Though the dominant countries of Africa had been under severing European colonization, the continent is rapidly transforming in certain spheres. Skilled and equipped generation is progressively climbing the ladder to development and modernization. In this reform, the continent’s inclination to its own knowledge that clearly considers its socio-cultural reality had played a greater role, as sources showed. Approaches and arguments which were forwarded from outside of it are becoming non-relevant in the study of several issues. In the examination of gender based treatments too perspectives that disguise the real background of Africa are continuously theorized by African scholars.
African feminism had posited perspectives that are used to form and argue women issues scientifically. As patriarchy is the cumulative threat of all countries of Africa, philosophers show way outs of it in their works. Till these days, African feminists believe in peaceful association between males and females for mutual harmony. For this destiny, they argued that a woman needed to be smart and active in her approach to her men around.
The idea of resistance has been raised in the theory of Nego Feminism. The founder of the theory advised African females to be very strategic in building their self-agency which could strengthen their resistance. The implication of the word in this article is the potential of the female to say ‘no’ to a certain gender based treatment. This is the logic to be stepped up for achieving a certain goal. With this ide, let’s see how African women politicians resist challenges in their work to leadership.
The former Liberian President Ellen Johnson was once asked about the contests that she had faced in her political journey. Here is her reply. “When I ran for presidency in 1997, I was just leaving UNDP as a head of the Africa bureau and so I used all my passion for that and I was exhausted to be able to support a campaign. But it was still very difficult for me and so I was not seen as one that was well equipped to run. So I could not get all over the country because of the lack of resources. So I lost. In 2005, I did win. The local forces, those who wanted to see change in the country, particularly women, put their own resources together as meager as they were. But it all came together in a much professional women market, women student organizations. They all supported our effort and we were able to win.”
In this narration of Ellen, the problems related to finance were blocking her move to leadership. But the woman resisted first her psychological state and secondly the effects of being out of any resources for her campaign. Thirdly, I believe, she showed a good performance so that she got the support of these associations to her group.
The other former president is Joyce Banda from Malawi. The intimidations that she raised at different stages and interviews are related to patriarchy. “We operate on a very hostile platform. Up until now men feel political leadership is their domain. So, you are breaking into an area where you shouldn’t go. So, they will do everything and anything possible to make sure that you get discouraged. But I never gave up. ” As it was mentioned in the previous articles, this woman had made lots of tangible impacts in Malawi. She sticks on her goal rather than being disappointed by those attempts which originated from patriarchal beliefs.
The first woman in Uganda’s parliament, Rebecca Kadaga also mentioned the impact of patriarchy on her path to politics. “We are living in a patriarchal society where men think that they should be in every job. And they treat you like imposters and sometimes want to make it difficult for you to do your work. So you really have to be extra good.”
The impact of patriarchy is not only reflected and exercised by males. It is exceedingly exhibited by females. Females’ attitude and expectation is abused by the patriarchal belief so that they react in that line. This reaction which is specially applied by females on females, I believe, is too demoralizing. I said this because who could understand and support women more than women? For me, I can have a moral to expect better treatment from men before women. Women know the pain since they are women too. This woman did resist her subordination by her sisters by applying an extra effort. She exerts supper power to pass over that trail.
Some years ago UN women was examining some African women leaders to have a voice on the challenges that they have been through; therefore, fellow women leaders can draw lesson. Naomi Shabon is a member of parliament of Nigeria who confessed what things she was passing in the track of politics. “The opposite party members poured petrol around my home. They pelted my mother with stones. They took my three year old son. They wanted to put him in a pit-latrine. They beat up our house girl who tried to protect my son. But, here I am today, including my first time.” This woman has paid a greater price. They approached her with her beloved once. But she was very strong and goal oriented. She never leaves her path. She faces all and keeps moving in the leadership.
The other woman who is a member in the parliament of Nigeria and portrayed a shining resistance in the track of politics is Millie Odhiambo. “In politics, as women we need to learn many things. One day I was attacked in the parliament. The men beat me up and undressed me. Then, they went out and told people as I undressed myself. If I was bothered about it, I would never revive again. But you must also learn, which is I think one of my greatest assets is the ability to poke fun at myself all that requires a very healthy ego.” This woman is personally exalted with positive attitudes of herself. People were reproaching and attacking her physically. Beyond that they were attempting to cause her emotional and psychological damage by fabricating things. But she was too strong to pass these challenges. As she said it she was making fun out of it and she passed it smoothly.
Martha Karua who was a presidential candidate was also raising the cruelty of patriarchal custom in her movement. “I was confronted by patriarchy. People were saying to me “go and get married as a woman. Go get a husband first.” They were saying this after they learnt that the woman was divorced. This was too irritating for a woman. But this politician was sturdy. She never got nervous. “I was calmly asking them ‘have you ever asked all the males who have been representing you since independence who their wives are? …why should it matter to me?” She built herself well so that she never blown away by the wind. She outsmarted them- left them to stay in shame and even to get lessons from their beliefs. This iron woman made the best contribution to society by letting them a bitter pill to swallow. I said this since she was facing the challenge from the social attitude.
Let me add one more woman’s experience. This woman is Rachel Shebesh, a Kenyan. She is CS Minister of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs. I found her experience very practical in the Ethiopian context. “There is a special place in hell for a woman who fights other women. So, when you are a woman leader, if you have a problem with women, keep quiet.
If you cannot support her if you think what she has done is wrong just keep quiet. But when women are used to fighting other women, what we call PhD put her down; that to me becomes the reason why I cannot understand how far we will ever go. And we are moving on and for me one of the primary things for women leadership is being committed in supporting other women and women leaders do not pull her sister down.” Such a woman’s pressure on another woman has a greater impact on the psychological and social wellbeing of the woman.
Though there are justifications on the psycho make up of a given individual, such rivalries between the two sexes, I believe, could worsen the complexity of patriarchy in the society. For this say, the underlining gist of African feminism which primarily aimed at the necessity of woman sympathy or selflessness is the ground. To assure the equal inclusion of women with men in any leadership, women cooperation and responsibility for other women is very relevant at least till the combat of patriarchy.
The conclusion is when women came to a certain leadership in Africa; it is inevitable that they had conceded through thorny paths. These dare need to be voiced by them for alerting the coming female leaders. Lessons could be taken so that mistakes could not be repeated. The updated and informed generation could get ready to face extra challenges.
Ethiopian women who have stepped up into politics have a lot to share for fellow women leaders. Some notable leaders’ experiences could be visited by the next article.
BY MEKDES TAYE (PHD)
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 19 JULY 2024
