I believe that feminism in Africa is more out of necessity than a movement pushed by the need of equal right like in the west.
In Kenya specifically, a lot of households in the lower income areas are women led. They are the sole breadwinner. In the last few years more and more women have joined what were considered ‘a man’s job’. Mjengo, mechanics, touts, long haul drivers.
The traditional gender roles in the business sector seem to have blurred but not so much in other areas.
Paying bride price is still a big deal, single mothers are still looked down upon, most of the women in power are still nominated.
I think Kenyan Feminism specifically needs a new name or maybe, it isn’t feminism at all but just people adapting to the times.
There is this thing that most people always crave for, Labels. Yani everyone always feels the urge of putting a tag on anything and everything, Ways of thinking, systems of doing things and especially people.
To be honest, at this moment and time coming to understand the bad and ugly side of “Feminism,” I prefer not to label myself a feminist. I feel like this is a tag that across the board has been used to torture insult and pass harsh judgments. As they say, “We are our worst enemies!”
I think people should just do good things for the female gender without necessarily tagging themselves Feminists.