Cyprian Nyakundi has gained quite a considerable online traction for literally bashing women. He extensively and in not so printable words attacks his idea of feminists, how they have supposedly duped men and the marginalization of the boy child. This unending vitriol, supposedly, is some revolutionary stuff that will make men "woke".
I have always thought - and this is common knowledge, really - that we gain nothing by putting others down. However "well meaning" or "noble" his intentions are, Cyprian risks losing his mammoth following should they find someone more appealing. In one of his articles targeted at the boys' band Sauti Sol, he decries their lack of "serious content" which has led them to use "sex appeal" to get female fans. If we entertain his argument for a moment, it is possible to argue that his woke gospel appeals only to the emotions - and emotions are so fickle! Whatever grievance he has - real or imagined - should be communicated "rationally" without appealing to the emotions of his male fans.
Cyprian "argues" - and wrongly so - that women empowerment has translated zero gains for our country. That programmes aimed to uplift women are merely for the sake of getting donor funding and enriching a few. He, therefore, calls out to men to stand guard against feminists with their misleading agenda of women empowerment.
Where I come from, we do not fight all battles. But a time comes when you need to make your stand, and I think there is no better time than now.
Without being academic about it, let me try to show you why women empowerment is good for the whole society.
If you look at the history of civilization, it is one of conflict. One set of people has always tried to gain advantage over another. The tragedy for women has been two-fold since time immemorial: they have suffered as part of subjugated peoples and as women. Historical accounts the world over tell of how women have suffered as part of the people who have lost wars, and as women since they were also taken as sex slaves. In the just concluded turbulent electioneering season, we have come to learn of women who were not only physically assaulted like the men but also sexually assaulted.
Patriarchy has always made it difficult for women to succeed in virtually every sphere of life. It has put a ceiling on women's progress and limited their success. While societies have generally made progress, a lot more needs to be done to bring women to par with their male counterparts.
Since women make slightly more than half of our population, why is it so difficult to understand why we need them empowered? No society has progressed by marginalizing and disempowering its people. Apartheid South Africa failed. Slavery failed - but is now coming back? Colonialism failed, Racism failed (kinda?) How can societies progress when they are underutilizing their human capital, and yet at the same time put pressure on their output?
Societies that don't treat their women as second class citizens are freer, open, democratic and just. They respect the rule of law and treat their people with dignity. They are not perfect, but they are far much better than societies that undermine their women. The thing about treating others badly is this: you never know where to stop!
Let's face it - the quest for women empowerment has not been without issues. Donorpreneurs have taken advantage of the magnanimity of donors for personal gain. They have come up with programmes that were only meant to line up their own pockets. Women who have assumed political power have not lived up to our expectations. Like the men, they have engaged in political sycophancy, personal enrichment and "creating the illusion of motion without movement."
Such are the incidences that can make one doubtful. And there is nothing wrong with doubting, questioning and holding to account. But the Ibo say we do not stop going to the river because our kinsman died in it. We cannot write off women empowerment agenda because of the ills and incompetencies of a few. We cannot fight it because the boychild is"forgotten".
We need all the people we can get. We need all hands on deck for our country to prosper. This is the real woke gospel!
I have always thought - and this is common knowledge, really - that we gain nothing by putting others down. However "well meaning" or "noble" his intentions are, Cyprian risks losing his mammoth following should they find someone more appealing. In one of his articles targeted at the boys' band Sauti Sol, he decries their lack of "serious content" which has led them to use "sex appeal" to get female fans. If we entertain his argument for a moment, it is possible to argue that his woke gospel appeals only to the emotions - and emotions are so fickle! Whatever grievance he has - real or imagined - should be communicated "rationally" without appealing to the emotions of his male fans.
Cyprian "argues" - and wrongly so - that women empowerment has translated zero gains for our country. That programmes aimed to uplift women are merely for the sake of getting donor funding and enriching a few. He, therefore, calls out to men to stand guard against feminists with their misleading agenda of women empowerment.
Where I come from, we do not fight all battles. But a time comes when you need to make your stand, and I think there is no better time than now.
Without being academic about it, let me try to show you why women empowerment is good for the whole society.
If you look at the history of civilization, it is one of conflict. One set of people has always tried to gain advantage over another. The tragedy for women has been two-fold since time immemorial: they have suffered as part of subjugated peoples and as women. Historical accounts the world over tell of how women have suffered as part of the people who have lost wars, and as women since they were also taken as sex slaves. In the just concluded turbulent electioneering season, we have come to learn of women who were not only physically assaulted like the men but also sexually assaulted.
Patriarchy has always made it difficult for women to succeed in virtually every sphere of life. It has put a ceiling on women's progress and limited their success. While societies have generally made progress, a lot more needs to be done to bring women to par with their male counterparts.
Since women make slightly more than half of our population, why is it so difficult to understand why we need them empowered? No society has progressed by marginalizing and disempowering its people. Apartheid South Africa failed. Slavery failed - but is now coming back? Colonialism failed, Racism failed (kinda?) How can societies progress when they are underutilizing their human capital, and yet at the same time put pressure on their output?
Societies that don't treat their women as second class citizens are freer, open, democratic and just. They respect the rule of law and treat their people with dignity. They are not perfect, but they are far much better than societies that undermine their women. The thing about treating others badly is this: you never know where to stop!
Let's face it - the quest for women empowerment has not been without issues. Donorpreneurs have taken advantage of the magnanimity of donors for personal gain. They have come up with programmes that were only meant to line up their own pockets. Women who have assumed political power have not lived up to our expectations. Like the men, they have engaged in political sycophancy, personal enrichment and "creating the illusion of motion without movement."
Such are the incidences that can make one doubtful. And there is nothing wrong with doubting, questioning and holding to account. But the Ibo say we do not stop going to the river because our kinsman died in it. We cannot write off women empowerment agenda because of the ills and incompetencies of a few. We cannot fight it because the boychild is"forgotten".
We need all the people we can get. We need all hands on deck for our country to prosper. This is the real woke gospel!
No comments:
Post a Comment