What is the African girl working on in our current reality of Stay Home, Stay Safe?
In an ideal world, girls are like any other family members.
Engaged in activities befitting children of their age and gender.
All family members will partake in household chores.
A second look will reveal an actual world, chores for the girl-child.
While her brothers and younger siblings pull a blanket to shield off rays from the sunrise, she will be up and about, getting breakfast ready for the family.
Why?
Because when her mother returns from her morning chores, she will not ask why the family is still in bed, if the girl-child is awake, in the kitchen. Better if breakfast is on the table, waiting for the family members, consumers.
Where did the girl-child learn this?
If the father of the girl-child does not find breakfast on the table, the girl will overhear him ask her mother, his wife–is there no breakfast in this house?
The question will sound like a dream to the boy-child, but he will not forget them.
He soon learns to complain if food is not on the table.
Until some day when his voice breaks and he brings home a girl, a youthful woman.
Society will marvel - he found a wonderful wife.
Her in-laws will praise - she learned from her mother.
So, let the debate begin, here and on my Facebook Page and Group.
Come we peep into rural and urban households. What activities are the members involved in? What about you?
For details on the African girl, click here to read my novels for what happens when education subdivides a woman’s world into two conflicting spaces? Read more in the series, The African Woman’s Journey.
First published by EileenOmosa.com