Chatting with Feminists in Windhoek

I have made it my mission on this trip to delve into women's issues. However, throughout the trip, I have learned to be very sensitive about how I bring up gender issues with the people that I am speaking with. I often hold my tongue during interviews. Instead of asking whether some of the behaviors that men practice towards women should be challenged, I use neutral statements such as "It must be very difficult." I have chosen this approach because I do not want to alienate my interviewees with feminist rhetoric. It helps to be diplomatic, especially when your own point of view is labeled as extreme.

In Windhoek, all of this changed. Who knew that Namibia has some of the most progressive gender policy in Africa? I, for one, was surprised. To begin my research, I swung by the Finnish Embassy for advice. This is only the second country along our route where Finland has an embassy, so I decided to take advantage. My mother had recently sent me a tip that the Finnish government was very active in supporting HIV/AIDS programs in Southern Africa. Elise Heikkinen, the Program Officer for the embassy grant program, confirmed this and was able to give me some wonderful contacts with women who are running organizations working on gender equality. The two women I ended up speaking with were like a breath of fresh air.

Rosa Nemasis is a former Parliamentarian who had worked to pass legislation to further women’s legal rights in Namibia. She was an extremely amicable woman who had quit Parliament the year before and was now counseling victims of domestic violence (which is something she also did in her spare time during her time in government). Rosa was the first person I spoke with about apartheid. She had lived in Windhoek during the apartheid years and joined the ranks of the rebel group SWAPO. Once independence was won in 1990, she had high hopes for her government. But as she began work on gender equality and minority rights, she realized that her former party was not protecting the rights of all of its citizens. She decided to "do the unpopular thing" and become a member of the opposition party. Since then, she has fought incessantly for the rights of minority groups, such as gays and lesbians, and rastas. When in 2001 the President spoke out against rastas, she was shocked. "He just attacked these people, said that they should all be banished to the desert to die. So what did I do? I decided to grow dreadlocks."

Next, Mike and I spoke with Elizabeth !Khaxas, a writer and women's rights activist who runs writing workshops for women who want to express their stories, but do not have the education or opportunity to do so. While some of the stories she shared with me were heart-breaking, she told them with an honesty and candor that has been unparalleled on this trip. I laughed out loud as she told me: "Even today, women have to kneel to give their husband food. What does this practice say about our dignity? Kneeling down and worshipping men must be debated!" During both of these interviews, all I could think was: "This is exactly how I feel." I have rarely been able to relate so effortlessly.

During the last nine months of the trip, we have visited countries where women have few or no legal rights. This has caused a big strain in communicating (because of my own ideals and beliefs). When I have decided to speak from my own vantage point, I can expect unpleasant glances from the men who may be sitting around. Sometimes, these glances turn into remarks and impassioned speeches about how women are the weaker sex. It has been very tiring. But speaking with Rosa and Elizabeth, I feel like something has finally shifted. I feel absolutely refreshed. The mutual understanding in our conversations brings me new energy for my research in Southern Africa.
* posted by Tuuli at 7:28 AM