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Is ‘feminism’ a Western concept?…

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Bùkúnmi

So I’ve been wondering if or not feminism is a thing back here in Nigeria,its like some of or culture even negates it…here, we’re brought up to believe that girls are the vunerable ones and should be treated as that and we all know that men are kinda respected more,in organizations for example,women who are in the leading positions are seen as the ‘super women’ but why can’t we all be super women…and its not so in the Western world,at least thats what I think,maybe its just the condition in ‘third world countries'(and I really hate that phrase,its so degrading…) where women are allowed little or no say.I’m really sorry this is not a feminist blog,its just that I want your views if or not feminism is Western and can we make it African please???

You may like to check out this video too by Chimamanda Adichie (I loove this lady btw)

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11 responses to “Is ‘feminism’ a Western concept?…”

  1. St. dojo Avatar
    St. dojo

    Sexism generally has always been catholic, right from time most women, ladies(females in general) are not usually regarded except if they become ‘tops’ or ‘superwomen’ as you said and even worse at a time female writers weren’t regarded and had to attach masculine names to attach their writings for recognition… well, the essence of this long comment is that ‘feminism’ is (or shall I write was) a general concept just like slavery, racism and all that…it’s just more pronounced in some places than others… 🙂

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  2. Bukunmi Avatar
    Bukunmi

    yes i do agree with you ST. DOJO…’feminism is a general concept just like slavery and racism’ i guess what makes it more pronounced here is the support and approval given to it!

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  3. Ace Avatar
    Ace

    Well, feminism in the real sense of it as a movement actually started in the Western world. Nevertheless, feminism is as relevant in our Third World countries as it is in those developed countries; and, matter of factly, more relevant (at least, over the past two centuries). Feminism is not a Western concept. Even right from the days of old, there have existed in our land certain few that sensed the injustice in the way women are treated. Sadly, our ‘wonderful’ traditional society probably ‘choked’ them into silence.
    Anyways, I really do not see the need for all the fuss about it. I believe that as our exposure and educational attainments increased, a bit of feminism has actually seeped into all of our bloods. Enlightened folks do not need a movement to convince us to treat women as intellectual equals. We know the right thing to do. And those who choose to do wrong will do so irrespective of the movement gaining popularity. If at all they back down, it will be because they do not want to be tagged anti-feminist and not that they were convinced.
    I actually tag self acclaimed feminists as attention seekers in my mind. Feminism should reflect in our way of life, not by our proclaiming ourselves feminists. Education and enlightenment is what I think is the panacea for the so-called ‘gender-inequality’ in our society.
    Sorry for the long essay.

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    1. Bukunmi Avatar
      Bukunmi

      you know, the term covers a whole lot of issues,includng female circumsision and all other stuffs and that is because of our differing geographical contingencies,we experience different things. Ask a feminist in the western word what he/she is fighting for and ask a Nigerain who claims to be a feminist,I’m sure we’ll get different replies…I agree with the fact that you said enlightened folks do not need a movement to convince them to treat women as intellectual equals,true, but there is always that bit of necessary dominance. And yes those who would do wrong will still do it and its quite impossible for us to achieve a perfectly equal society,inequality exists in differing forms.
      Attention seekers,maybe! though I think the attention they are trying to seek is to be heard and rightly too,yes,it should reflect in our way of life and that is the point…
      hmm i certainly agree with you, but just imagine a society where nearly everyone is educated,take the United States for example,why is there still need for a movement? I guess there is something more then…you might like to check out ‘Everyday Sexism’…
      So in conclusion I’m not trying to say men also aren’t victimised or anything,that is just a long shot and all men aren’t patriachal or sexist,and the few who aren’t should stand up and fight for fair treatment of everyone,not just women…
      Again it doesnt matter what we name the movement,what matters is us standing up against whatever wrong is happening…
      🙂 I’m equallly sorry for d long essay

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  4. Ace Avatar
    Ace

    I beg to disagree with you on that erroneous claim that “Sexism generally has always
    been catholic…”. Sexism had been in existence long before catholicism. Most notably, in the Roman Empire women were seen as mere instruments for sexual gratification and were freely exchanged as gifts, sold, and given as tribute.
    Sexism even existed in our own indigenous culture and traditions (I won’t say so for the Yorubas though). And, matter of fact, Islam is actually more sexist than Catholicism. I know of a religion in which the husband is allowed to flog his wife if he feels her food isn’t good enough.
    Just felt like defending my Catholic brothers. Thanks.

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    1. Bukunmi Avatar
      Bukunmi

      looking back at the origin of feminism,so many things started it up and at various places too…we really can’t point fingers and mention names but maybe that claim is partly right and partly wrong. Right because sexism could be in catholicism (and that’s a totally different issue) just as sexism is in some ‘so-called’ christisan assemblies,it exists in culture, in races, in religion and even in education and it’s wrong for the generalised statement…thing is, sexism today is quite widespread but it’s good we draw attention to it so that we can get enough people on board tackling it.
      Thank you so much for the comment 🙂

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    2. Bukunmi Avatar
      Bukunmi

      Then I guess it isn’t just a Western cocept then…

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  5. Ace Avatar
    Ace

    I actually do not like the content of that Ngozi Chimamanda video. I don’t like her generalization of Africa. At least, I know my sister wasn’t brought up to think she can’t measure up to man.

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    1. Bukunmi Avatar
      Bukunmi

      It’s the video of ‘we should all be feminists’ a tedx talk, should have put the link on though…so u talked about her generalisation of Africa,well i guess she did ‘generalise’ really but she also did talk about her personal experiences too plus Africa, with our culture and all could be quite an interesting place for gender discussions if you ask me…most girls,like your sister,were not brought up think they can’t measure up to a man…its d society that does that eventually…we’re fighting against the eventuality of the society…

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  6. St. dojo Avatar
    St. dojo

    Hmmm…seems there’s kinda misunderstanding here, I don’t mean Roman Catholic, I mean ‘catholic’ as in ‘general’… lyk it is a ‘general’ thingy 😀

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    1. Bukunmi Avatar
      Bukunmi

      Ooh catholic- universal! sorry bout that :)…that was a grave misunderstanding then,but it did open the door to other views though…

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