NIGERIA: Why I Stand With Her

In this beautiful prose poem, Hawwah explains why she stands in solidarity with women globally.

“It is by standing together that we can make her voice and cries heard.”

Today, I stand with her, she who was regarded as a person of no consequence, on the basis of sex. 

Today, I stand with her, she who the world conspired to deliberately deny her of her place in it, on the basis of sex.

Today, I stand with her, she whose childhood was stolen from her by lecherous men without discipline and self-control, men who preyed on her innocence, nativity, and vulnerability, on the basis of sex. 

Today, I stand with her,  she who, without any education, training, preparation, or experience, had entrusted upon her the most important job in the world, on the basis of sex.

Today, I stand with her, she whose dreams were stolen, her ambitions shattered, and her potential destroyed, on the basis of sex. 

Today, I stand with her, she who lives with coercion and control, and she who was forced into a life she neither wanted nor bargained for, on the basis of sex.

Today, I stand with her, she who sacrifices everything, and makes all the compromises without ever being acknowledged for them, on the basis of sex. 

Today, I stand with her, she who never lived, but merely existed so that others could live, on the basis of sex.

Today, I stand with her, she who has had to learn to multitask and work ten times harder to get only half of what she deserves, on the basis of sex. Today, I stand with her, she who was manipulated into enduring and accepting abuse from those who should have protected her, on the basis of sex. Today, I stand with her, she whose efforts, contributions, and value is often neglected and unappreciated, not because they are of no value, but on the basis of sex. 

Today, I stand with her because we all have to stand up with her and for her. 

It is only by standing together that we can end the abuse, the bias, the inequality, the discrimination, the injustice, the inhumanity, the violations, the deprivations, and the stigma meted on her, on the basis of sex. 

Today, I stand with her. It is only by standing together that we can make change happen and give her a life—not just an existence. It is by standing together that we can make her voice and cries heard and taken with significance, validate her dreams, and amplify the demands for her rights as one of the most important creations on the planet.

Today, I stand with her, she who brings forth life, and I pledge to stand with her for as long as I breathe.

I stand with her because I AM HER. We all are HER.

STORY AWARDS

This story was published as part of the World Pulse Story Awards program to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. We believe every woman has a story to share, and that the world will be a better place when women are heard. Share your story with us, and you could receive added visibility, or even be our next Featured Storyteller! Learn more.