Gender
A ‘bow’ for Ghanaian women at Christmas
Christmas is a festive season celebrated by most Christians worldwide to commemorate the birth of their saviour Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem in Roman- controlled Judea. The birth of Jesus Christ is described in the biblical gospels of Matthew and Luke, but there is no definitive historical evidence for the exact date
The gospels and historical sources do not provide a date for Jesus’ birth, but most scholars believe it was between six and four Before Christ (BC).
His parents Joseph, a carpenter was legally Jesus’ father, but Mary was a virgin when Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit
The commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ known as Christmas is celebrated on December 25, but there is no evidence that Jesus was born on that date. Church leaders may have chosen that date to coincide with a Roman festival.
As the season draws closer across the globe, various activities are planned by churches, organisations and families.
In Ghana, Christmas celebrations tend to start around the December 20, lasting till the New Year with lots of activities which go on during the festive period, with the main focus being on people travelling around the country to visit family and friends.
It is celebrated with a variety of traditions, including church services, gift-giving, preparing, sharing and eating of traditional food like fufu with chicken or goat soup, rice and stew or jollof rice.
Church services are held late into the night, featuring dancing, drumming, choir singing, and sometimes a nativity play with people attending in traditional clothing, and then exchange gifts.
In Ghana, during the festive celebrations in homes are mostly spearheaded by women regardless of what they already do on any given day.
Women add extra chores such as buying and wrapping presents, planning and preparing meals in large quantities, attending parties, stuffing food stuffs, decorating the house and ensuring everyone and everything was intact.
Women, both young and old become the pivot around which every home revolves around during festive periods especially Christmas.
All of this time-consuming, behind-the-scenes activities can make the season especially uptight, particularly for women. They do most of the chores at home with the mindset of this is a “me” job, “I am a better multi-tasker,” “so I will just do it.” “If I do not do it, no one will” and so forth. This they do to ensure everyone is ok during the festive season and beyond.
An American Sociological Review found that women reported doing more “cognitive labour” at home than their spouses did – anticipating, identifying options, making decisions and monitoring progress.
Throughout the year, women have demonstrated remarkable dedication and perseverance, effortlessly juggling their responsibilities at home and in their various workplaces. Their ability to balance these dual roles has earned them admiration and appreciation from all.
At home, women have taken on numerous roles: caregivers, nurturers, educators, and managers. They have ensured the well-being and happiness of their families, often putting others’ needs before their own.
In the workplace, women have made significant contributions across various industries, exceling in fields such as business, healthcare, education, technology, journalism and more. Their hard work, expertise, and leadership have earned them recognition and respect.
Despite facing numerous challenges, including gender biases and societal expectations, women have continued to thrive and make a positive impact in their communities. Their resilience, adaptability, and determination have inspired countless others.
As we celebrate the holiday season, let us take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the tireless efforts of women everywhere. Their selflessness, compassion, and dedication to their families and communities are truly deserving of our recognition and gratitude.
As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us also honor the women who have made a positive impact in our lives throughout the year and give them a “bow” of respect, gratitude, and admiration.
The role of women in Ghanaian society is multifaceted and invaluable. They are the backbone of our families, providing love, support, and nurturing to their children and loved ones.
They are also pillars of our communities, contributing to economic development, education, healthcare, and social welfare.
This Christmas, there is the need to honor the Ghanaian woman for her unwavering dedication, resilience, and compassion and celebrate her strength, her perseverance, and her selflessness.
As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, it is important to remember the role of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who embodied the values of love, kindness, and selflessness and draw inspiration from her example and recognise the invaluable contributions of Ghanaian women to our society.
To all Ghanaian women, The Spectator salutes you this Christmas season. May your love, kindness, compassion, and selflessness continue to inspire us all.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Gender
Impact of body image stigma on slender women
The idea of what a perfect physique is, fuelled by social media and societal pressure has distorted individual’s perspectives.
Body image stigma is one of the most debilitating issues that has led a lot of people into distorted views of reality, unhealthy behaviours, and self-doubt. Most people, particularly individuals with slender physique, are judged by their looks, making them feel inferior and not good enough.
The focus on physical appearance often makes them miss out on what really matters. Being slender offers a lot of opportunities beyond the physical appearance. However, most people do not realise this. They seek for other alternatives for external validation.
A slender physique is often associated to lean or slim physiques. Some people may view individuals with this figure as weak or fragile, lacking in energy or being skinny.
In a conversation with Miss Gifty Djarnie, a Level 200 student at the University of Media, Arts and Communication – Institute of Journalism (UniMAC-IJ), she shared her thoughts on being slender and how it has impacted her life.
According to her, being skinny or slim is normal and an identity.
“I used to be mocked because of my figure and size,” she revealed. “But as time went on, I acknowledged the fact that I am skinny, and now I am used to it. The stereotypes sort of gave me some confidence that hey, you are unique.
This is your identity and nothing can change your physique even if as time goes on, you increase in weight. It will still be in my records that I used to be skinny. So that’s an identity. One must embrace it wholeheartedly. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.”
Gifty has acknowledged that being slender is part of her identity so she has learned to accept and embrace it. She also acknowledged that societal stereotypes can have profound impact on one’s self-perception but ultimately, it’s up to the individual to define their own identity.
Miss Patience Bumbom, a professional model and beauty queen, who tells me about the opportunities of having such figure, talks about how they are highly paid compared to plus-sized ladies, and how she gets endorsement deals from clothing brands like Damson Vogue, to advertise their products.
She encouraged slender ladies to know their worth and embrace their body shape. She recounted how her colleagues used to call her “Alangadwoa, and Sugarcane”, making her feel bad.
Such derogatory names, she disclosed compels individuals with this physique to resort to the use of body enhancement pills to artificially put on a bit more flesh to appear more attractive.
That is not to suggest that having more flesh necessarily makes one attractive. Attraction would not come by just putting on weight but more about how one presents him or herself.
Sadly, that societal pressure has increased the demand for the body enhancing products, especially in the capital, Accra.
This was confirmed by Auntie Esi, a vendor of these products. In an interaction with her, she stated that body enhancement pills, silicon butts lifters and hip pads were in very high demand by the young ladies.
“They purchase these products to boost their body parts to look attractive.”
These drugs, she explained come in various forms such as liquid, pomade and powder.
“They also come with various side effects,” she revealed. “For some, it makes them feel sleepy; others would feel like responding to nature’s call. Despite all of these, they have absolute faith in their ability to transform the physiques.”
Aunty Esi also revealed that some ladies prefer to purchase the silicon butt and hip pads rather than go under the knife for a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgery due to its risks. “This has been my source of income for many years and I’m not going to stop. If I stop, how would I feed my children?” she queried.
Mr Godfred Arko Osei, a counsellor at UniMAC-IJ, shared his perspectives on the challenges faced by slender ladies and strongly advised against the use of enhancement products.
“It is all about your mindset,” he emphasized. “If you are able to cultivate a positive mindset about yourself and your appearance, it will boost your self-esteem, and other opinions won’t affect you at all. However, if you already have a negative perception about your looks, you’re already affected before anybody uses that against you. I wouldn’t encourage it because you don’t need artificial means to look good; it’s not a reflection of your true self.”
Without a doctor’s prescription, these drugs when taken, can be detrimental to the health of users. Is it worth it at the end especially when they lose their lives? What measures is the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) taking to keep these products off the market?
Stricter regulations and public education are crucial to curb the dangers of these unprescribed drugs. FDA can work with the law enforcement agencies to enact strict measures to arrest persons who sell these products to serve as deterrent to others.
Hospitals can also collaborate with institutions such as universities to educate on the importance of self-esteem and the adverse effect of such unprescribed drugs, ultimately safeguarding public health.
*The Author (jbanfro56@gmail. com) is a Level 300 Student Journalist at UniMAC-IJ
By Banfro Josephine
Gender
Women urged to strive for success, not liabilities to husbands
An Entrepreneur and Politician, Ms Eunice Lasi, has urged young girls to strive for success and support their husbands, rather than becoming liabilities.
Speaking at the Ada Youth Summit held last Thursday, she emphasised the importance of girls attaining the highest possible level of education, developing their careers or becoming successful entrepreneurs in order to contribute meaningfully to their households.
“The narrative that girls do not need to work because they will be taken care of by their husbands must change. Men need supportive women as well,” she stated.
“It is therefore important for girls not to feel intimidated by their male counterparts, but stand up and pursue success,” she added.
Ms Lasi noted that whether in business or politics, women must remain focused and determined, while cultivating self-worth and self-respect in order to reach the top.
Ms Lasi, who contested as an independent candidate for the Sege Constituency in the 2024 elections, stressed that women should not limit themselves to the kitchen.
She noted that the perception that women belonged in the kitchen was gradually changing.
However, she stressed that it would require more women to rise, be visible and make a difference.
According to her, there were numerous opportunities available to girls, as many organisations were actively seeking to employ women.
She argued that women were often better business managers than men and should not be restricted to settling down in marriage alone.
She encouraged business leaders, especially women to mentor and support young girls to become entrepreneurs and job creators.
Ms Lasi also commended the organisers of the summit, themed “Paradigm Shift,” for their efforts in inspiring change in mindset among women and society at large.
“Let us work towards creating more platforms like this for the youth of Ada to raise their voices and be heard,” she stated.
The summit brought together traditional leaders, politicians and entrepreneurs to discuss key developmental issues, including governance, entrepreneurship and technology.
By Spectator Reporter
