Beneath the Economic Glass Ceiling

Wheeling her wares through the streets of Monrovia

They play an indispensable role in our economy. But at the end of the day, there is a glass ceiling. It's not exactly the proverbial glass ceiling that used to bar women from leadership – in domestic and professional capacities – alongside or above their male counterparts. Perhaps, just a minute form of it.  This time, however, the glass ceiling is purely economical.

These are women who work in what could be considered just above the lowest ebb of the economy, vending wares that are the dietary staples and other bare necessities of our society.  Yet, the prospects of profitability and growth of these gallant economic foot-soldiers remain dim.  Living “from hand to mouth” with many unemployed husbands, children and other dependents, the reality of their dual roles as street vendors and as a critical component of the livelihoods of both poor urban and rural households – this reality – bears countless stories yet untold, of women trying to beat the odds, challenge the status quo, and simply make a living.  Essentially this is a story of ordinary women doing extraordinary things out of the sheer necessity to provide for themselves and their families.  

Tracking Criminals or Dying Innocents?

My mom, Mrs. Fanta Kone-Fofana (MashAllah!!!)

  

At about 8:30 am on May 22, 2012, I arrived at the Loguatuo border post from Man, the western capital of Cote d’Ivoire, en route to Monrovia. With me was my mom in a critical health condition, in need of urgent medical attention.  She had been told by some physician's assistant in that mountainous city that she had a sore/ulcer in her chest and, being a diabetic patient, the entire family was terrified.

Liberia: A Dichotomy of Press Freedom

Fatoumata N. Fofana, The author

While media houses in Liberia currently enjoy freedom of expression, in reality, their functions as conveyors of public information, investigators and repositories of public trust, remain a subject of heavy regulation by law. Facing an uphill challenge for sustainability, there are ominous signs that the issues of press freedom and independence of the press could threaten the future of the industry in Liberia.

Thugs Reign on Gurley Street

An early morning tussle to board a bus on Johnson Street, Monrovia

“Oh my phone! Oh my handbag!” These cries are becoming familiar to ears of residents of Gurley Street in central Monrovia. Nowadays, as a resident of Gurley Street, you dare not dare the criminals, who have invaded the area, and continue to terrorize residents and passers-by, by stepping outside as early as 5:45am to 6am. The Street is one of central Monrovia’s most crime-infested, Carey and Center Streets closely following.

Marauding thugs, bent on terrorizing peaceful and law-abiding citizens, now take pleasure in preying on young girls and older women who aim to reach central Monrovia before 6:00 a.m., in order to beat the tedious traffic an hour later.  Between 5:30 and 6 a.m., Monrovia is just crawling out of bed and the few who make it to town that early can only wish that that last hour (before 7 a.m.) would provide some quiet time for reflection before the day's hustle begins.

Health or Image? Monrovia’s Young Women Enjoy Spending to Maintain that ‘Perfect Look’

A sample of women recently interviewed by me in downtown Monrovia did not mince words when they said they enjoy spending hugely on their looks than on a healthy diet or nutritional products.

“The healthy diet you are talking about will cost me so much and will only be good for eating within seconds, minutes. Take for instance, if I want to prepare a vegetable stew for lunch; that will cost me at least US$50 or more to get all the necessary ingredients from the supermarket and the meat. But that US$50 can get for me a very beautiful pair of flat heel shoes that I would enjoy wearing for the next couple of months,” one of the ladies said.

Life is not only about the belly, another one added, it is also about looking gorgeous.

Well, this is no joke. The slogan you often hear most young Liberian women say nowadays is, “looking good is a business.”

Usually, this statement comes after they have spent so many US dollars on hair, clothes or shoes. For them, the saying only helps to comfort them. But in actual sense, is simply another excuse to spend more on themselves.

They want to look good and are, indeed, comfortable with the notion that a certain amount of pressure is placed on them to do so.

Obsessed with the latest beauty trends and maintaining a perfect look, these young women care very little about their inner health. For them, once they have scored that perfect look, all other health worries can be laid to rest. The imbalance in their lifestyle is expanding by the day.

Rivalry in Polygamous Marriage: Part II

I am continuing my discussion on how dramatic; rivalry in polygamous marriages can be, especially when rival wives are residing under the same roof. In Part 1 of this series, I underscored serious challenges faced by women who find themselves in these situations and how competitive it can be when it comes to doing everything to establish their worth in their husband’s eyes.  This last half of the series focuses on friendship between/among rival wives; factors responsible for the growing wave of polygamy across Africa and the effects of such marriage on the children.

Rivalry in Polygamous Marriage: Part I

Imagine after spending 16 years in a marriage with a man you love so dearly and have made so many sacrifices for, waking you up one morning and informing you that in a matter of days he would be taking on a second wife? “Sorry to say, my dear, but I have impregnated a girl whom I think I want to take in as my next wife. So please be co-operative and become a part of the festivity.”  What would you do?

The Journey of Mary Tanyonoh Broh: From a Difficult Childhood to Acting Mayor of Monrovia

Mary Tanyonoh Broh, the current Acting Mayor of Monrovia, was born on September 15, 1951. She first served the Liberian government in March 2006 as the Special Projects Coordinator for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's executive staff during the Broad Street beautification exercise. In 2007, Broh was asked by the President to direct the Passport Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an attempt to clean the Bureau of corruption and bribery. In 2008, she became the Deputy Director of the National Port Authority. In February 2009, she was appointed by the President to serve as Mayor of Monrovia, an appointment that was met with serious controversy. In any case, the aim was to legitimize the administrative and financial management of the Monrovia City Corporation's (MCC).

For the Liberian Child, A New Day Dawns

 Saturday, February 4, 2012, dawned a day for the Liberian child. It marked the historic launch of the 2011 Children’s Law of Liberia by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. This development followed more than two years of relentless advocacies by state and non-state actors from all walks of the Liberian society, including the Liberia Children’s Parliament and UNICEF, among many others.

The law was finally passed on 15 September 2011 by the 52nd Legislature.

Urban Settings & The Liberian Child

On 28 February, UNICEF launched its ‘The State of the World’s Children 2012: Children in an Urban World’ report. This year’s report focuses more attention on children in urban areas. The 142-page document reveals that one billion of the world’s children live in urban areas, a number that is growing rapidly. Yet, it continued, disparities within cities reveal that many lack access to schools, health care and sanitation, despite living alongside these services. 

In an official statement posted on its website, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warns that urbanization leaves hundreds of millions of children in cities and towns excluded from vital services. As reflected in its The State of the World’s Children 2012: Children in an Urban World report, greater urbanization is, however, inevitable. In a few years, the report says, the majority of children will grow up in towns or cities rather than in rural areas. Children born in cities already account for 60 per cent of the increase in urban population.

The Private Ward

When you are first told the amount charged per night in order to attain a semi-private room within the walls of the private ward of the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Hospital in Monrovia, you might be inclined to assume that that money will also be worth the services provided. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. Get ready to deal with unbecoming behavior from the nurses on duty. And the good thing is that they actually get away with these poor, unprofessional behaviors and the level of morale among nurses unfortunately finds itself right there in the dump!

Reversing the Roles ...for a split second

2011 Nobel Laureate, Tawwakol Karma

The old saying that “behind every successful man stands a strong woman” continues to highlight the role of women in many of the great human accomplishments of time, particularly where men are in the forefront of success. Some, in fact, go as far as adding that the “great woman” standing behind this “great man” is a woman of “fire”, or ‘...une femme de feu’; the French would say. 

Moving On Up: Young Liberian Female Journalist Takes up Diplomatic Post

Journalist Vivian Gartayn

A young Liberian female journalist who has earned her stripes in newsrooms locally, is now joining the ranks of Gabriel Williams, Josephus Moses Gray and other, more senior journalistic figures as press attaché to one of Liberia's key embassies abroad. 

It is a testament to Vivian Gartayn's understanding and knowledge of her craft – journalism – that she has been appointed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as Minister Counselor for Press and Public Affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia near Abuja, Nigeria.  This young and dynamic journalist was once a radio reporter covering the Executive Mansion, an assignment she undertook with spunk, professionalism and poise.  Her reportage has had a diverse appeal to a wide audience, and won the respect and appreciation of her audience.

Mother-child Bond: The Case of an Evicted Mother

The back page of the June 27 and 28 editions of the Daily Observer told the story of an evicted mother who had made for herself and her two-months old baby boy a makeshift home at the corner of Broad and Johnson Streets in downtown Monrovia. The touchiest thing was that that two-months old baby was exposed to the cold of this wet season at such tender age, with his 8-year old brother missing from the family and at the mercy of the elements. 

Liberia Considers Reopening Border with Cote d’Ivoire

Following a month and few days of border closure with neighboring Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia is considering reopening the border, after an intensive assessment of the area within a couple of days by the Minister of Defense. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf disclosed this an exclusive interview in her Capitol Hill office Thursday, June 12.  The closure of the border between the two West African countries in early June  followed the killing of seven United Nations peacekeepers and eight civilians in the Ivory Coast town of Tai [allegedly] by Liberia-based gunmen. In response to mounting pressure, Liberia did not only close its border with Cote d’Ivoire.  The country also pledged to take every measure aimed at ensuring that there is peace in neighboring Ivory Coast.

No ‘Excessive Celebration’ for July ‘26’

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

 As Liberians eagerly anticipate the official celebration of their country’s 165th independence anniversary next week Thursday, July 26, in the City of Monrovia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has disclosed that this year’s official celebration is “unfortunately… not going to be an excessive one.” 

The Liberian leader told this writer in an exclusive interview last Thursday at her Foreign Ministry office that “although we will celebrate the way we always do, but it is not going to be an excessive celebration, unfortunately.”

‘Rape Cases Disturb Me,’ Pres. Sirleaf, Outlines Challenges to Reducing Child Mortality

President Sirleaf 

As though the seven years to life sentence for rape convicts – depending on the gravity of the crime, under the 2006 rape law – were not enough, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has disclosed that she greatly troubled by weekly reports of increasing rape cases across the country. She disclosed this in an exclusive interview with this writer last week.

Upon ascending to the Liberian presidency in 2006, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf pledged that no rapists would go unpunished during her tenure. However, the United States 2010 Human Rights Report released by the United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor on Liberia, revealed that rape continues to be a widespread problem in the post-war country mainly because the 2006 rape law was not effectively enforced.

Girlfriend or Wife Material?

  

On my way downtown a few days ago, I jumped into a cab in time to catch one of the main points of a heated debate among my fellow passengers---men mainly: why most men are finding it extremely difficult to find a single, childless woman to marry these days in Liberia.

Rocking That Glamorous Look with Your Natural Hair

While most women get easily fascinated about the thick texture of their natural hair, others are often turned off by that. For such women, the remedy is some perm or relaxer cream to get that relaxed texture instead. This is because they just cannot stand the re-growths.

I remember a few months back, whenever I attempted going natural with my hair, my friend will do all she could to find some fault with it, especially after doing her best to get me put on some weave or to braid my hair with some attachment. If I still insisted on going with my afro, she would convince me into either blow drying and flat ironing my hair which, for some reason, worked wonders to straighten and smoothen my hair but the trade off was loss of volume.

And that’s exactly what happens when you abuse your hair with chemical substances. Take for instance, the perm. Once it begins to give way for the natural thickness of the hair to take its natural place, the top-most layer of your hair (the affected one) also begins to wither.