in their positions of power and further cementing the theory that women are not leaders. When she is bold and firm on her decisions, she is a Wangu wa Makeri in the office, “anakal...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stop using women to spice up your insults

Over the years, the good, the bad and the beautiful have been associated with women. A beautiful car is likely to be given a woman’s name. Hurricanes that destroy things are often named after women. People in their good times tend to name things after women too. Over the years, we have also seen weakness being associated with women. We have seen people insult others using a woman in their insult, this is wrong. You will hear someone say, “you punch like a girl”, to mean your punch is weak. Some will also say, “Come and face me like a man” to mean with boldness. It insinuates men have a “better/bolder” way of dealing with issues. All the above insinuate that women are weaker than men. One would be right to say such language has been detrimental to the feminism agenda of fighting for equality. Such language only appeals to patriarchy. In my country-Kenya- we have seen this language being used over and over by public figures. They use women to “spice up” their insults. You will he...
Post a Comment
Read more

Of Equity and Equality

More often than not, conversations about equality start off as just that-conversations- but speedily escalate to debates. I would know, I have been in many of those. Those against the equality agenda turn the debate into an English lesion trying to argue out what equality and equity really means and how equity is what we should seek instead of equality. Whilst there may be point to their opinion, it is the way they fight equality that makes void their whole point.  According to many, equality is the enemy. Well then, let’s get into some English lesson then and let us understand better what these two words really mean: Equity - Justice, impartiality or fairness. Equality -The equal treatment of people irrespective of social or cultural differences.  - The fact of being equal, of having the same value. After that brief English lesson up there, we can all agree, both equity and equality are noble pursuits that all humans should be involved in. They that advocate for e...
Post a Comment
Read more