#kenyan feminists

[limeade-l3sbian]

"Demonstrations are taking place across major cities in Kenya to protest against the rising cases of femicide and other violence against women.

Hundreds have gathered in Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, Nyeri and Lodwar, some carrying placards with the names of those who were killed.

A 2022 survey found at least one in three Kenyan women had endured physical violence at some point in their lives.

"I am here because I'm angry," 33-year-old Winnie Chelagat told the BBC.

"It is wrong, we are tired and we want something to be done about it."

Men and boys must take responsibility for their own actions instead of the burden being on women and girls to protect themselves, said another protester called Michael Onyango."

[jareckiworld]

Wangari Mathenge —They Said He Was A Dandy But What Do I Know Of A Jogging Dandy (oil on canvas, 2022)

[bog-bitch]

Backlash Blues by Wangechi Mutu, mixed media on mylar, 2004

[misespinas]

“The term ‘child’ marriage should perhaps be seen as a euphemism because this practice is gendered, and it is overwhelmingly girls and not boys who are subjected to it. The difference is stark, since in Mali the girl:boy ratio of marriage before age 18 is 72:1, in Kenya, 21:1, and even in the United States it is 8:1”

Sheila Jeffreys, The Industrial Vagina (2008)

[coochiequeens]

Thousands protest against increasing violence against women in Kenya as they march to the parliamentary building and supreme court in the capital Nairobi [Gerald Anderson/Anadolu Agency]

Published On 27 Jan 202427 Jan 2024

Thousands of people have gathered to protest in cities and towns in Kenya against the recent slayings of more than a dozen women.

The anti-femicide demonstration on Saturday was the largest event ever held in the country against sexual and gender-based violence.

In the capital, Nairobi, protesters wore T-shirts printed with the names of women who became homicide victims this month. The crowd, composed mostly of women, brought traffic to a standstill.

“Stop killing us!” the demonstrators shouted as they waved signs with messages such as “There is no justification to kill women.”

The crowd in Nairobi was hostile to attempts by the parliamentary representative for women, Esther Passaris, to address them. Accusing Passaris of remaining silent during the latest wave of killings, protesters shouted her down with chants of “Where were you?” and “Go home!”

“A country is judged by not how well it treats its rich people, but how well it takes care of the weak and vulnerable,” said Law Society of Kenya President Eric Theuri, who was among the demonstrators.

Kenyan media outlets have reported the slayings of at least 14 women since the start of the year, according to Patricia Andago, a data journalist at media and research firm Odipo Dev who also took part in the march.

Odipo Dev reported this week that news accounts showed at least 500 women were killed in acts of femicide from January 2016 to December 2023. Many more cases go unreported, Andago said.

Two cases that gripped Kenya this month involved two women who were killed at Airbnb accommodations. The second victim was a university student who was dismembered and decapitated after she reportedly was kidnapped for ransom.

Theuri said cases of gender-based violence take too long to be heard in Kenyan court, which he thinks emboldens perpetrators to commit crimes against women.

“As we speak right now, we have a shortage of about 100 judges. We have a shortage of 200 magistrates and adjudicators, and so that means that the wheel of justice grinds slowly as a result of inadequate provisions of resources,” he said.

People gather to protest in an anti-femicide demonstration, the largest event of its kind ever held in Kenya. [Gerald Anderson/Anadolu Agency]

Kenyan media outlets have reported the slayings of at least 14 women since the start of the year. [Gerald Anderson/Anadolu Agency]

A protester holds a Palestinian flag during a march to protest against the rising cases of femicide, in downtown Nairobi. [Brian Inganga/AP Photo]

Women and feminists in Kenya took to the streets to march against the rising cases of femicide. [Brian Inganga/AP Photo]

In Nairobi, protesters wore T-shirts printed with the names of women who became homicide victims this month. [Gerald Anderson/Anadolu Agency]

Protesters react against the rising cases of femicide. [Brian Inganga/AP Photo]

A human rights activist reacts as she attends a protest demanding an end to femicide in the country. [Monicah Mwangi/Reuters]

Protesters gather during the anti-femicide demonstration. [Gerald Anderson/Anadolu Agency]

The crowd, composed mostly of women, brought traffic to a standstill. [Gerald Anderson/Anadolu Agency]

[hadesoftheladies]

"Not All Men" is a War Propaganda Tactic

i just watched a tragic documentary on the british colonial regime in kenya with my mom and dad, and they were talking to me about the experiences of my grandparents during the era of slavery, resistance and concentration camps and i learned so much about the history of my family, country and tribe and how my mom and dad came from different sides of class history in kenya

that's a story i'll share later on here sometime

but one thing that struck me that i wanted to talk about was how documents indicting the british government of horrific cruelty were buried and sometimes addressed as isolated incidents

the british government, despite the uncovering of the hanslope disclosure files, denied that they sanctioned or approved of any of those things

systemically sanctioned practices, once exposed, were then announced to be isolated events due to the irresponsibility of a particular branch or administration

basically, when the human rights violations came up (and this was addressed in i think 2013), the british government denied direct involvement and acted as if it were just a few men gone rogue

and that propaganda WORKED

there are british people today (and even some kenyans) who don't think the colonial regime was all that oppressive; maybe legally wrong, but not monstrous and sordid and grotesque

and it really is an effective war tactic to blame individuals so that the system itself is ignored. you send concerned, everyday people chasing after villains in narratives you created, throwing your minions to the wolves so they're off your trail, while insisting that the system and the people who uphold the system are at worst benign and, at best benevolent

so it stops the people from organizing against the system

this is also the case with feminism

every time women participate in consciousness-raising, the people and events that would serve as proof of the failure of the system and how those in power are unfit to rule, the conversation quickly dissolves into "not all men" or "do you think women are naturally more moral than men? that's bio-essentialism."

guys . . . this is a tried and true propaganda war tactic. it is effective because not only does it distract anyone willing to do their part to make the world a better place, but it successfully discredits the evidence and voices of victims as "fringe" and no one's fault but the individual's. it's really just a form of gaslighting.

eventually, people end up getting mad at the tumors while not dealing with or seeing cancer. they'll denounce that convicted serial rapist/killer because his crimes are visible, provocative and out there

but the moment a woman opens her mouth to criticize rape as culture in bdsm or porn, it's "not all men" because the only bad men are those men, those bad ones on tv whose mugshots we've seen

we've seen this happen with men defending andrew tate, and then backing down when he's arrested for human trafficking, but no feminist was shocked because we recognized tate's rhetoric and the system it was born in, we saw the natural conclusions, we know where the tumor is coming from

but we're only supposed to talk about the tumor, because that's the most visible and provocative

so the cancer continues to spread quietly and freely

[messenger-of-stupidity]

Sex Strikes

Did you know something like the 4B movement has been going on since as early as Ancient Greece?

Greece: Lysistrata, in which women team up to bring about the end of the Peloponnesian War.

In 1600, Iroquois women refused to engage in sex as a way to stop unregulated warfare. The tactic worked: They gained veto power concerning all future wars and paved the way for future feminist rebellions.

In 2003, Leymah Gbowee organized a well-publicized sex strike to end Liberia’s brutal civil war. Not only did warlords agree to end the violence, Gbowee was later awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.

In 2006, female partners of gang members in the Colombian city of Pereira withheld sex to demand civilian disarmament and a reduction in violence. According to the Global Nonviolent Action Database, the strike’s results were clear: Pereira’s murder rate fell by 26.5% by 2010, a huge accomplishment for a city that had a homicide rate twice the national average when the sex strike began.

In 2009, Kenyan women enforced a sex ban until political infighting ceased. Within one week, there was a stable government. And in the Philippines, a sex strike led to peace in a violence-plagued Mindanao Island village.

The reason these were effective were because there were clear goals in mind, and enough people enforced it. So... I'm just saying... this 4B movement has historical proof of effective results.

(Also you can fact-check me if you want.)

[marzipanandminutiae]

hello! hope you're doing well <3

i was thinking about getting into historical costuming (particularly, late victorian and early edwardian) and i was wondering if you would have any suggestions for where to look for good patterns? i've looked around a bit, but i'm not entirely sure how to verify a website's authenticity (ie. that it's an actual storefront), as well as how followable the patterns will be.

if you happen to respond to this, thank you so much! it's greatly appreciated <33

I do, yes!

Truly Victorian is one I use a lot, for Victorian and Edwardian patterns.

Laughing Moon goes Regency to Edwardian and I've had great luck with them.

Ageless Patterns is wonderful BUT reproduces historical patterns as they originally appeared. Meaning the instructions for, say, a skirt are basically just "1. Make a skirt." Not ideal for beginners; excellent for the intermediate or advanced sewist.

Prior Attire's pattern books have been useful for me as well, though you do have to know how to copy from a gridded image into full-scale.

If you ever decide to do Regency, AVOID SENSE AND SENSIBILITY PATTERNS. They're run by a conservative Christian anti-feminist married to a right-wing politician, who has previously exploited the labor of Kenyan women under the guise of philanthropy. She's been keeping that side of herself quiet lately- maybe so she can cozy up to queer historical costumers at events, which she seems all too happy to do. But I see no evidence that she's truly changed her colors, like owning up to and apologizing for her past, so...none of my money will support her, and I suggest you do likewise.

Make sure to do mockups of anything you make before cutting your nice fabric, and fit it over the undergarments and shoes you plan to wear it with. Best of luck!

[mia-studyhaus]

Book Review #12 - Storm: Dawn of a Goddess

☕₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.📚

Copper-brown skin, crystal-blue eyes, flowy white hair - these are some traits of herself that Ororo Munroe has a hard time embracing. Along with magical powers that attempt to stand up to even Mother Nature. This young descendant of a mysterious Kenyan tribe then spends her time in this tale uncovering the mystery behind her identity across a thrilling adventure from Egypt to her homeland, chased by a seemingly shape-shifting villain who threatens to take control of every single one of her nerves.

This novel nails the growth of a young hero harnessing her superpowers and the responsibilities associated with it. It achieves this in an easy manner to read through, with descriptive yet simple vocabulary that the target audience will be able to digest. The story also flows smoothly, with most plot obstacles being of the right intensity and length. The different African countries through which Ororo travels and experiences life are beautifully described, with a great tribute to the rich culture and tradition that they hold. The highlight of this book would be her self-acceptance journey, because it plays a huge role in her success in the climax act. While having such a strong female lead and supporting characters, I would say that the drawback of this book lies in the romance aspect. The love interest has too much of an influence on her and it takes away from emphasizing her independence and strength. While this flaw is somewhat addressed towards the end of the book where Ororo decides to pursue her life's calling, it would have been better if the dynamic was more light-hearted and slow, rather than rushed and serious. Sometimes, Ororo's angst felt too much and it distracted from the plot's sense of urgency, and that was frustrating to get through. Lastly, I feel like even though this book kept readers wanting more, the suspense could have been spread over a few defining challenges rather than many consecutive ones (this diminished the graveness of each danger that she faced).

This book is clearly intended to reach a teenage audience with the way the character's conflicts reflect the mind of a maturing woman finding her place in the world. I like the feminist messages in this book, despite the previously mentioned drawback of male centeredness. Storm also encourages embracing nature and the beauty of planet Earth, a reminder we need in this period of uncertain climate change. I would also recommend this book to fans of Storm from Marvel to have their take on this perspective of their favourite character. Seeing a FMC of color definitely makes me look forward to see a sequel of Ororo's story.

Rating: 3/5 Stars Edition: Paperback, 2024 Signing off till next time~

☕₊˚ʚ ᗢ₊˚✧ ﾟ.📚

Are you interested in reading this book? Let me know in the comments below!

Follow @mia-studyhaus for more book reviews!

[aclaywrites]

How to fall in love via Deneuve Magazine Personal Ads Circa 1993

❖ Go to your mailbox and see that your latest issue of Deneuve magazine has been delivered. It’s in a plain brown envelope, but you still take it all the way inside the house before you open it.

❖ Take a moment to gaze at the cover and appreciate the fact that it’s named after Catherine Deneuve in honor of her sex scene from The Hunger which awakened us all.

❖ Flip past the first few pages of ads. Do I want to fax away for a brochure about the chance to go on a Kenyan photo safari with the world’s first out lesbian commedienne? What about the Olivia Thanksgiving cruise?

❖ Enjoy the Editor’s Column about how our new President Clinton has pledged to make real progress for the LGBT community. Bask in the warm glow of happiness knowing that the gay dark ages are finally coming to a close.

❖ Chuckle at Alison Bechdel’s ad for the Feminist Bookstore Network and wish you had one of those stores near you.

❖ Keep up with the state of the lesbian nation via the letters to the editor. Aren’t the repressive laws being passed in Oregon and Colorado shocking? Goddess bless that Kentucky baby dyke having to dodge the KKK at her high school 🙁

❖ Read the wedding announcements and get all choked up, remembering why you’re here. Resist the urge to flip to the end and see if there’s anyone new from last month. Hope springs eternal!

❖ Oh, the 20th anniversary of Naiad Press! I love their stuff! Especially how all the covers look like they’re printed with ink that was on sale. I wonder if they have any more copies of that Lesbian Queries book from 1990???

❖ Audre Lorde sure is gonna give them hell at the march on Washington, eh?

❖ So many bookstores. So many books.

❖ An article about Safe Sex! Hell yes! Even though lesbians don’t get AIDS because we’re God’s chosen people, this will be fun to read about in theory! “After all, aren’t we told that lesbians and priests are in the lowest risk category?” lol people thought priests weren’t constantly having gay sex. Simpler times.

❖ An interview with Alison Bechdel! She’s so swoony.

❖ Articles about soap operas, speculation about Hilary Clinton, gossip about Madonna and Sandra Bernhard. And what about Whoopi Goldberg? And that Ellen lady? She’s been on Arsenio Hall acting all cagy about the men in her life. A list of women we wish were gay, including Joan Jett? Didn’t she sing Crimson and Clover without changing pronouns like waaaaay back in the 80s

❖ Music reviews: Sweet Honey in the Rock and Alix Dobkin! We’re almost to the ads…

❖ Labrys jewelry, freedom rings. C’mon, let’s get to the good stuff!

❖ Here we go! Classified ads– 30 words for $20! Queer personal finance, we buy used computers, a lesbian resort in New Hampshire.

❖ Personals at last! Is my woman here?

❖ Hey there’s that woman who has an ad every month expressing her ‘complete and sincere respect for’ women in military, fire, police, private security, corrections’. A gay male ad would say ‘Uniform fetish’ but apparently we’re too delicate.

❖ Bisexual boston babe ‘femalely handsome’ looking for someone who’s ‘nice to look at, not a feminist and not a bitch’. Next!

❖ Lonesome in Wyoming, Bisexual Bodybuilder, Softball is over, time to find someone warm for winter, Reubenesque Arkansas Buddhist…

❖ Find a girl who sounds promising– seems interesting and is not too far away. Spend a day or so composing a letter with a pen and piece of paper introducing yourself. If you don’t have a photo of yourself that you like, have a friend take one. Then finish the roll of film and bring it to the Fotomat and wait a day or so and then pick up the prints and hope you like one of them. Choose one anyway, and put it in the envelope with your letter.

❖ Get a stamp, hang it on the mailbox, never hear anything ever again.

❖ One month later, go to your mailbox and see that your copy of Deneuve has arrived.

[moneeb0930]

Some Contemporary African writers

~ chinua Achebe 🇳🇬: Achebe, a Nigerian writer who got some of the most extraordinary works of the 20th century,his famous novel things fall Apart was praised locally and internationally.

~ ngugi wa thiong 'o 🇰🇪: ngugi is a Kenyan writer, he is one of African most important and influential post-colonial writer.

~ Ayi Kwei Armah 🇬🇭 : Armah is a Ghanian writer in which his novels are known for their intense powerful depiction of political devastation and social frustrating in Ghana, his famous novel is "the beautiful ones are not yet born".

~ chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 🇳🇬: chimamanda, a Nigerian, born in 1977 Adichie works are primary character driven, interweaving the background of her native Nigeria, she worn numerous award including the Orange prize and Booker prize award.

Mariama Ba 🇸🇳: She is a Senegalese writer, mariama ba is African most influential women author, she is known for her powerful feminist text which addresses the issue of gender inequality in her country Senegal, her famous novel is "so long a letter"

~ Nadine Gordimer 🇿🇦: Nadine, a south Africa writer was one of the apartheid era most prolific writer, Nadine Gordimer works powerfully explore social morals and racial issues in south Africa. One of her famous novel is "burgers daughter".

Revealing African nation

🖤🖤 Africa

[bymitteiy]

The 4B Movement: A Kenyan Feminist's Perspective.

When men demand women choose better without doing better. In the year 2024, the year of #FreeCongo it made global news that South Korea’s birth rate has dropped low enough to qualify as a national crisis. Why did the birth rate drop? because of a radical movement where Korean women decided to choose themselves. Their collective radical act of self-love is a result of the violent misogyny many…

[jareckiworld]

Wangari Mathenge —They Said He Was A Dandy But What Do I Know Of A Jogging Dandy II (oil on canvas, 2022)

[news24fr]

La police enquêtant sur la mort d'un militant des droits LGBTQ + dont le corps a été découvert fourré dans un coffre en métal a arrêté un suspect, ont-ils déclaré.Edwin Chiloba, un créateur de mode et mannequin de 25 ans, a été retrouvé mort au bord de la route plus tôt cette semaine à environ 40 km (25 miles) à l'extérieur de la ville d'Eldoret dans la vallée du Rift, ont rapporté les médias."Nous avons un suspect en garde à vue et nous enquêtons sur son rôle dans ce meurtre", a déclaré Peter Kimulwo, responsable des enquêtes au bureau de la direction des enquêtes criminelles (DCI) à Eldoret."Nous le considérons comme un suspect principal car il existe des pistes pointant vers lui et d'autres, mais toutes font l'objet d'enquêtes concluantes", a-t-il déclaré aux journalistes.Kimulwo a déclaré que le suspect était un ami de longue date de la victime, ajoutant que la police recherchait également des personnes vues en train de charger un conteneur métallique dans une voiture au domicile de Chiloba."Il est mort d'une mort douloureuse", a déclaré aux médias un policier non identifié basé à Eldoret. La commission kényane des droits de l'homme a exhorté la police "à mener des enquêtes rapides et à veiller à ce que les tueurs soient appréhendés et poursuivis"."Il est vraiment inquiétant que nous continuions d'assister à une escalade de la violence ciblant les Kenyans LGBTQ+", a-t-il déclaré dans un communiqué. "Chaque jour, les droits humains des personnes LGBTQ+ sont violés avec peu de conséquences pour les auteurs."Les membres de la communauté LGBTQ sont souvent victimes de harcèlement et d'agressions physiques dans la nation chrétienne à prédominance conservatrice. L'homosexualité est taboue au Kenya et dans une grande partie de l'Afrique, et les homosexuels sont souvent victimes de discrimination ou de persécution.Les tentatives visant à renverser les lois britanniques de l'époque coloniale interdisant l'homosexualité au Kenya se sont avérées infructueuses, et le sexe gay reste un crime passible de peines pouvant aller jusqu'à 14 ans d'emprisonnement."Nos sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis d'Edwin Chiloba, membre éminent de la communauté LGBTQI+ kenyane", a déclaré le porte-parole du département d'Etat américain, Ned Price, sur Twitter. "Nous appelons à une pleine responsabilité pour sa mort."Le Kenya LGBTQ Feminist Forum dans l'ouest du Kenya, où vivait Chiloba, a déclaré qu'il avait utilisé "la mode pour déconstruire le genre et défendre les droits du groupe marginalisé"."Nous voulons savoir en tant que communauté, en tant que Kenyans, ce qui est arrivé à Edwin, pourquoi il a été assassiné et qui a laissé tomber son corps sur les lieux", a déclaré la directrice des programmes du groupe, Becky Mududa.La mort de Chiloba survient après qu'un autre militant LGBTQ a été retrouvé assassiné en avril de l'année dernière.

[mindlessblabing]

Cynthia Enloe once wrote, “So many power structures - inside households, within institutions, in societies, in international affairs- are dependent on our continuing lack of curiosity. “Natural,” “tradition,” “always”: each has served as a cultural pillar to prop up familial, community, national, and international power structures, imbuing them with legitimacy, with timelessness, with inevitability.” (The Curious Feminist, 3). Curiosity killed the cat some might say but when death is inevitable so might as well learn as much as you can. Power structures are all around us and are determined by various factors. It is honestly interesting trying to decipher our corner of existence. Education is one of the most important forms of communication we possess. That's where a lot of the complexities of understanding lie. To look at ourselves just as critically as we look at the world builds connections beyond our understanding of reality. So today we'll learn a little more about me and the power structures that embody my life.

I am a vessel of different typically marginalized identities. I am a woman, migrant, bisexual, lower middle class, black, Christian, in my upbringing but agnostic by choice, neurodivergent to an extent, and the list goes on and on. To tackle all of the power structures that have brought me to the words you read on a screen would need a three-part series. I'd still like to think my experiences are not unique, especially through the social connections I've made. So, we’ll begin simply with my family, the genesis of my identity.

I grew up in a matriarchal-dominated family. I am a Kenyan migrant. Brought to the United States by my mother at the ripe age of 5 years old with my sister who was 14. My mother initially made the migration to the states landing at the big apple without her children. Living in Queens, New York sharing an apartment with my aunt Violet and her family. Working as a nanny and later becoming a nurse and caregiver for the mentally disadvantaged. Violet was a United Nations worker and the breadwinner while her husband stayed at home. Despite that my grandmother was a midwife and a mother in all senses of traditional femininity. My grandfather, whom I never met died before my birth. All I have ever known are women running the home.

My sister and I were raised by my aunt Beatrice during the years my mother was in the states by herself. She is probably the most fierce woman I have ever encountered. My other aunts in Kenya and the United States, who were also a major part of my development, held careers as principals of private schools, engineers, landlords, and diplomats. My female cousins were nurses, doctors, wildlife conservators, and businesswomen. The men, in the nicest way, were drunks and leeches. My father, the most direct masculine figure, was a part of my life only in moments and not many of them. Meaning, especially in the traditional sense, the male and their forms of masculine representation in my life were lackluster. Providing very little other than monetary contribution. But Kenya is no different than any nation built on Christianity and patriarchal standards. Regardless of the effort, the men desired to be deemed as the executive.

In contrast, I was brought up by a single mother, alongside my sister who is 9 years my senior. My female family members have usually been dominant while the men take on a more submissive role in parenting and decision-making. I didn't have my father around during my upbringing but never felt like I was disadvantaged by it. My female family members did more than enough to rightfully be the epitome of masculine and feminine. Which is the way that I attempt to live my life. The power structures embedded in my psyche are led by women and a feminist lens. Leading with love, care, patients, and understanding, typically designated to the feminine. while standing by your boundaries, protecting and providing for your own, dominated by the masculine. The binaries of gendered roles prevailed only through the balance and leadership of women.

The headstrong women in my family could have never prepared me for a culture change. Let me start with childhood, which was rough as an immigrant. American tradition lends itself to the agenda of white, male, heterosexual cis men. I know that sentence alone would turn off most Americans. As the black, low-income, immigrant, neurodivergent, queer woman that I am. I found myself at the intersection of too many identities to find a home in one. I entered the American school system with an accent and gall alone. Only to find that I wasn't accepted among my white or my black peers. Seen as too African by culture but too dark to associate with. My African mom didn't want me to associate with black Americans based on the stereotypes of aggression and laziness. White peers didn't see me in their spaces due to preconceived ideas of race perpetuated in their homes. I could be called a nigger on the playground without being accepted by the racial minority I was placed into. Here’s the kicker, also being too poor to ever mention I lived in section 8 housing to anyone regardless of race. Because if there's anything more embarrassing to society other than race it's economic status. At the same turn, I felt unable to discuss it at home. Restricted by my mother who was exhausted from overnights and unaware of the culture; while my sister was navigating American high school and othering for the first time herself. Harken to my essay on the subaltern, I felt voiceless.

That is when I analyzed the power structures of white supremacy and socioeconomic status concerning my life. Who was I, if not misunderstood? I associated myself with anyone as an alternative to culture, finding intersectionality and community by any means necessary. The emo kids were my friends because they as white kids didn't associate fully with whiteness and wealth. The theater kids were my friends because they were able to express themselves through the arts. The shy kids were particularly my favorite. If anyone could understand the nervousness of my silence then maybe they could or maybe even relate but didn't know how to say it, the way I felt.

The powerlessness only grew as I started to understand my sexuality. Gay was not okay in a society growing up. Expressing anything that involved being sexually attracted to the same sex was not heavily supported in my immigrant, Christian household. I am privileged that my mother, despite cultural ignorance, was a saint. She didn't lack judgment but was full of understanding. I never felt, in the typical reality of queer people that I would be drowned or not accepted. I simply felt that it would be the most uncomfortable conversation of my life. Trying to explain a part of my identity that was too taboo for public discourse. So I hid it in fear, kissing girls but saying it was just for fun or male attention. I was around strong women all the time. I knew I was destined to be one. Yet expressing my attraction to them was the more daunting part.

Through all of this, you can imagine my relationship with gender, identity, and power structures was as easy to decipher as a cat's cradle. I never had a definite answer about what was masculine and what was feminine. I wasn't able to discuss my struggles socially and sexually. I had to define it for myself. Enloe claims “making a feminist sense of international politics requires that you exercise genuine curiosity about each of these women's lives and the lives of women you have yet to think about.” In my search for identity, especially as the selfish teenager we all were, I lost sight of connecting or even considering how the women around me found their identity outside of traditional boundaries. The answer is different for everyone but it is usually rooted in self-acceptance and understanding. I was unsure of the power structures in the world because they were so different at home. I was so unsure of how to approach society when I didn't understand the racial and socioeconomic power structures of the United States. I was naive to American exceptionalism and tied my identity to how others viewed me without ever considering how I wanted to be perceived. Feeling too much and too little. Feeling too loud or too quiet. Feeling too black or not black enough. Feeling Kenyan at home but not being immersed in the culture. Feeling like I met the criteria enough to be accepted but only in specific social settings and behavior changes. A chameleon in strobe lights is the way I visualize it. I had to remind myself why the women in my family carved their paths because more often than not the binary is contractive. Identity to me has been a flowing stream. Changed over time and based on my environment.

The women in my life have taught me the most important lesson which is leading with confidence in myself and the rest will follow. I hold dear the labels bestowed upon me for they have helped me grow and shed layers that didn't serve me. I had to define my version of masculine and feminine; And like most things, we all fall on some part of the spectrum. Identity and tradition are merely labels that we can emphasize for our leisure. I am me because and despite traditional power dynamics.