Equalitarian a Blog by Ala Oueslati

https://nyti.ms/2HpIroo“I’m happy,” said Hauwa, who was No. 169 on the list. Now, she is a 20-year-old student who rises at dawn for Saturday yoga class.

“But I’m thinking about my sisters who are still in the back,” in Boko Haram’s clutches, she said.

#BringBackOurGirls

“The expansion of the global gag rule by the Trump-Pence administration threatens to exclude some of the world’s most effective health organizations and crucial advocates for marginalized peoples' rights in 60 low- and middle-income countries.”

A Poem dedicated to the upcoming 4th Africa - Europe Youth Summit and the AU-EU Youth Plug-In Initiative

I walked on a thousand lands, and saw a thousand birds, all hymning a song of hope, that never ends. 

I saw a thousand faces, with a thousand traits and a thousand races, telling stories and hearing stories, of civilizations and cultures, nurturing their lands and shaping their lives, like a mother nurtures her child. 

I saw people hand in hand, walking through the same path, a path rich in content, where a thousand stories hide, taking all people to glory, to progress and to pride. 

I saw deserts and forests, waterfalls and lakes, seas, landscapes and hills like a shield, snow on mountains, like cotton on the field.

I saw two continents so rich and diverse, so different, but close, full of potential and hopes, like allies in the same cause, that their destiny chose.

I saw Africa and Europe, connected by the seas, by millions of hopes and millions of dreams, sung by young souls in a beautiful hymn, from Paris to Algiers. 

I saw bridges so long, so safe like home, connecting people and hopes, from Cape Town to Rome. 

Humans have always adjusted to the needs of their communities and societies throughout history. These adjustments shaped the way we live and changed our perception of life. In modern history, everyone played a role in making adjustments and coping with the rapidly-changing circumstances of our world, because isolation was no longer an option. The interaction between humans and the exchange that these interactions created are to a very large extent inevitable. In fact, scientists and sociologists believe this is the very essence of our nature; interactions!

Interacting with others however, wasn’t as easy as it sounds like. There have been many atrocities since the appearance of the first civilizations on earth, caused by the very interaction we are talking about. One might wonder why would interacting with another person result in an atrocity? Well, the answer to that question is very simple: difference. People have always tolerated difference to a certain extent after which difference becomes a threat. Today for example, it is no longer surprising that difference is the root of endless conflicts around the world, from cold wars to unethical economic rivalry, from the big bloody conflicts to the very small fights one can experience in their household.

The difference between women and men is perhaps the oldest cause of conflict. And by difference, it is usually referred to the perceptual and abstract difference that has always existed between both genders through time, simply because the biological differences are of course undeniable and too obvious, making them not worth the debate. If you tell a man that he cannot give birth or that he is generally physically stronger than women his age, it is most likely that he would agree with this statement and not engage in further discussion. If you tell a man that he and his wife should be sharing the house duties equally or that he and his female co-worker have the same intellectual capacities to do the job and excel in it, then he would probably be more open for a debate and would most likely try to give counterarguments as an attempt to deny the statement or even just make some changes to it.

So could someone say that the historical oppression and discrimination women have gone through is a consequence of mere biological differences? To a very large extent, this sounds like the survival of the fittest, a forest in which men dominate women just because they have a stronger structure and more physical capacities. This of course is not true, because we do not live in forests- at least not anymore- and because humans just happen to be of two sexes, with the same cognitive abilities and the same worth and value. The problem is, the majority of men in history have neglected this fact and opted for a more discriminatory approach that put women in a less important categories while men occupied the high roles of authority and decision-making. And because this happened repeatedly, the unnatural inequality between men and women became normalized, accepted by families, expected by societies, and even taught to the new generations. Most men obviously felt privileged and enjoyed the authoritarian position they occupied, which resulted in no or very little objection.

All these historical details play a major role in shaping today’s inequality. Undoubtedly, we did achieve progress and improvements, particularly in the last few decades, because we keep learning from the past and we constantly adjust to the new needs and necessities of our societies.  What was a law just a hundred years ago might today be an unforgivable crime, and this change happened thanks to the development of our kind and to the continuous learning process that defines our humanity. So why don’t men all over the world learn these simple facts about the nature of our difference so that women are no longer a marginalized category? Because the other differences that accompanied the difference of our genders are just too many. They are too many it is nearly impossible to bring all the people together and have them live in line with just one principle, the principle of equality.

This goes back to our differences, again, but this time on a bigger global scale. History is our primary source of information that we then transform into laws. Every single civilization, society and country has done the very same thing, digging into history and learning from it to define today’s rules and laws. For this reason, calling for gender equality in some societies today might still sound like a taboo or even a sin. The same applies when a woman occupies a position of leadership in her community, succeeds in doing business or God forbid, runs for presidency. If anything goes wrong, it is more than likely that she would be blamed for the very fact that she is a female, because she is inherently guilty. She would be called names a man would never have to hear. She would be underestimated even if she works her hardest while still caring for her household and family. She would be subject to more rumors, more gossip and receive much less praise and credit.

All this might sound like the analysis of one pessimistic idea. This of course is not the only truth. The truth is also that there have been many positive changes in our world in which men have contributed and sometimes even taken the lead. Men have advocated for gender equality and women teamed up with men to protest gender-based discrimination and violence. There are 15 female heads of state today, which despite the fact that it’s a very small number, is something that would almost never happen a hundred years ago. What all this means is that change happens, and when it is a positive change, everyone should play a role regardless of their differences. Both men and women should recognize the discrimination women are often subject to, and most importantly, act upon it. Gender equality brings peace and prosperity to every member of society, and that is why it should be of interest to everyone.

This blog post is a collaboration between Ala Oueslati and V. Mcentee.

History has proven that women all over the world have always been subject to discrimination, rejection, marginalization, and perfectly-shown misogynistic attitudes in all aspects of life. Even in the societies that have achieved remarkable progress in human rights and gender equality, women are still not given the same salaries for doing the same jobs as men. They are expected to comply with societal norms and behave in certain ways to avoid any kind of shame, indignity or humiliation. In most countries, they are also expected to do housework, be good at it and behave in a certain “feminine” way. All these examples are proof that women are being objectified and put in a less important category that is subject to judgemental attitudes and is ironically often questioned about productivity, capabilities and loyalty.  

This acutely-distressing phenomenon is a reality that many of us still haven’t acknowledged. Not only does it need acknowledgement but also stringent efforts to change it and make it adapt to the necessities of our time. What is more distressing however, is the fact that this reality can be worse. It is worse for black women and women of colour in general. History holds countless examples of how unfair our societies were and still are to black women. Not only have they been enduring gender-based discrimination, but also racism for they are of a dark skin colour that has been the subject of debate, controversy and even people’s pity.

One of the most important causes of the discrimination black women are subject to is external imposition of racial categories. Non-black people often allow themselves to question black women’s identities, competences and even mental capacities. Even when white people may attempt to include black girls and women into the “normal white racial category”, it is never a full inclusion. There will always be an answer such as “because she’s black”. The examples can be even more absurd, as a lot of people deal with this issue as a matter of luck - some women were lucky enough to be born white, but for others, the odds were not in their favour.

People still do not want to understand that there is no such a thing as a pervasive white power. Being the majority does not imply being right or having better chances to lead the world. In fact, black women are a majority in nearly 50 countries, yet, the instances where they have shown racial discrimination towards others are almost non-existent.

What I come to notice when reading upon any women of colour, along with any coloured people in general, is this continuous negativity associated with them. This includes generalisations and stereotypes including black women holding less beauty than other women, being less knowledgeable, less cultured, and with little self-respect, amongst others. All these categorisations of black women being based on reinforced stereotypes and myths are usually preserved in order to deem black women as inferior in personal-status laws and many other aspects of personal and social life in comparison with white women.

What these generalisations then produce is an institutional racist atmosphere, where this rejection is institutionalised and starts to impact women of colour on a regular, even daily, basis. This institutional racism systematically affects darker-skinned women and gives them images full of negativity, hideousness and inferiority in all aspects of life, irrespective of their education or income level.

This systematic racism cannot impact white women, or white people in general, as they haven't spent centuries under enforced stereotypes, subjection or racial discrimination. They instead have experienced the contrary, the enforcing of white supremacy, leading to institutional racism, which still benefits white groups today.

To further acknowledge the reality of this enforced image, let’s take the example of black women often being associated with drugs, prostitution, or unwanted pregnancy; the black woman with many children is seen as “ghetto”, whereas the white woman is blessed with “little miracles”; or a particularly “trashy” look that would be seen as trendy and cool if a white woman tries it. In the same context, whilst women of colour are also shamed based on their bodily African features, and the following of traditional aspects of their African culture or heritage, from my observation, another struggle black women face daily is the cultural appropriation of their traditional clothing and hairstyles.

Large number of black women across Western nations, who lock or braid their hair, have been persecuted when following their traditional African, or other black, hairstyles. We continuously come across black school girls being told by peers that their locked/cornrowed hair is "distracting" or “inappropriate”, to the extent that they are being punished for their creative and unique traditional hairstyles. This same racist persecution is also showcased within the entertainment industry. African American women locking their hair into a traditional style leads to some white TV personnel describing them with degrading names, whilst simultaneously praising white celebrities with the same hairstyle.

Dark skinned women are relentlessly persecuted based on their hairstyles, outfits and accents as being less classy or less smart, suggesting that beauty and class are two things that cannot be owned by a black woman. White women, however, when appropriating these same aspects of black cultures are allegedly turning them into a "fashion trend", or are praised for imitating what black women are shamed for on a regular basis. This phenomenon has been aggravated by non-black people to the point where black women are sometimes complimented when their accent “sounds white” and not black, or when they have obtained high positions in education or work. Similarly, non-black people often consider interracial couples to be out of the ordinary, and they express their astonishment pitying the white husband who married a black girl or blaming the black girl for daring to marry a non-black man.

The proof that we live in an unequal world is the fact that we have names for issues that concern women more than men, because women suffer more than men. We are all familiar with notions such as “women’s rights”, “sexism”, “feminism” amongst many others. Another proof is the use of notions such as “racism” and slogans like “Black lives matter”, which perfectly reflect the injustice and inequality we live in. We might have evolved throughout history, but we were not able to achieve one of the most basic human needs: equality.

Religion is a source of knowledge, inspiration, hope and serenity that people hold to give them purpose, value and peace. That is not what I was taught when I was younger. That is not what is being taught where I come from.

What I was taught though, like most young people in the Middle East and North Africa, is that this part of the world is a region where hospitality is a fundamental quality and where generosity is the common behavioral code. I was also taught to pay respect to societal and cultural norms, which are actually no more than a set of religious rules that are meant to pertain in every aspect of life.

I was not asked about my opinions, my personal beliefs, my preferences and values. Everybody expected me to act in accordance with the rules, abide by the decisions of the elder and be kind in all circumstances. I similarly expected to be shown respect and appreciation for my abilities, qualities and achievements. I was not.

Unsurprisingly, my abilities and achievements were not worth a great deal of attention. After all, what is a man worth if he doesn’t fit in the group?

The many doctrines of religion that I was exposed to did not make me a better person, nor did they add value to my endeavours. Rather than clarifying many vital aspects of my life, they confused me. The blame for all this confusion however, should not be taken by religion itself, but rather by the neverending series of interpretations that the so-called ‘religious protectors’ make. I did not adhere to any organized set of rules and by doing that I did not mean to dare or provoke anyone. All that I wanted was to find my own purpose in life, just like others wanted to find theirs.

Prohibition was king. In the Arab world anything could have aspects that should be prohibited or at least regulated: eating habits, intergender friendships and interactions, artistic vocations, language usage, physical appearance, and of course sex. The most striking among all these is perhaps the distinction that society creates between “male” and “female”, as it looks like it hits the very core of religion, believe or not!

A man has the authority to approach a woman whatever way he wants. A woman should abide by a man’s decisions and never dare to practice authority or any kind of power, as that is prohibited. A woman is judged by her ideas, language, appearance and by what others might say about her. Notwithstanding that she might be a victim, she is always guilty until proven innocent. For that reason, she is often questioned, never trusted and always asked about her virginity.

A man’s actions are usually innocuous. They are synonymous to virtue and insight, for he is more loyal to religion and God than a woman is. Sex is not a normal, natural part of a person. Yet, it becomes a man’s most intimate form of power. It excuses him and becomes a symbol that reminds women of their vulnerability, an urgent, essential, dominant aspect of life that is never talked about, and yet occupies a big part of a man’s life and identity.

For me, the list of the prohibited acts was long. It was so long that I could actually write a book about them and revise them whenever there was an occasion. And there was always an occasion. I seeked approval and recognition but little did I know, these seemingly good acts were only pleasing people. Not religion, not God, not supreme celestial powers, but people - only unthinking, thoughtless people.

Unlike civil law that regulates everyday life and assures the smooth continuity of human actions, religious interpretations and established social rules in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa are meant to keep a backward, unrevised pattern of life that assures uniformity, homogeneity and hypocritical contentment.

Much undigested and conflicting knowledge is being passed straight to kids who, unmindful and defenceless, believe in these ideas and act upon them once they have grown up. The concept of religion and culture should be personal and their perception should be based on one’s individual purpose and understanding.

We develop ideas, express opinions and react very differently as we perceive information given by the media, our peers, or enforced by our societies. What’s even more incredible is that these ideas can, in fact, shape our personalities, determine our values, encourage us to produce more misconceptions and judge everything around us.

#BringBackOurGirls is a slogan that has been in circulation for over a year by activists, bloggers and online communities all over the world. This was a viral reaction to the abduction of almost three hundred girls in April 2014 by the Nigerian group Boko Haram. International leaders have also raised the sign such as the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, and the United Nations Women’s Special Envoy Emma Watson, which helped further the awareness campaign.

#147notjustanumber is another slogan that followed the fatal attack of one hundred and forty-seven students at Garissa University in Nairobi, Kenya. These students were killed by the terrorist group, Al-Shabab, because of their religion. This sad event followed a similar pattern, and international leaders and internet users used the hashtag on their social media sites.

In April 2015 alone, over 800 refugees have died so far in the Mediterranean sea in an attempt to reach Europe. Many of these victims were Eritreans, Somalis, Malians etc., who risked their lives fleeing war, instability and poverty in their home countries; to date, there is no hashtag for these shipwrecks.

These events, which have claimed thousands of African lives, have captured the attention of the world and shown the plight that is faced by this continent on a daily basis. It is interesting, however, that only those events that concern African violence on African lives have been deemed “worthy” of a viral Internet sensation by Western audiences, to the point where you can get a t-shirt emblazoned with these hashtags. When the event is linked to escaping this violence, to seek refuge against impossible odds in a continent where freedom of movement of people is an inalienable right, there is no hashtag. In fact, there is generally little support, many Europeans have even expressed relief and gratitude over the unsuccessful journey of these African migrants towards their homes.

These examples show that world issues are trends. They depend on the place, the time and the people involved. Most of us have never created hashtags that lasted and became viral. We find them, we spread them, we expand the ideas behind them. We “like” them, but do we actually like them? There is a desire in this world to show people that we care about current events, but where is the drive to act upon these concerns? Why do our reactions depend on the victims involved, their colour, their nationalities, and the severity of their stories?

We know that #BlackLivesMatter, but, is there such a thing as a life that doesn’t matter? Do lives even have colours? It is astonishing to witness the categorization of lives in 2015 where all people are equal, but some are more equal than others. It is even astounding to find myself being reminded that black lives matter almost 200 years since the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire and 150 years in the United States. It is true that such horrific events provoke justifiable anger and outrage, but this temporary display of awareness by millions is no match for the permanent actions of thousands, nor is it a true reflection of people’s beliefs, values and concerns. Unfortunately, these events are becoming more of trends than global issues for the vast majority of Internet users.

The United Leaders of YaLa

It is truly beyond amazing how we develop over the years, how we find answers to questions we have always asked, how we understand ourselves and others through experiences and how we change and adjust to the realities of our lives, as new people.

Change cannot happen overnight. But the willingness to make a change will eventually produce endless opportunities for advancement and evolvement. In fact, before the greatest revolutions, the most notable improvements and the most remarkable rises, there was willingness, planning, aspiration, determination and hope. The Citizen Journalism Workshop which took place in Amman, Jordan in the last week of March 2015 redefined for me what it means to be a citizen journalist, one who is concerned about what is happening in the MENA region.

The workshop, which gathered 12 citizen journalists, bloggers, activists and change makers, was a unique opportunity to meet the YaLa staff members, and interact with a number of inspiring guests from a range of fields who shared their experiences and their stories and made sure to support the participants with feedback, advice and tips on blogging, storytelling, reporting, the use of Social Media, the use of communication techniques and how to conduct interviews. Everyone had something to share, be it an idea, a suggestion, a project, a talent or even a complaint, which proves that the workshop was about embracing differences and seeking opportunities of growth and progress in these differences, toward spreading the peace culture among the region.

This workshop is the result of continuous outstanding work of dedicated people who belong to the MENA region and who believe in the power of Digital Media to spark actions and produce radical change in societies that have been shaped by history. These same people have been able to develop their writing, research and critical thinking skills and connected with other engaged young people from all over the region in global dialogue.

And the most interesting part about the workshop is not actually bringing together people from different regions of the Middle East and North Africa and have them brainstorm ideas and express respect and love to one another. The workshop is all about what is yet to come, the building process, the global network, the future. What we all want is to implement the core values of YaLa together with what we have been learning in the Citizen Journalism Program into a larger scale that can unite not only 12 aspiring participants but hundreds of thousands of other people who are as passionate, as concerned and as dedicated.

Divided, our communities are fragile, our societies are sensitive, and our time is difficult. We must believe in the power of unity and knowledge, we must live in unity and with knowledge. YaLa gives us the opportunity to unite our efforts, our dreams and our ambitions to make our communities strong, our societies constructive and our time prosperous.