The Curse of my curves part one

Been a young African Woman can be daunting
The hurdles are too many and the mountains too steep.
I face many challenges ;
I am young so in a society that believes competence and experience go together I am sidelined.

My talent,abilities , strive and determination are not enough to push me to the fore.
If I speak up I am deemed disrespectful and rude, talkative and loud.

Our patriarchal system means that we hero worship leaders and put them on a pedestal.
A young person vying for a political position is termed an under five by so called veteran politicians.

A female politician has to contend with cadres threatening her with gang rape.

I would be chewed and spit, or maybe just called all sorts of things.

Then I am African; I love my Continent, but some things irk me.
I cannot challenge certain norms or I shall be seen to be nothing but a modern woman (who many say shall die single).

I am bound by customs, myths and traditions to bow.
I love my land and its vibrant culture but it at times chokes me.

It is AFRIKA where we the people demean ourselves by excusing our every fault as "typical of Africans".
I am Woman; an Empress the mother of the continent and the face of poverty, the evidence of what is wrong with us as a people.

As a woman I face more discrimination than most crowds you can think of.

If you are attractive and determined the odds are even worse.

It is either men who subtly or blatantly harass you

A man may walk in shorts but a woman must not, the very people who sell you the clothes rip them off your body.

I am a woman thus I am only as Good as the man I am married to.

An example is the wife to the vice president, not many people even know her real name she has been delegated to the ranks of Mrs Scott.
The fact that she is Dr Charlotte Harland is thrown out of a window.

Been a woman means that your abilities are constantly undermined and you are expected to not give an unsolicited opinion.

I attended a convent in high school and I remember been told, "Ladies are seen not heard". this seems to be a view held by many, if a woman expresses her opinion she is talkative, rebellious and down right loose.

Apparently if I cheat it will break down a house but if a man cheats I should just suck it up.

I am a Woman thus my body can be used against me, in Africa I am taught to please a man sexually thus I must mutate myself or be mutated to fit the norm.

I am a young African women thus the poverty in my country is carried by I and many silent victims.

I am a woman thus in Africa the chances of me been elected are only higher than that of a lunatic maybe even less.

I am woman thus I am raped, undermined, pinned to the ground, defiled, beaten and when I look to you my fellow woman you tell me it is the nature of Africa.