IWD in Cameroon: Do Ruling Patriarchs Understand What Women Want?

 Women’s Day greetings: “Woman eeeeh!”

Response: “eeeeh!”

Once again, it’s 8th Mar - a significant and colourful season for women [and girls] in my community.  A day where ruling patriarchs talk about equality, in a sarcastic manner. And then pretend to listen to women’s concern

A Rural Women Leader recognized for her outstanding community service to empower women

 “Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty”. The first time a UN International Women’s Day (IWD) theme is devoted to the rural women [and girls]. A community which make up one quarter of the global population and the key producer of food and other agrarian produce. (UN SG’s 2012 Message on International Women’s Day).

But what does this mean to the people at the grassroots? Has the gender stereotypes changed? Maybe and maybe not. This depends on individual experience.

However,  I remembered when I was young, each IWD,  I heard elders (men especially) say – this is the day that men stay at home,take care of the children, cook and serve their wife (and family).While she go wild; drink to drunk, make loud noise, spent lavishly and return home late at night.

And if it were possible men would put to birth, breastfeed the child [ren] while the woman drinks palm-wine with friends and celebrate the baby’s ‘born-house’ or ‘baby-birth party’.

Unfortunately, this ancient concept of women’s day is still supported by many people (including the younger generation) till date.

“Today is women’s day. My wife asked me to babysit and do the household chores” said one man to his friends in the crowd.  “Every Mar 8th, my wife becomes the husband and I became the wife” – he added

 In order word, a man take up the traditional social role of the woman and vice versa.That is women become the head and men the subservient.

My question therefore is: do these role change stop men from perpetuated violence on women? Or have this brought an end to all forms of discriminatory laws and practices that affect women? Of course No!

And as always patriarchy remains the one in control. For the day dedicated to women in recognition of their accomplishments and achievements has been converted into a “women’s birthday” – a day when women are born as men.

IWD is all about celebrating women's achievements and accomplishments

       

The truth is that the concept of women’s day in Cameroon is misrepresented and poorly articulated. We need to correct and orientate the people’s (men old or young) mind to understand why Cameroonian women jubilate on this day. For it isn’t a day women go wild or deliberately drink to drunk.It is a day to we look back on the past struggles and achievements, and most importantly looking ahead on opportunities to project the untapped potential of women and girls in our society.

Campus should focus on safety, not students’ dress

This article originally appeared on World Pulse, 
an action media network powered by women from 185 countries. 

The ruling patriarchy is once more at work at the University of Buea (UB).

Recently, the Director of Student Affairs; Dr Ludwig Metuge made a public announcement blaming the prevalence of sexual violence on campus on the ‘indecent’ dressing of women. 

A majority of female students have experienced one or two forms of sexual abuse from male academic staff on campus, said Mr Che Eugene, a guidance counselor for the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, in an interview.  These assaults often happen in the office and in lecture halls, when students are requesting make-up tests or extra lectures, submission of overdue assignments, and making other pleas to male academic staff. Mr Che said. .

And as long as these female students continue to dress suggestively, exposing certain body parts like the breast, legs, and shoulder- sexual violence is likely to be prevalent on campus, Mr. Che added.

So, in an effort towards preventing such crime on campus, the university authorities have implemented a stringent dressing code. Campus security men are given the ultimate power to send away so-called ‘indecently’ dressed students.  In Dec 2011, this led to over 50 female students bullied out of campus. One of the security guard who sought anonymity said to me.

“Nov 25^th, 9 am, on my way to class, I was stopped by the security guards and chase out of campus saying- my dress were indecent. Just because I wore a slim jean and a T-shirt” Mary, a second year student recalled her sad experienced.

UB fails to recognize that sexual violence remains a major security threat to humankind, particularly women. As well as, it is still one of the most widely unreported crimes, according to Amnesty International 2004 Publication on “Making Violence Against Women Counts”.

Even so, the fact is sexual violence can happen at any time-during armed conflicts and riots and even in nations with socio-economic and political stability.

A WHO Multi-Country Survey study on women’s health and domestic violence against women in 2011 stated that 70% of women between the age; 15 to 49 years in Ethiopia and Peru, reported being victims of sexual violence by an intimate partner.

all wears are sexy.UB should focus on safety and not students' dress

Moreover, UB should understand that each dress has a unique beauty. This makes it sexy. Whether it is a long robe, nightwear, or shorts. These clothes are simply to ensure that their clients derive maximum satisfaction and contentment.

 Ironically, University of Buea is conceived in the English-speaking tradition governing the fundamental rights of freedom of speech. Founded on moral and intellectual principles, and within the Central African region, it is accredited for excellence. So, instead of UB to continue wasting time and resources blaming student dressing, the university should focus on creating real solutions to stop this security threat whose actions have implications for the campus’ reputation, both locally and globally.

Contrary to UB, at least one ruling patriarch condemns the university’s claim and describes it as being a “flimsy excuse based on selfish motif”. “UB should respect individual rights, their dignity and choices”, said Mr. Nzume Mathias, chief of service for the Family Wellbeing at MINWEF- South West Region, Cameroon.

So, campus authorities should spend valuable moments thinking on how to address the issue of security, identify perpetrators of sexual violence, and provide justice to victims.  This could be accomplished by creating an independent sector on campus that works to prevent sexual violence. The Discrimination and Harassment Office (DISCHO) -University of Cape Town in South Africa is a good model. But if a special committee already exists, UB should make it public to all.

In addition, it demands that UB adopt a sexual harassment policy purposefully addressing issues of sexual violence on campus. The policy should also be made clear in the student guides, public and accessible to all, including heads of academic departments and faculty members, campus clubs and associations, academic staff and student

  

The classical ruling patriarchs’ ideologies—in this case, that the victims are to blame for sexual violence--must not prevail. Students’ deserve to have an educational environment where they feel safe and have the freedom to express themselves in what they wear.