I recently read about Chimamanda’s interview with the US 2016 Presidential Candidate, Hillary Clinton at the PEN World Voices Festival lecture.
According to Adiche, there was one thing that did bother her about the former First Lady:
In your Twitter account, the first word that describes you is ‘Wife.’ And then I think it’s ‘Mom,’ and then it’s ‘Grandmother,’
Her husband, Bill Clinton, Adichie continued, does not have “Husband” leading as his Twitter bio.
Then she said, “And when I saw that, I have to confess that I felt just a little bit upset. And then I went and I looked at your husband’s Twitter account, and the first word was not ‘husband.’
She asked to know if it was Clinton’s choice to identify first in relation to her husband, and why she chooses to if she did.
Although Clinton did have a pretty good reason why she has “wife” leading her bio, she said she would change it.
Clinton said, “When you put it like that, I’m going to change it”.
Now, I see a lot of comments berating Adiche’s line of thought but that is not the reason for this article.
I recently told a friend that I do not like the word- Feminism. The reason
is this, it is easily misunderstood, abused and misconstrued.
I will rather use the word gender equality and focus on its underlining principle of the achievement of social, educational and professional opportunities equality for women and men.
Simple.
Gender Equality is a cause every man and woman should believe in and fight for. It is a cause that we should all carry in our hearts and seeks to fight for everywhere we find ourselves.
Propagators of gender equality also have a responsibility to properly educate everyone on the values entrenched in this principle.
We must make it known that gender equality ultimately seeks to make the world a better place for you and I. We must also re-echo that gender equality means earning it and fighting for it if you feel robbed especially in the work place.
I personally will not bother if I were to stand before Hillary Clinton whether “Wife” is the first word on her Twitter bio because it’s her truth. She has defined her truth in her own words irrespective of her achievements. It’s her choice.
The most important thing will be seeking to make her use her influence to make sure women and girls irrespective of race, gender, nationality, political affiliation and religion have an equal right to live, work, quality education, career and financial opportunities like their men counterparts in their various countries.
Dear Woman, being a wife or mother does not make you lesser than your male counterparts. By all means, please seek your own truth and do your best wherever you find yourself. Be smart enough to know that you are enough with or without a man. If you have a good man in your life supporting your dreams and letting you fly please, by all means, celebrate him along the journey. And if you are single please chase your dreams. Go on that dream vacation, shine in your career or business, buy that house, stand up for your self and be the reason why men will respect us women the more everywhere. Stand up for injustices and support other women.
The world will not take us seriously when we begin to trivialize the cause of gender equality. We must present our case strongly and project a united front to the world to see. When women sing the same song across continents, our voices will be louder, our message re-echoed and the world will know this cause is not a joke.
Picture Courtesy: Pinterest
#genderequality #women #HillaryClinton #Chimamanda #girlpower #twitter
Omotayo's Thoughts 