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spiderfreedom · 1 year ago

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gender around the world

thinking of making an effortpost elaborating on my 'gender is about power' post. a lot of people don't know just how common gender roles are across the world. like, every society that we know of has gender-segregated labor. they're not all equally strict, but this division is one of the few human universals we know of. and another one is that in every society we know of, women are responsible for childcare.

not all societies denigrate women. the extreme denigration of women is basically societies that imprison women at home, because to appear in public is to be 'indecent' and therefore mark you as a bad woman worthy of punishment and violence. these are called ideologies of female seclusion. examples include, to varying extent, ancient athens, modern iran, ancient china, the modern christian fundamentalist movement. these societies also tend to culturally devalue women's contributions to society. lip service will be given to the importance of mothers, but the most important and recognized people in society will be men. any influence women have tends to be behind the scenes influence on particular powerful men. this type of seclusion is somewhat more common in europe and asia.

some societies culturally recognize women's value and allow women to become high-status individuals publically. women appear in public, have spheres of power they control, and are not systematically degraded (but a caveat, which i explain soon). these societies include the ancient oyo benin of western africa (modern day descendants are the yoruba), the iroquois, the inuit, the !kung people. this type of cultural recognition is somewhat more common in africa and the (indigenous) americans.

now for the caveat - even societies that viewed women as valuable, important, powerful, often have anti-women organizing principles. arranged marriage exists among the inuit and !kung people, for instance, with an older man betrothed to a girl or young woman. there are multiple yoruba proverbs that denigrate or patronize women. these societies are not feminist utopias. they are societies that believe in the complementarian value of women's work, recognize it, and where women are expected to be full members of society. this does not mean that men and women are utterly equal in dignity.

there are many manifestations of the arrangements above - the lamalerans of indonesia don't have a culture of seclusion but do value men's labor over women's. even among fundamentalist christians, we see different levels of female seclusion and leadership among the different subgroups. i note trends, and trends are not absolute.

why does this matter to us? because it proves that gender is not a liberatory principle. gender is not even primarily an aesthetic principle. gender is a script handed to people that they must play so society can function. some scripts say that women's roles are important and valuable and ought to be celebrated. other scripts say that women's roles are less important and women are shameful and should stay secluded. but it is worth noting they are scripts nonetheless.

understanding that gender exists to organize labor, values, reproduction, also means you understand why feminists should study economics. male anxiety about female empowerment rises when male employment is threatened. in other words, rising unemployment for men = increasing anxiety about women "replacing" them = increasing desire for strict gender roles that "assure" men places in society. (btw - many women also feel the same in societies where they depend on men, and employed women are viewed as enemies.)

until we figure out how to get men to stop being existentially concerned with their place on the masculine hierarchy, decreases in male employment and male success will continue to be boons to anti-feminist. and so, in addition to being worried about unemployment because of how it affects women's labor directly, feminists should be worried about unemployment because it ferments anti-female resentment. (could managing unemployment levels thus turn out to be a way to control anti-feminist sentiment, so that feminists can lay groundwork for more advanced feminist points? instead of always worrying about maintaining the gains we have? food for thought)

#radical feminism #global feminism #mypost #feminist economics #anthropology and feminism #origins of patriarchy

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newsnigeria · 2 years ago

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Ifa: The 16 Odu Ifa & Their Meaning.

The meaning of the 16 Odu Ifa of the Ifa is based on 16 symbolic or allegorical parables contained in the 16 Core Chapters or Principles that form the basis of the Ifá, a system of divination of the Yoruba people of Nigeria. The Grand Priest of Ifa, the Babalawo or Iyanifas are the Priests and Priestesses of the Ifa Oracle that receive and decode the meaning of the Divine Messages contained in the Odu Ifa Parables that are transmitted to them using a Divination Chain known as Opele or the Sacred Palm or Kola Nuts on a Wooden Divination Tray called the Opon Ifa. When the 16 Odu Ifa is combined, a total of 256 Odu emerges which is essentially a collection of 16 Odu, each of which has sixteen alternatives that are believed to reference all situations, circumstances, actions, and consequences in life. These form the basis of traditional Yoruba spiritual knowledge and are the foundation of all Yoruba divination systems. Ifá proverbs, stories, and poetry are not written down. Rather, they are passed down orally from one Babalawo to another. People consult Ifa for divine intervention and spiritual guidance. The 16 Odu Ifa:

- Eji Ogbe: The principle of Eji Ogbe is the idea of perfect alignment with Destiny. Ifa teaches that all human Destinies are rooted in the spiritual discipline of developing good character.

- Oyeku Meji: It references the idea that death represents the end of a cycle for example the end of poverty, the end of ill health, the end of confusion, and the end of loneliness.

iii) Iwori Meji: It focuses on the ability to identify REAL possibilities.

iv) Odi Meji: Odi means the spirit of female reproductive organs; it is known as the seal. To seal something in a ceremony is to guarantee it will manifest. A seal is anything irreversible such as birth.

v) Irosun Meji: Irosun Meji occupies the fifth position within the order of Odu Ifa in Yorubaland. Irosun means the spirit that protects the head and descends. The Odu is known as the sounding Osun. Osun is the spirit that protects the head (Ori). The head is where memories are stored, so by protecting the head, Osun preserves the past. Irosun Meji is the stable and inflexible reality of what has come before us.

vi) Owonrin Meji: Owonrin means brought by the hands. It says the solidification of the past lays the foundation for that which is to come. Humans are born with a spectrum of potential that cannot be changed. Within the spectrum, we can make choices affecting the way our potential becomes manifest.

vii) Obara Meji: Obara is the Odu that incarnates humility in the struggle with arrogance. For those who are struggling to find abundance cleaning away the negative effects of arrogance is the first step towards accessing your ability to create abundance.

viii) Okanran Meji: Here is a warning not to scatter your attention. Okanran refers to new beginnings and a change of direction in your life. This change needs to be focused and directed towards a specific goal in order to be effective.

ix) Ogunda Meji: Ogunda Meji is a reference to the courage of Ogun to face unknown obstacles. When some people have problems they complain and blame others. In Ifa, complaining and blaming others is called ibi. Ire comes from accessing Ogun’s Ase, which is the Ase of the courage to take responsibility for all of your problems and the willingness to face them head-on.

x) Osa Meji: There are some stories attached to his Odu, simply put, it is said according to the Odu Ifa Osa Meji Ifa explains what happened between the Iyami and human beings: When humans (eniyan) and birds (eye) came to earth (Aye) from the sky (Orun) they made the sacred promise they will never kill each other. Time passed by and human beings became hungry because there wasn’t food for them and so they started to die one by one; Esu came to humans and put in their minds why they were dying with so many birds around. Humans decided to break the promise and started to kill the birds and eat them. The Eleye became very furious and went to Eledumare who said that human beings were guilty and since that moment the Eleye or Iyami will have the power to interfere in the human’s life and do what they want with them. Human beings broke the promise, they broke the equilibrium and now they need Iyami’s favor to avoid negativities.

xi) Ika Meji: This speaks of running away from evil thoughts, evil actions, and evil utterances. IFA says evil does not pay, but doing good and thinking well, and speaking out good words attract enormous blessings from OLODUMARE.

xii) Oturupon-Meji: Oturupon-Meji occupies the twelfth position in Odu Ifa. It is an image of instability within the forces of the earth. Oturupon Meji reveals how the faculty of intelligence came to the world. It relates to Egungun (Ancestor Society). The Egungun should be allowed to comment on the resolution of any conflict. Oturupon deals with the spiritual consequence of lack of courage.

xiii) Otura Meji Otura meji means peace, harmony, love, and light through proper examination of mind, heart, and soul to find the infinite wisdom, infinite power, and the infinite supply of all that is necessary to achieve our earthly destiny and spiritual growth.

xiv) Irete Meji: Under this Odu, Orunmila speaks of possible initiation into IFA to guarantee long life and good health. This Odu speaks of the prosperity of life and the Exaltation of life if the possible offering of rituals, sacrifice, and initiation to encourage the fulfillment of life and happiness.

xv) Ose Meji: Ose Meji says there is a woman that is looking to have children but she has been unsuccessful up till this point. Ose Meji says this person must make a sacrifice. Ose Meji says that if this person can sacrifice, they will soon find a spouse, and birth to children, and receive a financial increase.

xvi) Ofun Meji: Ofun Meji occupies the sixteenth position within the order of Odu Ifa in Yorubaland, West Africa. In Ogbe Ofun, it means that the person is in alignment with their destiny and is receiving blessings as a result of the effectiveness of their prayers and spiritual discipline. Read the full article

#ifa #ODUIFA

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socialife · 26 days ago

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How Fashion Has Been Used to Pass Cultural Messages Across Different Parts of the World

Fashion is not just about looking good, it is a language, a statement and a mirror reflecting who we are, where we come from and what we or a group stand for. All over different parts of the world, clothing has carried profound meanings and telling stories of heritage, beliefs and identity of a particular people. Examples are seen in the intricate designs of Nigerian Aso Oke to the elegance of Japanese kimonos, which has become a vessel for cultural storytelling. In this post, we will explore how fashion has been used to pass cultural messages across the world, with a touch of our authentic Nigerian perspective.

Fashion as a Cultural Storybook

When you look at traditional attires, like the Maasai shuka from Kenya and the Native American headdresses, each thread, color and pattern holds deep cultural significance. In many African cultures, including Nigeria, fashion is not just about the fabric and style, it is also about identity.

In Nigeria, for instance, the Yoruba (Aso Ebi) system is a perfect example of fashion being used to communicate unity and solidarity. During weddings, funerals and other significant events, families and friends wear matching outfits to signify belonging and togetherness. The color and style chosen often tell a story, just as white colour symbolizes purity, gold denotes royalty and blue represents love and peace.

Fashion speaks sometimes louder than words. All over the world, it acts as a universal yet localized language that tells who you are, your roots and the values of tribes and communities.

World Fashions and their Messages

Below are some of the popular fashion styles with deep messages to the world;

Africans

West African - Nigeria’s Aso Oke and Adire

In Nigeria , we have the Aso Oke - a handwoven fabric from the Yoruba people. Beyond it stunning aesthetics, each pattern and design tells a story. For instance, the Etù pattern often dyed in deep indigo usually symbolize wisdom and maturity.

Similarly, Adire also a traditional indigo-dyed cloth from the Yoruba tribe—serves as a cultural symbol. Every motif in it carries carries meaning, from stars representing hope to fish symbolizing prosperity.

Isiagu in Igbo Culture

Similarly, in Igbo culture the Isiagu attire (a lion-head embroidered fabric) is worn by chiefs and signifies authority, wealth and status.

These designs in Nigeria fashion are not random as they speak volume about heritage and respect for tradition.

East Africa - The Kitenge and Kangas

In East Africa, particularly tanzanian fabrics like Kitenge and Kangas are used to pass messages. Women usually wear kangas with Swahili proverbs printed on them, offering advice, humor, or wisdom. A kanga might read: "Akili ni mali," meaning "Wisdom is wealth."

These fabrics often serve as a voice for their women by giving them a platform to express themselves in a society where words might sometimes fail them.

Asians

Japan – The Kimono

The Japanese kimono is not just a piece of clothing. It's a canvas of cultural history. Each fold, color and embroidery has meaning. A kimono’s design often represents the season - cherry blossoms for spring or maple leaves for autumn.

The way a kimono is worn can also communicate the person's marital status or social class. For example, unmarried women wear furisode - kimonos with long, flowing sleeves.

The India Saree

In India, the saree is a cultural icon. With over 100 different draping styles. Each region in India have their own way of wearing it. The colours also have significance - red symbolizes love and marriage, while white represents mourning.

A saree is not just cloth, it is a legacy passed down from mothers to daughters, a symbol of pride and a connection to ancestral roots.

The Europeans

The Tartan Kilt of Scotland

In Scotland, the kilt is not just a piece of cloth in fashion, but a (cultural emblem). Each tartan pattern represents a specific clan. Wearing a tartan is like carrying your family tree wrapped around your waist.

Kilts are worn at significant cultural events such as weddings, military parades and Highland Games, preserving Scotland’s rich heritage.

Spanish Flamenco Dresses

In Spain, the flamenco dress is iconic. Originally worn just by the Andalusian women. These dresses are characterized by frills and bright colors. Beyond their beauty, they symbolize passion, pride and a deep connection to Spanish traditions.

The Americans

Native American Headdresses

In Native American tribes, headdresses are sacred. Always made from eagle feathers, with each feather representing an act of bravery or a significant achievement. These are not mere fashion pieces, they are spiritual symbols and cultural treasures.

Hispanic Cultures - The Sombrero and Huipil

The huipilIn in Mexico is a traditional blouse, which tells stories through its embroidered patterns. Each region has its unique designs, often showcasing flowers, animals or geometric patterns that represent fertility, nature or spirituality.

The sombrero, originally a practical hat for shielding the sun, has become a cultural icon symbolizing Mexican pride and resilience.

Modern Fashion Movements Carrying Cultural Messages

Fashions that carry message is not confined to traditional attire alone even modern fashion carries cultural messages. Today, designers worldwide are using fashion to make statements about social justice, climate change and gender equality. Below are some of the popular modern fashions with deep and clear messages;

The Hijab Movement

The hijab, which is worn by many Muslim women, is not just a piece of cloth. it isan expression of faith, modesty and identity. In recent years, hijabi fashion influencers have challenged stereotypes, showcasing how modest fashion can be both stylish and empowering.

African Print on the Global Stage

African prints such as Ankara and Dashiki, have made their way into mainstream fashion. Celebrities and designers worldwide now celebrate these prints, showcasing African heritage on global runways.

Conclusion

Deep down, fashion is about identity, storytelling and cultural preservation. From Nigeria’s Aso Oke to Japan’s kimono, from Scotland’s tartan kilts to India’s sarees, fashion carries history, values and emotions.

Our world is becoming increasingly globalized, cultural fashion serves as a reminder of our roots. It teaches us to honor our past while embracing the future.

So, the next time you wear that Ankara dress or style your hair in cornrows, remember - you are not just making a fashion statement. You’re telling a story, representing your culture and keeping history alive.

#fashion photography #fashion #Fas

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cynthiabertelsen · 1 month ago

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Flavor Principles Out of Africa: It's the Beans

Fermented Foods, Especially Oilseeds, as Flavoring in the Cuisines of Africa Opo Iru ko ba obbe je. (Yoruba proverb): Plenty of Iru [dawadawa] does not spoil the stew. In Africa, as in other parts of the world, fermented foods form an important part of the diet. Made from plant and animal materials, these foods are transformed into more intensely flavored products by the presence of bacteria,…

#Africa #Beef #Dawadawa #Fermentation #Fish #Flavor Principles #Iru #Locust Beans

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spoekelse · 2 months ago

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Do any of my followers speak Yoruba? I'm trying to get a phrase translated- supposedly it's a proverb about a bat

"Àdán nse ìse eku oún se ìse eye, tóbá bá eku je nígbà tódùn, nígbà ípónjú áfo lsókè ��ní eye loun, tí ípónjú bá bá àwon eye lójú òrun á sòkalè ání eku lòun. Òré àdán òré òdàlè òre kòse eku òre kòse eye. Tóbá ku owó Kan àdán áfí rogi"

#yoruba #whispers of spoekelse

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jujufilms · 2 years ago

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Yoruba Proverb

A naked man cannot stick his hand in his pocket

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#Juju Films #Nigeria #Yoruba Proverb

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loveblackculture · 8 months ago

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African Proverb:

The wealth which enslaves the owner isn’t wealth. ~ Yoruba

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ladpn · 9 months ago

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Surulere, early year's of post independent Nigeria

Surulere a word in my native dialect of Yoruba, it literally translates as “Patience gets you everything” Yoruba words are often predictions or proverbs or should we say call things as we want them to be

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#ghana #Ghanaian Women in Diaspora #Nigeria #Nigerian History #Nigerians in Diaspora #Women Empowerment

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somehowwow · 2 years ago

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It is easy to steal a village drum but difficult to find a safe place to play it.

Yoruba proverb

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spiderfreedom · 1 year ago

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Apologies ahead for a long post.I tend to write long posts. I don't know how else to express myself and explain my views to you.

Which is why I uncritically reblog posts that try to minimize racism by implying black people were sexist -first- and -worse-

This is the post you are are talking about. The only reference to Black people is about female genital mutilation. The rest is about ancient Babylon, Mesopotamia, and Native American cultures. Nobody claimed that Black people were sexist first or worse.

That post is about how white people did not invent sexism, which is true! Sexism was independently invented in multiple parts of the world. Babylonian sexism predates European sexism. The Yoruba people have misogynistic proverbs . Chinese sexism has nothing to do with European sexism. White people did not invent sexism, there is no way to justify this claim. White people DID export their version of sexism throughout the world in colonization. This is true and evident in the destruction and hiding of "third genders" in Native American cultures. Both things are true - white people didn't invent sexism, and white people exported sexism through colonization.

the only posts in the 20 most recent where I actually express a personal perspective are about trans women existing in a manner I don't like. And on those posts I write thesis papers."

"Trans women existing in a manner I don't like"? The post was about four trans women talking about how they don't like when cis women talk about hating men. One of the essays linked was famous in the trans community and involved a substantial section talking about how the writer identified with boys and men, and tried to excuse them from sexism because "they didn't build it." If trans women tell cis women that is is inappropriate and transmisogynistic to talk about how men oppress women and the resulting hatred of men, then I'm not sure how we're supposed to talk about how the people who benefit from our oppression are men...

I don't know what percentage of trans women do this or not. I've been in communities where trans women join in on man-hate because they are also tired of being abused and killed by men. I don't have a problem with trans women who understand male oppression and who fight against it. They are in the fight with us and want to live with us without hurting us.

Click it, look into some resources, and then take a Women's Studies or Queer Theory course. Radical feminism is a foundational text of later movements which prune away the bigotry, or at least try to, before moving on to more cogent theories reflective of material and sociological reality.

I appreciate that you are trying to engage with me. But I think you don't actually know what I believe. I made this blog because I was frustrated with how a lot of my friends dealt with women's issues, as lesser, as unimportant, secondary, or even a threat to trans issues.

The majority of my friends are trans. I know firsthand how trans people are marginalized by society, and I've gone through considerable monetary and emotional expense to get my trans friends housed, access to medical care, and financially contributed to their educations, while preserving their dignity as transgender people.

Their marginalization doesn't mean that they cannot be misogynistic. The transfem friend who I helped get housing, who I helped during a psychotic episode, told me once that she thought estrogen was making her dumber and more bimbo-like. How am I supposed to interpret that as anything but misogyny? Did she think I was a bimbo and stupid because estrogen has been my dominant hormone for decades? Another trans woman friend told me she lost interested in science after transitioning and said hormones and brain differences were behind the different representations of women in science. It gave me a pit in my stomach. People know about my advocacy for women in STEM. How can she say that estrogen makes you care less about science? And the worst was during the Roe V Wade overturning. My body was numb, every AFAB person I knew was terrorized. And my transfem friend went, "it's not just going to affect you! It's going to affect us trans people too because we won't be able to get hormones!" Ignoring the trans AFAB people in the chat who were in absolute fear. It hurt me she would say something so trivializing like that to the people directly affected by abortion.

Maybe you think these are just my personal issues. But I've talked to a lot of trans people (including transmascs - that's just a whole 'nother post about my experiences) who hold these sexist views, and who view discussions of women's issues as a threat to them, somehow. My friends told me "look, it's just like that, don't talk about it anymore." I don't think these are random events. I think they are representative of a systemic belief a lot of trans people have about differences between men and women. And I think that belief is dangerous, and is hurting a lot of people - including trans people.

I apologize if my language is harsh at times. I've been holding this in for a very long time. I hesitated for years to publicly talk about radical feminism because I knew once I did, people would no longer believe that I cared about justice for trans people. Most of my advocacy is in real life and for people I know, so it's not like I can prove it on here, either. I may be angry at a lot of trans people, and a lot of trans women for their careless views on female hormones and female embodiment. But I know they're like me, people trying to do the best with what they have in life, and I don't want them to be hurt, homeless, poor. But I also want them to stop saying harmful things about women, female people more broadly, and to stop controlling how we vent about male oppression.

I think there is a way past the gender wars, where the concerns I bring up are addressed, we can come to negotiations, and we can move forward as a united front to fight. I understand if you don't believe me, though. You can only know me through this tumblr, which is purposefully pseudonymous, and I recognize most people in the 'radfem community' do not share my views on trans issues. I have the vain hope I can perhaps change that and add a more nuanced and factual view.

Overlap between the radical feminist and rationalist world today.

If you don't know what Rationalists are, it's a Silicon Valley-centric subculture/ideology about trying to be more rational, in theory. In practice, it means you've read either everything posted by Eliezer Yudkowsky on LessWrong, or (more commonly today) everything posted by Scott Alexander on SlateStarCodex/AstralCodexTen.

Scott Alexander is well known for his, uh, interesting ideas on feminism and women. He is a proponent of the idea that women are just naturally not inclined towards STEM fields and that this is a better explanation for their underrepresentation. He is especially famous for having written 'Untitled', where he argues that pop feminists who talk about nerd entitlement are cruel character assassins and that hating fedoras is a dogwhistle for hating Jewish men.

You may think a subculture like this would be primed for sceptical, non-mainstream thinking about transition science, at least, but Rationalism has a very high rate of trans women (MTFs) participating in it, and a very high rate of defending the interpretation that the 'best thing we can do' is to just go along with the idea that trans {gender} are {gender}, in a sort of utilitarian "it causes the least harm" sort of way.

(There are some people in the subculture strongly against this, including sex dysphoric men, but they are a small minority.)

With all this in mind, I think of this part as exemplary:

Scott: This is going to sound insensitive, but as far as “bad US medical policies” go, 2,500 children having their lives low-key ruined is nothing. I can think of a dozen US medical policies that are much worse than that!

It is certainly the case that the actual, objective number of kids going on puberty blockers or youth transition is pretty small. Even as doctors try to make these treatments accessible, there simply aren't enough treatment centers to meet what they see as rising demand.

Now if you want to say "I'd rather focus my energies on an issue that objectively affects more people," I get that. But I don't trust Scott on this issue, for the reason that he is a noted anti-feminist (as in, he thinks feminists and feminist activism is untrustworthy) and a noted apologist for current levels of female representation in fields (it's 'inherent interest' after all).

For me, I see the misuse of youth transition as a way to turn gender non-conforming kids and gay kids into gender conforming straight kids who are more attractive. (The end goal of making youth transitioners into more sexually attractive partners is stated everywhere.) I also see that the ideology behind youth transition is used to pathologize gender non-conforming and gay kids into thinking that there is something horribly wrong with them and that they are "really" the opposite gender. Even if only a small number of kids actually get to take the puberty blockers, the ideology supporting the puberty blockers - that gender non-conforming behavior and dissatisfaction with one's birth body are incontrovertible signs of permanent cross-gender identity - is harmful and pathologizing to gnc/gay kids. This ideology has effects beyond the number of kids with access to clinics and "supportive" parents, and I'm seeing it in how every slightly gender non-conforming teenage girl I meet is calling herself non-binary or transmasc. The erasure of gnc women is a tragedy and a false salvation to the pains of misogyny.

I don't expect any of this to matter to Scott, though, because he has shown multiple times on his blog that he is really not that interested in women or outcomes for women. He thinks if someone is distressed and wants to transition and shows signs that transition would help, then they should be medicalized. I doubt he cares about what this means for gender non-conforming women or gay women. It is possible he thinks gender non-conforming women are on some spectrum of transness anyway, and that we'd have been happier transitioned than not.

I'm mostly just surprised at the lack of curiosity. One of the things I like about Rationalists is the sense of curiosity. It's a group that really attracts strange people who like to think very deeply. Scott is a psychiatrist. He suspects something weird is going on with youth transition, yet he's utterly uncurious about what it is, or why. Is he afraid of seeming 'obsessed' with gender? Does he think that gnc girls being medicalized and pathologized at a young age is no big loss, because they can just rebuild identities as 'trans men', so it's not worth spending time on?

Having read the accounts of detransitioners, I know that they are constantly minimized and silenced on account of being a 'small number.' I also know that detransitioners, whether youth or adult, have valuable things to add to the conversation. Even if it's a small population that we're helping, I want to help them, because I know most people's response will probably be like Scott's - "oh, there's so few of them, that's not a big deal." It is a big deal to the people affected, and it's a big deal to everyone who is told in some way that something is wrong with them because they are gnc/gay/autistic females.

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