Twitter gets riled up for all sorts of reasons. Starting a story with “twitter explodes with….” is about as easy a “click-bait” approach as I can think of (and mock) yet today I am doing exactly that.
Today, Twitter has exploded with the hashtag #BeingFemaleInNigeria. This hashtag seems to have come truly from the grassroots (rather than say a celebrity, or some external focusing event that got converted into a tweet). In just a few hours, what started as an outpouring of powerful stories from women in Nigeria about the struggles they face, has turned into a full on global Twitter discussion.
In all global discussions like this, the initial purpose has been met by compassion and support as well as anger and haters (notably it’s not just men hating on the hashtag, some women are throwing shade as well).
In my view, this hashtag has opened the door to many stories that go untold. Too often (even on Global Citizen) the struggles that women face are boiled down to faceless stats or compressed into a powerful story of one person. #BeingFemaleInNigeria is so much more. The sheer weight of all of the stories that highlight sad, happy, or tragic, things of all sizes and shapes means that even just a skim of this hashtag gives everyone a new (and broader) perspective.
In the last few hours of the hashtag trending, many of the people involved have felt they had to defend their statements. (And this is one of the calmer examples of this “debate” by people who are hating on the hashtag).
#BeingFemaleInNigeria is us shedding light on daily struggles as women. We are not taking away from the good experiences.
— Andie Okon (@Andiva) June 30, 2015Some of the struggles highlight the day to day attitudes confronting women in Nigeria.
Man crashed into my car. Insisted he fix it. "See, no ring. You're too aggressive. That's why no one will marry you." #beingfemaleinNigeria
— Ijeoma OgwuegbuUduma (@IjeomaOgud) June 30, 2015This isn’t just in Nigeria unfortunately.
#BeingFemaleInNigeria where moral teachings are targeted at women because you know boys will be boys.
— flawless milkkk (@_larike) June 30, 2015Men did get in the act. It’s up to you if you think this man is trying to help or reinforcing this all too prevalent stereotype.
You aren't expected to study engineering. It's for men #BeingFemaleInNigeria
— Mark Amaza (@amasonic) June 30, 2015The discussion was not all about female empowerment, it also included the struggle some women feel when dealing with other women who undercut them.
#BeingFemaleInNigeria empowers me to do my best in work & family. God forbid I fail, fellow females will point the most fingers.
— BlessingTimidi DIGHA (@SuperGirlTimidi) June 30, 2015And because it’s Twitter there is of course snark amidst the poignant stories.
#BeingFemaleInNigeria I get to go home when I'm on call while the men stay in the hospital, bcz well I hv to go n cook for my husband lol
— Zainab Mahmoud (@iNabmahmoud) June 30, 2015A question too many women have to ask. This may seem small but home ownership and a sense of self through your place in the world is important.
You must, before you're 30, go from "your father's house" to "your husband's house". Do you ever get your own house?! #BeingFemaleInNigeria
— Mia Farraday (@miafarradaily) June 30, 2015It wasn’t all bad, as some took to Twitter with positive takes on #BeingFemaleInNigeria. I can only hope this sentiment is able to be shared by more people.
#BeingFemaleInNigeria makes me learn how to balance. I don't have to give up having kids for work and vice versa.
— BlessingTimidi DIGHA (@SuperGirlTimidi) June 30, 2015To see them all, check this link to a search for #BeingFemaleInNigeria.
These stories come as Global Citizen wraps up its month-long focus on girls and women. Listen to the voices of these women speaking out, look at the responses they are receiving. It’s time everyone made a choice. Will we, as individual global citizens, step into this discussion and support the empowerment of girls and women? Broadening their rights, supporting girls and women’s access to education, finance and jobs, and ensuring everyone in the world has the opportunity to live in a just world?