Well-behaved women seldom make history. ― Laurel Thatcher Ulrich (borrowed from Franklin Cudjoe)
Yes, on occassion I have disagreed with the manner in which she has tackled those she considers offensive, but I have never stopped being in awe of her courage.
At the moment, she is the only woman that I know of who does not draw the line at her male relatives as she fights against men behaving badly.
Not even her father (RIP) does she spare. She is on record publically calling him out for things he did and which according to her were out of order.
Many women, I think, draw that line and thus countinue to perpetuate injustices against women. I think that I see the drawing of the line almost daily in the context of daughter-father, wive-husband, sister-brother, and even mother-son.
If women do not have the courage to publicly call out those men close to us, our relatives, when they behave badly, I conclude that we are not truly emancipated nor empowered.
Call out in this context is not positioning ourselves as the victim of abuse, but as strong women who will not stand and accomodate bad behaviour that causes the suffering of women.
For this Women‘sDay 2018 I celebrate Dr. Stella Nyanzi, a genuinely emancipated woman whose courage in the fight against gender inequality is umatched.
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2 responses to ““Well-behaved women seldom make history.””
Agreed. But then again it’s a process. The layers of culture, tradition, “respect” need to be peeled and reassessed. Until the woman can look at her reflection in the mirror and love it, she’ll forever be shackled by society and it’s hierarchies. Set good examples before her and she’ll aspire to be better, to speak her truth, to live to her full potential.
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She pretty much has to decolonise her mind and be able to see what is considered “good manners” as what is subjugating her and holding her back.
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