Vet Before You Vote: Beware of Fiasco “Gender Advocates”

   As Liberia's 2014 mid-term Senatorial Race draws closer, this is what I think we, the women voters, should be mindful of.... 

Liberia has and continues to indulge more than its fair share of fiasco advocates. These are characters in our society who charter huge amounts of airtime and space in the media to spew out the imperfections of our society especially on the most lucrative sub-areas of development, which include youth, corruption, and the most popular of them all these days -- women!

These fiasco characters make enough noise to gather a few listeners as a platform to launch themselves into prominence by way of propaganda and politics.  And guess what?  Once they accomplish their aim, they hardly look back at the people on whose plights these “advocates” were propped to prominence.  So this is a wake-up call to all voters, especially women, who might end up being a mere stepping stone for these hungry, fiasco advocates: vet them before you vote for them.

Selective Feminism II: How about a Wife Shortchanging Her Husband?

He is the man. So, let him take charge

“This woman you see sitting here (pointing at his wife sitting next to him), I have been married to her for more than 20 years; but never a day has she taken it upon herself to at least contribute to the feeding of the family,” a disappointed husband recently told me.

I am continuing with where I left off in our last edition, Selective Feminism. Recently, I focused on how hypocritical our gender advocates can be in their advocacies. They have been unwavering in their battle for emancipation and equity in all spheres of life, but when it comes to sharing the family’s financial responsibility on a 50 – 50 basis, they are mute on that. Why are we being so hypocritical about this gender equity thing? So, we only want to be given all of the rights, especially the right to earn, but the right to spend equally must exclude us?

LIBERIA: Women in Retrospect 2011

Before we finally close the chapter on 2011, flipping a fresh page for a new beginning in 2012, let’s not forget that the unresolved issues of 2011 and other past years are still in need of solutions. In this first week of the New Year, we want to highlight that the socio-political and economic advancement of Liberian women remains an ongoing struggle, claiming the attention of advocates on a daily basis. However, here’s a look back at a breathless twelve months (2011) that saw ordinary women doing extraordinary things to improve their lives; the women’s world pushing for gender democracy. Let's takes a reflective look at an eventful year in news. Below are highlights of key issues underscored in 2011:

My Mummy’s ‘Hot’ Water: A Remedy for Fever Relieve

Whenever I took sick, be it whatever, her first aid she would administer was a ‘hot’ bath. With a bucket of ‘hot’ water, she would soak a small size towel in it and begin to massage my entire body; letting the steam from the towel absorb into my body.  This would go on for seconds, minutes. 

That bath would be followed by a thorough body massage with hot ointment for relief. And sure enough, my body would begin to loosen up minutes after. After the hot bath, Mummy wrapped me up in some warm clothes, preferably, a sleeping suit or night gown.

'Death' for Traditional Journalism?

Some Liberian dailies

There are heated debates ongoing; they regard the fate of traditional journalism. There seems to be growing fear, especially among practitioners, that the revolution of new media might see traditional media (newspapers, televisions, radios) eventually fading into this new trend. It is being argued that new media are opening up new ways to communicate, share knowledge and information as a powerful tool helping to raise new voices, especially from young people, who were once considered the voiceless in their societies.

The Arab Spring – birthed in Tunisia – is seen by many as a testament to the transformative power of social media (new media). Unlike the traditional media, which require professional coverage and production of news stories, with mobile connections, satellite TV, ordinary people can at any time air their views, without having to go through any gatekeeper such as an established publication, editor or other traditional media manager. This is the danger, many believe, social media poses to old or traditional media.

Girls As Breadwinners

The innocence in those eyes MUST never be traded for anything 

Look around Monrovia today [as well as other urban or even rural settings in Liberia] and tell me who you see hustling in the streets day-in and day-out. It is the children, predominantly girls, who are dispatched in the streets and other markets places every morning to fend for their parents. By sunset, they are expected to be home with some cash to ensure that there is food on the table the next day. At such tender ages (5 to 10) they are already practically being used as income-earners or breadwinners when they are supposed to be in school to prepare themselves for a bright tomorrow (the future). The interesting thing is that they blindly accept that responsibility without knowledge of their rights. 

Ask a Liberian mother or father why must it be the son or daughter who has to roam the streets selling ice water, and she/he will remorselessly respond like this: “Oh, I alone can’t do everything. The child needs to play his part, too.” Some parents will even tell this: “The boy [or girl] needs to help, too. After all, I gave birth to him [or her] and he [or she] did not and can never pay me enough for doing so. The only thing he [or she] can do is serve me and serve me better.” 

Fatoumata Forfana | IREX - Civil Society, Education and Media Development

Fatoumata Forfana | IREX - Civil Society, Education and Media Development

Another Liberian Mother Who Has Never Failed In The Discharge Of Her Duty As A Mother To Her 8 Children

After concluding her daylong petty trading, she is getting ready to go set a trap in the Gbar River at sunset.  Fish caught from the river will surely help with the provision of the next day's meal. Photo taken by Fatoumata Nabie Fofana, Gbartala, Bong County, Central Liberia (copyright 2010)

A Liberian Mother Making Sure Food Is Kept On The Table For Her Kids

She is producing "iron soap", produced locally from palm oil and caustic soda,  for domestic use. "Iron soaps" are  most popular in Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and now Liberia. Photo taken by Fatoumata Nabie Fofana, Suakoko, Bong County, Central Liberia (copyright 2010)

The Daylight Robbery that Women Commit

Ingredients on display on Mechlin Strt.

A couple  recently broke up because, according to the boyfriend, his girl stole his Blackberry Bold, an allegation never denied by the young lady. She remorselessly admitted to stealing the mobile phone, which costs nearly $800 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, to rent a flat for her mom. According to her, this boyfriend of hers happened to be a hard-to-spend type and so, stealing his phone was the only option left for her.

Was her approach to solving this financial crisis of hers the right way to go? Some might argue that if these two were a married couple, then what this young lady did won't technically   be considered as theft, which is a criminal offense. The idea is that in the institution of marriage, the term 'theft' doesn't exist ---a wife just can't steal from her husband. She takes, not steals. What is his, is hers and what is hers, is hers.

But stealing is nothing less than stealing. I see no point in being rosy about it. Unfortunately, many women seem to share this bad habit of discreetly "pinching" their husband’s money. They spare no cash left in his wallet and/or pockets. The situation becomes terrible with married couples because no matter what, staying together has a way of exposing all the annoying mannerisms that are otherwise concealed during dating. 

My Source of Inspiration

Fanta Kone-Fofana (my sweet Teyah) we love you much, much

Her children affectionately call her Teyah, and indeed she is their Teyah. Here's a mom who has proven to be balanced and fair in loving her offspring (four children: two boys, two girls). She has never loved one more than the others; it's equal share. Oh yeah, she had been and still is my greatest source of inspiration. And she is my best and sweetest friend, my #1 and biggest FAN!!

Catching UP WITH LIFE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT GOODIES IN STORE FOR ME

Me, 2013, USA