Why This Year’s IWD is Not Giving
Did you know that Afghanistan has reopened its universities? Guess who is not allowed in?
Yep, women.
How about what’s happening in Iran? Are you aware that over 100 protesters are facing the death penalty for daring to protest the murder of a 22 year old woman by the clothing police?
But hey, happy international women’s day!
I am not exactly sure why it has been tough to join everyone in celebrating IWD this year. Maybe it’s because between IWD in 2022 and now, women have taken a couple of blows that pretty much makes it hard to believe that the world cares about women.
Just last year, the US, a nation that loves to present itself as a symbol of liberation and development, set women back ages by overturning Roe vs. Wade. They literally took back women’s rights to decide what to do with their bodies… A fight that had once been won has to be fought all over again.
What has all these got to do with IWD? I actually can’t say for sure.
What I do know is that March 8 did not make me feel like taking a cute picture with my arms wrapped around myself. It instead, reminded me of the many women whose nations, religions, cultures, societies and families have failed. It made me think about the many women who are not even aware that such a day exists.
But okay… let’s not get things too gloomy, I do have a story to tell you.
This year’s theme revolved around digital equality, which, if I must confess, is quite timely. For a county like Nigeria going through a naira crunch, it gives one a lot to think about.
Less than 45% of Nigerian women own a bank account. When you really think about it, even less have access to a smart phone. Lesser still know how to operate a mobile app or a USSD code. And yet the Central Bank of Nigeria wants a country that transacts electronically. When you sum this up with the fact that not every nook and cranny of the country has cell service or electricity… what we have on our hands is a real crisis.
Still, not trying to scare you so just hold on for the story.
This story is actually about Sadiya (not real name) Sadiya is a middle-aged divorcee with four kids. She lives with her children, her younger brother, and father in a village called Kwaraye in Kano. Sadiya runs errands for me and a number of households for a living. From the money she earns, she feeds her family and sends her kids to school. Dont ask about the ex- husband… just dont.
Now, I usually pay her in cash until recently, that is. I have been unable to get my hands on cash for almost two weeks now. I tried to get cash, and I dont often get more than five thousand at a time. Sometimes, I get two. Most times, I get nothing.
When it became clear that paying her in cash was impossible, I asked for her account details. That’s where this story gets interesting.
Why?
Because Sadiya does not own a bank account.
You know who does?
Sadiya’s brother, Hamza.
I had offered to send the money to her brothers account, but she declined. Apparently, she had given Hamza all the money she owned when she heard that the old notes were going to be phased out. She did so trusting him to keep her money safe, but he didn’t.
The first time she asked Hamza for some money, he told her that he couldn’t get his hands on new notes and that she had to wait a while. This continued for some time until she got fed up and asked him to send the money to my account. It was then that he blatantly refused, claiming that she had no use for money and that he had used it to fix the roof in anticipation of the rainy season.
She reported to her father. The old man preached forgiveness and sent them on their way.
So ends the sad tale of Sadiya’s savings.
What does IWD mean to Sadiya? How do flyers and conferences and trendy videos and adverts make life easier for many women like Sadiya?
And what about Afghanistan women? What does digital empowerment mean to them?
The many women in jail or still in the streets protesting the murder of a fellow woman in Iran? What does IWD look like for them?
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that the flyers and the conferences and the videos and the spaces and debates mean nothing. They do. At the very least, to celebrate women who go out every day, wondering if they will be assaulted, harassed or even murdered, just because…
On the other hand, they should help create awareness, right? Especially amongst policy makers, yes?
Until it hits you that only three women out of one hundred and nine are senators- elect in the 2023 National Asembly
This then leaves us with IWD messages from different corporate bodies.
The thing is, there’s something about seeing companies and organisations string up fancy words and content when they can’t even boast of an inclusive workspace (daycare for babies whose parents are workers, pumping rooms, mensural care packages, paid maternity leaves? Miscarriage leaves) that feels like a comedy performance.
It feels like an overpriced show.
What should the world be doing on IWD then?
I really don’t know. I honestly don’t. And therein lies my conundrum.
