"Grace Ushang was a young Nigerian woman who had every right to expect a bright future. Now she is dead merely because she was female." (Asma'u Joda and Iheoma Obibi, allAfrica.com)
Grace Ushang, a women raped to death for wearing trousers, serves as yet another bitter reminder of the struggle for equality that women on this continent face daily.
Violence against women is so commonplace that it hardly ever reaches the news stand. While searching for online news coverage of Ushang's murder this fact was re-emphasised when only three news articles came up, none of which were South African. This profoundly highlights the incredible apathy that faces women's rights activists in our country and on our continent.
It is not surprising then that the most informative article was written by Joda and Iheoma of the Nigerian Feminist Forum. This article discusses the role that an "Indecent Dressing" bill had in Ushang's murder and critically discusses the horrific implications such a bill would have for the safety of Nigerian women.
Next.com's follow-up article on Ushang's murder was also interesting. While it did not explore the issues that the murder transgressed, it did show the anger and despair Ushang's family and community are experiencing.
Grace Ushang presents us with a warning that cannot be ignored. While women are being murdered for the clothes that they wear, it is unacceptable to turn a blind eye and forget our duty to other women on this continent. The battle for equality rages ever stronger.
Grace Ushang, a women raped to death for wearing trousers, serves as yet another bitter reminder of the struggle for equality that women on this continent face daily.
Violence against women is so commonplace that it hardly ever reaches the news stand. While searching for online news coverage of Ushang's murder this fact was re-emphasised when only three news articles came up, none of which were South African. This profoundly highlights the incredible apathy that faces women's rights activists in our country and on our continent.
It is not surprising then that the most informative article was written by Joda and Iheoma of the Nigerian Feminist Forum. This article discusses the role that an "Indecent Dressing" bill had in Ushang's murder and critically discusses the horrific implications such a bill would have for the safety of Nigerian women.
Next.com's follow-up article on Ushang's murder was also interesting. While it did not explore the issues that the murder transgressed, it did show the anger and despair Ushang's family and community are experiencing.
Grace Ushang presents us with a warning that cannot be ignored. While women are being murdered for the clothes that they wear, it is unacceptable to turn a blind eye and forget our duty to other women on this continent. The battle for equality rages ever stronger.
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