Becoming A Gender Activist.

“You are too young. You are uneducated. No one will listen. You don’t have nearly enough influence,” they said.

There is more to activism than just supporting movement, activists are not only tasked with maintaining their own will to fight against what feels like insurmountable odds, you must inspire others to join in. Activism is not paid or career work. It is heart work. Many are doing the work on top of full-time jobs, parenthood, school and other day-to-day realities and it can be exhausting. For me, I got into this gender activism after experiencing some stereotype threats in my field of study. These gender stereotypes have effects in a girl’s performance and interest in certain subjects. There is more increasing workplace diversity than just admitting more women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers. And the research shows that stereotypes regarding women’s capabilities in STEM also start affecting them long before they would ever consider a career.

In today’s society women are still restricted in their freedom through religious and cultural norms, taboos, and behavior and clothing restrictions. As well as development through denied or substandard education and inescapable poverty. Women are also restricted mentally through the promotion of immaturity and self-debasement and the imposition of a stereotypical image of femininity. Restrictions also affect their dignity through representation in the media, in advertising, and in pornography as well as bodily integrity through the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), which occurs thousands of times a day in large parts of the world. Every day women are victims of gender-specific forms of violence around the world and this may be due to the supposed inherent inferiority of females.

Allow me to introduce to you, “A little too African,” a feminist founded in 2018 with the aim to promote education amongst women and make a life without gender-based discrimination, violence, and exploitation possible. I not only focus on the female as a being but all matters related to femininity thus gender related issues, race related issues and sexual orientation related issues.

Due to my current work load with my studies I found social activism favorable as social media has revolutionized the way we communicate and is a powerful tool for most activist. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube… whatever your social media platform of choice, there are tons of connections made with individuals and organizations that share the same values and goals as I do. Gracefully with time I do hope to make the most of this feminist movement through networking with like-minded people, I believe this will help strengthen my cause and will benefit from their camaraderie, support and knowledge.

One of the reasons I love social activism is FEEDBACK, both positive and negative, is very helpful. Feedback is valuable information that I use to make important discussions. Every time we communicate amongst each other we communicate feedback. In actuality, it’s impossible not to give feedback. I always try to understand the person giving feedback and see things from their point of view. Mostly people mistake feedback for criticism. In fact, what is viewed as negative criticism is actually constructive criticism and is the best find of feedback that can help to formulate better decisions to improve and increase performance. I make an effort to invest time in asking and learning about how others deal with particular experiences and this helps me develop and improve relationships with my audience.

Feel free to visit me on my Instagram page! Feel free to follow me, @alittletooafrican.

Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong…it is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum not as two opposing sets of ideas.

Mental Health Awareness Week.

6 October-12 October 2019

Society has set aside specific months, weeks, days that are dedicated to raising awareness about various issues. For some it is all about hashtags on social media and others the definition of what the awareness truly stands for is lost. When it comes to serious issues like Mental Health Awareness Week, the true definition runs way deeper for mental illness victims on a daily and those who have lost their lives because of it.

For those who have not experienced depression before, it is very much easy to look at other people and be judgmental and make various assumptions. If you break your leg, you visit the doctor and they cast it up, the next thing you know, you are on your journey to recovery. When there is an epidemic, we take preemptive measures to getting sick. We seek medication ASAP if we catch it, so why is it, discussing about mental health is taboo? Why do we make it difficult get care for mental health? Why are there stigma behind something that a greater population suffers from? Heaviness that this discussion brings to the room whenever brought up in front of individuals who are ignorant.

Thinking of the stigma, some black women suffering from mental illness face and medical treatment, the stigma associated in black communities it heartening. To think of how there are people who are struggling at this very moment and are contemplating suicide at this very moment, cause trust me it is not a secret that close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds worldwide. We fall sick- We seek help- We undergo a medical treatment- We feel better. This is the same drill with mental illness due an imbalance in chemicals in our brain causing us to feel ill.

The significance resembled by mental health awareness week, is the unedited it is more than just a hashtag. Months, weeks, days dedicated to certain issues mean a lot than an Ad. A lot maybe sensationalized and glossed over due to the realness of the issue to the audience who may see the filtered truth and scroll on.

Not all of us have experienced mental health issues, therefore one would conclude that the meaning of mental health week or day is not of much value to them as to someone who has had personal experience with mental illness. But fact is everyone knows someone, who happens to know someone with a mental illness. And I am here to say there is absolutely no shame talking about it. You may have a parent, an aunt, a brother, a sister, or a friend who has/is struggling with mental health or has lost their lives.

Our mental health matters more than your career.

Our mental health matters more than your reputation.

Our mental health matters more than your schedule.

Our mental health matter more than your money.

Our mental health matters more than your relationship.

Our mental health matters more than your pride.

Because we matter, we are worthy of love, capable of amazing things, allowed to express ourselves and able to attend to our needs.

Let us all treat mental health awareness week/day for what it really is and dissect its truth.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Just in case you had not known, October is the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Some hear about Breast cancer and its devastating implications, yet many still do not know who it affects or prevention methods.

Breast cancer is considered as one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed amongst women and men.

Yes MEN too.

Yes, statistics reveal  that 1 in 8 women is most likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer and women are at a higher risk, though the statistics for men are quite low. Therefore is seems fitting to set an entire month dedicated to raising awareness about it. There are various ways in which we can all participate. Each one of us, men, women having our own reasons to support the cause. Be it having lost a loved to breast cancer, having battled it themselves, knowing someone who has suffered from breast cancer, or just wanting to spread awareness.

In order for us to honor Breast cancer awareness month we ought to be educated, be it educating oneself or educating others on the breast cancer facts. Having knowledge of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and making sure our friends know of them too. Warning signs include- Tenderness around or in the nipples, a lump in the breast, enlargement of pores or change of skin texture on the breast or discolored nipple discharge. Knowledge on healthy lifestyle changes which aid breast cancer prevention i.e. limiting alcohol intake, no smoking, eating fruits and vegetables as well as exercising. Many people believe Breast cancer is hereditary only, however 85% of people diagnosed are women with no family history of Breast cancer. Some family links may increase the chances of breast cancer through mutations. Individuals with Breast cancer family links should be cautious and get genetic testing. All women should get preventative screening for Breast cancer as they age even if there is no family history.

The theme color of October is pink. From pink accessories, pink clothing, pink hairstyles, pink décor, pink lipstick or fingernails, pink is generally everywhere in support of Breast cancer awareness month. During the month of October, pink is not just any other color. Pink is the color, it helps spread awareness and serves as a reminder to the public to support the cause. So why not wear pink to show your support, if you own a car, tie a pink ribbon on your windshield, or wear the signature pink ribbon pinned to your chest in support of Breast cancer awareness.

Pink Umbrellas Street Art Installation in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, France

There are a number of Breast cancer awareness fundraisers hosted by various organizations or hospitals. Which provide us with opportunities to contribute to local Breast cancer initiatives. And making donations to the cause goes a long way in supporting the Breast cancer awareness fundraiser. Social media is one of the fastest media to spread awareness. Post on social media, start a discussion and spread the word by posting a picture of you in a pink outfit, wearing a Breast cancer ribbon, with an educating caption to educate your followers on some Breast cancer stats and data.

In conclusion this Breast cancer awareness month, learn your risk factors and take action to mitigate them by getting screened, consulting a doctor and making healthy lifestyle choices.