Feminism and Healthcare: Empowering Women's Health in Africa

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By Adetayo Adetokun

In Africa, the intersection of feminism and healthcare has emerged as a powerful force driving positive change for women's health and well-being. Across the continent, women face unique challenges stemming from deep-rooted social, cultural, and economic factors. However, by adopting a feminist lens, healthcare systems are increasingly recognizing the importance of addressing these multifaceted issues and working towards empowering women's health.

Free… Yet Bound

Photo by Nick Owuor (astro.nic.visuals) on Unsplash

by Adetayo Adetokun

African feminists are individuals and organizations working towards the advancement of women's rights and equality in Africa. They work to challenge traditional gender roles and societal attitudes that perpetuate the notion of women's inferiority and promote laws and policies that protect and empower women. African feminists also advocate for access to education, healthcare, and other essential services for women, and women's participation in political and economic decision-making processes.

When No One Is Looking

Photo by Gantas Vaičiulėnas from Pexels

As long as I can remember, I have always cared about the issues that affect Africa, Africans, and people of African descent, with special focus on how these issues affect women and children. Even as a child in primary school, I can remember expressing anger at people who treated women and children poorly and standing up for the girls in my class. It would not be far-fetched to assume I was born this way, having what can be described as a gnawing need to lend my voice to women's and children’s issues.

Cancel Culture

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

If you have been using social media for any length of time, it is quite possible that you have heard (or used) the term, ‘Cancel Culture’. Like ‘misogyny’, ‘patriarchy’, ‘feminism’, ‘human rights’, this phrase is one of the buzz words of this generation that gets thrown around when heated socio-cultural issues are being debated – or fought over – on social media. It has become so predominant that many dictionaries now carry a definition for the phrase.

So, what is cancel culture? Dictionary.com has one of the more encompassing definitions.

The Male Identity Crisis

Man staring intently.
Image: Pexels

Most of us have probably heard that a woman's identity is tied to a couple of things: her beauty, skin tone, demeanor, chastity or purity, and ultimately, her ability to use these qualities to square herself a husband and bear 'his' children. This can be further expanded into the duties she is supposed to play in these roles of wife and mother, roles defined as the epitome of her womanhood. And we all know that those duties are many, unreasonable, and oftentimes, downright wicked. But these roles are so firmly woven into the fabric of society that choosing a different path almost always results in backlash, shaming, and in some cases, physical and sexual abuse. Very few people expect a woman’s identity to be tied to her intellect, career, goals and aspirations, or achievements. It is why women are constantly asked about their husbands or children, regardless of what other achievements they have outside of that.

On Feminism, Misandry, and Humanity

Image: Ebony Magazine

As more women are discovering—and using—their voices, the dark cloud of patriarchy appears to be slowly retreating, although at the sluggish pace of a limping snail. Of course, there is still a long road ahead before we can confidently say women stand on equal footing with men. But we are certainly not where we were a century ago. In many parts of the world, women can now work in formal settings, vote, run for office, chart their own paths, and inherit property. Progress may be slow, but women are becoming more visible, not just as objects for male pleasure, but as full human beings. And what do we have to thank for this shift? A significant part of it is rooted in feminism.

Why Do Men So Easily Harass Women?

Men in Yaba Market (Nigeria) harassing a woman for demanding an end to street harassment.
Credit: Market March

Most women have been sexually harassed in one way or the other. This could be in the market, at work, in schools, or just walking down the street. Some women have come to expect it as part of their lives. Before I go on my rant – and this is going to be a rant – defining what it means to be sexually harassed is the first call of duty.

Guerrilla Feminism

By Abe Onche

It is not easy being a feminist.

Why We Love Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Picture: MISES INSTITUTE

The first time I really took note of Hillary Rodham Clinton was when she was propelled to national (and international) ridicule by Bill Clinton’s affair in 1998. I was nine years old then and didn’t really understand politics. I was however very sad that Hillary Clinton had been publicly embarrassed by the scandal. I didn’t have access to the internet then but I followed every article that mentioned Hillary Clinton on the dailies. And even though I didn’t completely understand a lot of what I was reading, I grew fascinated with her.

International Day for the Girl Child

Carefree Girls: What we aspire for every girl in the world.
Image: Unsplash.

Today, Shades of Us joins the world in commemorating the International Day for the Girl Child!

We believe every girl deserves the following;

Dear Future Family: Letter to Myself

PICTURE CULLED FROM: NATIONTRENDZ

Dear 21^st Century Strong Black Woman,

The Weird One Out

PHOTO: ONE EQUAL WORLD

Society has defined how the ‘ideal woman’ should look, walk, talk, behave, and be interested in. This evolves every once in a while but the core tenets of what society wants from women are basically the same; be pretty, talk less, marry, give birth, support your man, and fade into oblivion.

The Men Who 'Snitched' On Their Sex

Picture: BLACK WOMEN OF BRAZIL

I woke up this morning with the thought of one of the shows I did on television. We had this business mogul on the show and he was talking about business principles for success. Just as we were rounding up, he asked us to let him say something. It went something like this:

Women Are So Much More!

Image: Pexels.

I have, for months now, been staying in my lane and avoiding some issues that can easily rile me up. I have been learning to bridle my tongue to avoid dishing out words I can't take back. But today, that will take a back seat! I'm literally going to war!

I am a feminist and I am ever ready to jump on all issues relating to women. I can go on and on about women's rights and what we deserve.

So it is fitting that I go on this rant.