A woman’s place 🏦

We women, we sabotage each other instead of working together. We don’t come together. We should. We can’t and then, when the time comes, we wonder why we’re lagging behind the men. I’ve told you, I’ve traversed this country and it’s the same all over. We women, we sabotage each other: mothers against daughters, sisters against sisters, friends against friends. If there is no unity between us, how can there ever be progress?- Swallow (2008)

I tried to stay quiet. I really did. Some people might say “it’s not that deep” when they read it. Their declaration could be because “my allegations” hit too close to home or because it really isn’t that deep but this platform is for me to speak my truth so speak I will. If you want to counter me, open your own platform. Daalu!

There’s this picture making rounds currently. I have made it the head picture for this blogpost for reference purposes. The major thing I’ve noticed is that women are the main peddlers of this picture (using my contact list as a case study) and it usually is accompanied with some supposed funny words and we are all meant to kikiki alongside with them but sadly, I fail to see the joke in it. Maybe I’m just humourless.

At first glance, nothing in the picture points at it being the handiwork of a woman but every single supposed funny caption I have seen points to this conclusion (I specifically left the caption in the picture so you people can understand what I mean). Not only does it reinforce the age long belief that women are naturally supposed to know how to cook- as the vagina comes with its food making abilities. It also subtly re-enforces that a woman’s place is in the kitchen.

Not one post has referenced it being the handiwork of a man. Everyone sees the picture with the caption and rushes to peddle it after laughing their hearts away. The same women who are posting this and making fun of a non-existent “slay queen” would sometime in future get upset when told that their places are in the kitchen. Why you dey vex ma?

I am of the opinion that everyone should know how to cook. Every single person that belongs to any of the 667 genders we now have should know how to cook. It is a basic life skill. Everyone belongs in the kitchen. There’s food in the kitchen. If for some reason you cannot cook (ability or situation wise), it’s perfectly okay to outsource this chore. Don’t feel less of a human.

I guess all I’m trying to say is, before you rush to peddle some gender based jokes, ask yourself what message you aim to pass and based on your answer, you’ll know what to do.

Some of you will start with your “angry feminist” talk and direct it at me especially the women who think subservience is a thing of pride. Before you run your mouth or hands, I just want to remind you that your access to education, voting, free talk, dressing, being able to drive, being able to fill forms independently and almost everything you consider the basics of life are as a result of certain women who fought and even gave up their lives for this cause. If you cannot add to the template they have left behind, do your best not to destroy it. Also, be reminded that I no send your papa and I will add your olori ebi to the insult I will carefully dish for you. In the beautiful words of my older brother, if you come you collect.

Anyway, keep laughing. It’s never that deep.