Speaking Up (Part 1): Domestic Violence Testimonial, Akoben Women's Centre

A project I did for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) 2014

We should all be feminists | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | TEDxEuston

Being reminded that SHE is a WOMAN - Women on the political scene, home and abroad.

First of all, let me declare that I cannot even vaguely imply that I am a watered-down version of a political enthusiast; actually I have rarely even kept abreast with what is happening locally, regionally or internationally. I admittedly have been living under a rock, or one hundred for that matter, blissfully oblivious to all that is happening around me in today's world. Therefore this post is not about political debate or discourse, but rather highlighting the disparity between what is expected and accepted from female politicians in comparison to their male counterparts. 

I have recently vowed to emancipate myself from the veiled corner of ignorance in relation to world events. Slowly but increasingly I have begun to click on links to articles with sensational headlines about current or related events that pop up in my news-feeds. Hey, no judgement, it's a start, ok?! Recently I ran into a post on Facebook, by Humans of New York, seemingly quoting Hillary Clinton. The caption of the photo read:

“I’m not Barack Obama. I’m not Bill Clinton. Both of them carry themselves with a naturalness that is very appealing to audiences. But I’m married to one and I’ve worked for the other, so I know how hard they work at being natural. It’s not something they just dial in. They work and they practice what they’re going to say. It's not that they're trying to be somebody else. But it's hard work to present yourself in the best possible way. You have to communicate in a way that people say: ‘OK, I get her.’ And that can be more difficult for a woman. Because who are your models? If you want to run for the Senate, or run for the Presidency, most of your role models are going to be men. And what works for them won’t work for you. Women are seen through a different lens. It’s not bad. It’s just a fact. It’s really quite funny. I’ll go to these events and there will be men speaking before me, and they’ll be pounding the message, and screaming about how we need to win the election. And people will love it. And I want to do the same thing. Because I care about this stuff. But I’ve learned that I can’t be quite so passionate in my presentation. I love to wave my arms, but apparently that’s a little bit scary to people. And I can’t yell too much. It comes across as ‘too loud’ or ‘too shrill’ or ‘too this’ or ‘too that.’ Which is funny, because I’m always convinced that the people in the front row are loving it." 

Hillary Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate in Denmark, South Carolina

                                                                                                                             Spencer Platt/ Getty Images

The post vivified thoughts and my curiosity about women on the political scene and the gender expectations they may be held accountable to by the masses. I did a quick google search of women on the political forefront and found an article by Forbes entitled, Women Who Rule The World: The 26 Most Powerful Female Political Leaders of 2016. The article listed Clinton among the top three on this year's Forbes list of the world's 100 Most Powerful Women, while ranked No. 1 was German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. I went on further to research sexism and women in politics, only to confirm that women have long endured sexist remarks, criticism and gender-based attacks about appearance, wardrobe and personality that are rarely made about their male peers. More often than not women are expected to withstand the storm without the slightest demonstration of perturbation, as even an infinitesimal flinch will be picked up on and used as fuel to discredit her facility to function in her role as politician. 

I additionally read an article, by The Guardian published on June 14, 2013, with the title, Top Ten Most Sexist Moments in Politics: Julia Gillard, Hillary Clinton and More and was disturbed to see accounts of sexism ranging from patronizing utterances such as "calm down, dear", to being referred to as "a nobody, a tea girl.", to  having to endure wolf-whistles while giving a speech, to being publicly lambasted for a personal decision to not have children. I cannot forget the infamous controversy in April of this year when Philippines presidential candidate, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, joked that he thought that a rape victim was beautiful and he should have been first. When later asked about the statement at an appearance in IIoilo City he reportedly said "Don't force the issue because I will never really apologize", this after a statement of apology was issued on his behalf  by his political party, PDP Laban. Although the female in this particular case was not a politician, it goes to show the level of disregard male politicians have for females in general. 

These accounts of sexism invigorated a personal analysis of how female politicians are regarded closer to home; in the region and locally. I dug deeper into sexism in Caribbean politics and found registered cases emerging out of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Bahamas, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize and Jamaica. I have not doubt, with such a large quantity of reports available, that my informal research did not extensively cover all incidents of sexism against female politicians. 

It was harrowing to read the innumerable accounts of sexism against female politicians in Jamaica. Actually when I read Hillary's statement quoted above my mind instinctively jumped to our very own, The Most Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller, as I know she has been consistently lashed viciously by her male counterparts, the media and the general public in regards to her appearance, wardrobe, personality, passion among many other things. 

Las May's depiction of The Most Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller 

Clovis' shining the media watchlight  on The Most Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller's wardrobe.

She is often portrayed as irate, boisterous, unlettered, boorish, unfashionable among multitudinous depictions. However, very rarely, if ever, is she illustrated as passionate, personable, powerful, ambitious, inspirational or any other adjectives we so often find attached to narratives of her male associates. 

Another Jamaican female politician who readily came to mind was The Honourable Lisa Hanna. She is often times repudiated of her intellectual and political capabilities seemingly having been cemented to her former title of "beauty queen" in the minds of many. Who can forget the case in January of this year when her parliamentary colleague, Everald Warmington, Member of Parliment for South East St Catherine, referred to her as a Jezebel in a sitting of the House of Representatives. Warmington went further to defend his misogynistic comment claiming the term aptly described her and that he certainly would not liken her to Mother Theresa or the Virgin Mary. Not only has Miss Hanna had to endure these devaluing experience but she too has been thrown under the bus in relation to wardrobe and presentation. On the spectrum of attire, there is the viewing by many of female politicians business dress as frumpy, as in the case of Mrs. Portia Simpson-Miller to the invasion of one's choice of dress when living outside of political duties, as is the case of Miss Hanna. In December of 2014 Miss Hanna was reported by The Gleaner to have set off social media after posting photo in beachwear. 

Lisa Hanna in beachwear - a photo reported posted on Facebook by her son, Alexander Panton

The photo precipitated a huge saga raking in condemnations and heavy criticisms about the appropriateness of her attire and to some extremes her competence as Minister of Youth and Culture. 

It is sad to say, in this day and age, that female politicians are not served with equal respect and regard as their male colleagues, are not embraced for their equivalent demonstrations of passion as their male counterparts and that they are not even afforded governance of their own bodies as they see fit on occasions of leisure. 

Quite disturbing.

Walk good til wi link again,

Njari.

The Resurgence of The Pen

Wha' gwaan?

The last time I posted was August 14, 2013. All of three years have elapsed. Very uncharacteristic of someone who wishes to someday be a published author (chuckle). Three years filled with invaluable and exciting experiences, as well as, painful yet eye-opening ones...all of which, in retrospect, I appreciate and acknowledge as a part of the process of growth. Experiences that I could have totally written about, that would have all individually made great content for this online documentation of my personal evolution...however, as the years rolled on I grew deeper into the habit of debasing my ability when encouraged to write.

Nonetheless, embracing the brighter side of things, once a passion is not dead water it when the desire arises and eventually it will become ingrained as a part of life's routine. As we would say in Jamaica, "bit bit mek poun" (small amounts will eventually add up).

So here I am, once again, geared to attempt the honing of my dedication to writing through blogging. Let's see how I will fare. Will you ride the wave with me?

Walk good til wi link again.
Njari

 

Picture site: Bamboo Avenue, St Elizabeth. 

Captured during an epic two-day road trip across 12 parishes.