It is painfully obvious that I am a feminist. Painfully because it has become so that it is not possible to have any other conversation other than my feminism. Somedays it peeves me. Some days, I say, “Wake Up and Smell the Patriarchy People”! This I tell to myself and those that are blissfully in…
I cut my hair and a lot of women loved it. Despite the love, many women expressed how they couldn’t cut their hair because fathers, husbands, and boyfriends wouldn’t allow it. While I mentioned it’s just hair, the above response made me wonder why some men needed women to have long hair (fake or real).…
Many survivors or victims of sexual violence live their entire lives- post trauma, in pursuit of justice but unfortunately only a small percentage ever get this fulfilled. It is vital to note that getting justice is an important step in their journey to recovery or healing after their ordeal or experience. For most survivors, seeing…
Every fairytale starts with once upon a time, But this princess tale starts with once upon a man. It’s not one of those poetic lies told to gain sympathy, It’s simply the truth, the untold story of Beauty. As he lies there 6ft under He asks me is it to late to say sorry…
A spirited African woman on a journey of discovery across Africa and across the plains of her self knowing. Meet Maskarm Haile and get to know her a bit through HERStory.
Any woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that the armies of the status quo will treat her as something of a dirty joke. That’s their natural and first weapon. She will need her sisterhood ~ Gloria Steinem One thing sharing my lived experience as a woman and a feminist gives me is the opportunity to learn that another woman shares my story. That always outweighs opinions of other…
All space is shared. We have to care for others as well as ourselves. But as women, we do more of the former than the latter. However, some cultures and traditions are the exceptions to this rule. Some holidays come around and give young women the chance to shine and breath. Ashenda (also referred to…
I met Eden in my uncle’s house serving coffee while I was having a serious conversation with my cousins about early and arranged marriage. We did not know Eden was paying attention to our conversation until she sat beside me and told me, she had ran away from her birthplace because her parents forced her…
I was thinking about how I would start putting this down. Then I had a conversation with a friend. She had an encounter that was bothering her. As she told me what had happened, I asked when it occurred. She replied, a few hours ago – and she asked, ‘is it because I was nice?’.…
There’s been a massive hype on diversity and inclusion worldwide and Africa has had her own fair share. Women are a whooping half of Africa’s population but it is pathetic to note that women make up less than a fifth of corporate board memberships. A 2015 research conducted by the African Development Bank on 307…
I am a life-long student. This a report of the lessons I have learnt. I learnt that I should always sit with my legs together. That a lady does not sit with her legs apart- it is bad manners, they said. I learnt that shame was lodged in between my legs. My brother learnt to…
Our HERStories series explore the lives and document the experiences of various women from all walks of life. In this piece, our volunteer Yabi Deres from Addis Ababa strikes up a conversation with Habtamua in the city of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
