Twenty-one years ago, Ann Moliver Ruben designed a T-shirt that sparked much controversy across America, covering the pages of local newspapers. A Wal-Mart store even took the shirt off its shelves, stating the shirt was “offensive” and went against family values. The shirt had a simple empowering message: “Someday a woman will be president.” Yesterday, Hilary Clinton formally accepted the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States. With this acceptance, she is now the first woman in American history to lead a major presidential ticket and thus, stand a chance at winning the most sought after seat in the White House. The row over the 21-year-old Ruben shirt is a testament to how far the country has come in a short period and now, this should be a beacon of hope for African women.
“Standing here as my mother’s daughter, and my daughter’s mother, I’m so happy this day has come. So let’s keep going, until every one of the 161 million women and girls across America has the opportunity she deserves,” said former Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton. Despite the fact that Africa can boast of electing a female president, years before the ‘more progressive’ United States even produced a female nominee from a major political party, most African states still have a way to go regarding female representation. The lack of representation is pervasive, not only at the highest levels of office but, also at the formative levels, in schools and universities. Unfortunately, traditions and culture teach young African girls to cower in the presence of males, setting a limit on their ambitions. You should be ambitious but not too ambitious. While yesterday’s spectacle is unlikely to change deeply ingrained traditions in most parts of the continent at once, the pervasiveness of the United States’ media and culture within Africa can help realign African women’s perspectives on the limits of their ambitions. It can also enable African men see and appreciate the abilities of women, as they watch a woman about to lead one of the world’s most revered military forces, firsthand. The controversy that surrounded Ruben’s shirts serve as a reminder of just how quickly national dispositions can change and, at the rate at which institutions are emulated through globalisation, the wind of change may blow sooner than expected.
“Does Donald Trump have the temperament to be Commander-in-Chief? Donald Trump can’t even handle the rough-and-tumble of a presidential campaign. He loses his cool at the slightest provocation,” said Hilary Clinton, in reference to her presidential opposition. Against the backdrop of the presidential race thus far her assertion is a fair one but against African female stereotypes, this is an oddity coming from a female. The world, as a whole, has some progressing to do when it comes to women’s rights. But as nation states in Africa are predominantly young democracies, with a history of military rule and male rulers emerging from civil conflicts or liberation struggles, a woman claiming to possess the temperament to be Commander-in-Chief is alien to these histories. Hilary goes on to paint a picture of characteristics of strength including patience, tact and precision, which contrast to the show of “strength” by some African leaders that have deteriorated into bigger conflicts. The sooner African states distinguish rightly between strength and cowardice, not only will some conflicts be averted, but the way will be paved for strong female leaders to emerge.
Hilary Clinton’s message on Thursday anchored on the need for unity, hammering home her campaign slogan “stronger together.” She reaffirmed her commitment to fighting issues concerning minorities and ease the burden of members of the lower and working class. Rather than exclusively pander to her loyal supporter base, she addressed the fears of her opposing candidate, Donald Trump’s supporters. She validated the fears of blue-collar workers and laid out broad blueprints on how their grievances will be attended to. The most ethnically diverse continent in the world, Africa, has too often been guilty of discrediting the fears and rights of minorities, often resulting in avoidable deadly conflicts. Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and, most recently, South Sudan have been culpable to name a few. Sensitivity towards the struggle of minority groups in both words and action will not only aid in averting crises, but foster unity amongst the most ethnically diverse nations in the world.
