Page 49 - Q1 2021

Yes, women want

empowerment and
upliftment, but the

question begs, is this sort
of challenge uplifting or

degrading women? Like

everything in life, right
or wrong, good or bad

are relative and context-
driven concepts.

may also have crossed a few lines with
quite a number of women voicing their
dissatisfaction with the way the challenge
encouraged the self-objectification of
women. “Why do I need your approval to
acknowledge that I have a perfect body” or
“Why should I share my nudeness with the
world just to prove that I am proud of my
body!” “I am not that insecure,” a couple of
women opined.

Some women feel the challenge strips
women of their dignity “Imagine coming to
work tomorrow knowing all your colleagues
have seen you naked” one woman said.
“How does that empower you or make you
feel proud as a woman?” “It won’t make
me a proud mom, if my children saw such
videos of me,” said another lady. “Imagine
all the communities you are active in, your
schoolmates, your church members seeing
your nudes? That would be very shameful,”
another woman reflected.

For others, participating in the challenge
may be taking things too far and not
worth the consequences. “You wan
make my Papa kill me?” (do you want my
dad to kill me?), “Make dem pursue me
commot from house...” (cast me away
from my community) another woman

Jan - Mar 2021 | The Lion King | 49