Dr Olutoyin Mejiuni is a lecturer, researcher and an activist. She is the chairperson of Women Against Rape and Sexual Exploitation (WARSHE) and the acting Director, Center for Gender Studies and Social Policies, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State. In this interview by TAYO GESINDE, she speaks on what women need to do to achieve gender parity.
WHY Centre for Gender and Social Policy studies?
The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Council set up the centre for gender to do the work of research, training and teaching; focusing on women and children and to liaise between the university and the town (what we call town and gown) for sustainable development. We are also supposed to do policies studies. We need this kind of a centre to deal with issues relating to addressing the gender gap in all spheres of life both private and public, in respect to education, health, agriculture, science and technology. This is about fostering development because men alone cannot account for our development. We cannot leave half of the population alone and hope to have development. It was in realisation of gender gaps in many sectors that the university deemed it fit to establish this centre. Apart from development, there is also the question of well being of individuals and communities. If you are discriminated against at work, can you put in your best? If you suffer abuse at home, can you be at your best at work or be a good mother? If within the community you are thought of as inferior, can you be a good member of the community, can you serve the community? These are some of the issues that we are looking into.
Why I am into gender advocacy
As a very young woman doing my A levels, I wasn’t actually aware of gender disparity and gender issues and that is because I grew up in a family where we all had to do the household chores; my parents, Mr Emmanuel Mejuini and Mrs Victoria Mejiuni didn’t treat the boys differently from the girls, we all pounded yam and did all that needed to be done. We went to the best schools where we were located. Even as an undergraduate, my interest was not in gender studies. My mind was active about fighting inequalities, bad governance and so on. The point for turning into gender activism was marriage. Shortly before marriage, I had people throwing the jabs of are you just going to keep reading? When are you going to get married? Also I discovered that when a woman gets married, certain roles are given to her by the society. These were the things that ignited my interest in gender studies and the need to fight for women. However, while fighting for women, we recognise the rights of others like religious groups, ethnic groups and others who make claims to certain rights and who want their own rights recognised. This is not about women alone, I focus on women because I think there is a need to do so but I also understand that the practical thing is to deal with social justice issues and not discrimination because if I am asking for my right as a woman, I want to be sure that I give to others their own rights and not discriminate against them.
My motivation
I think the biggest motivation is that I cannot stop. If you had seen an injustice, it is difficult to just turn and say I am not going to attend to it. If you ask me, I have been everywhere in respect to activism in terms of burnout and frustrations at why it has to be one step forward and two steps backward but the point is I cannot stop. At times, I slow down and because of my health and well being in other to rejuvenate. Also, I am of the opinion that we need to build up young people who will take over from us when we are no longer as active as we are now.
On whether planet 50- 50 is possible in Nigeria
Some women may think it is not possible because they are just tired of the big issues that surround gender parity. When you have had struggles and you are getting nowhere, fatigue sets in. If you look at the issues all around, the attitudes, how discrimination is veiled, you might think it is going to be difficult or it might take several years. Even if that is the case, we can’t stop; we have to keep working on the attitudes, beliefs, the psychological and mental states that will not allow us change. We need to work on those key persons in key cultural institutions who shape the discourse around women or gender relations. We need to speak about how people conceived the idea that if we change that, we will lose power, our wives will not respect them again. There are too many institutions we need to work around, religious institutions, traditional institution and schools (engaging the pupils in the gender discourse) to change mindset because really, what does it take from a man if he cooks except for his ego. What does it take out of a man if he participates in the care of the children except for his ego? There is this talk from the religious group about who is the breadwinner and who the caregiver is and you find the one being referred to as care giver also doing co-bread winner or if the man has no work, the bread winner. Women work and contribute to sustaining the homes yet they are refered to as caregivers. I have said that this seems to me as self delusion, refusing to accept the truth of what is on ground that we don’t have strict breadwinners and strict caregivers. We have people doing the two and I don’t see why men can’t participate in care giving. I believe assigning gender roles is hurting us all. It is putting pressures on us. We all should accept our symbiotic roles and enjoy being partners in personal and societal development.
Nigerian women and politics
We have women who have gone into politics but men shuned them off through all kinds of tactics. They accused some of them of not being team players. The issues are different if you ask. It is because some of the men are afraid of some of these women. They won’t allow themselves to be used to perpetrate corruption or neglect the people they are meant to serve. Many women have tried but have not gone pass the primaries. I think that apart from the legislative framework of getting the National Assembly to approve the gender equal opportunity bill, I think women and our supporters should consciously seek out women who are willing and ready to participate in politics; sponsor and support them. There is also a need for support system within their families for such women so that the home front won’t suffer. We should also have a structure of our own where we can throw up political leaders. There is also something about our emotional ties, kinship, ethnic and religious ties, these all come to play when it comes to party politics. However, there is a need for those of us in feminist movement to use the movement to throw up women in politics even if we start from councillorships, legislative positions and the rest. We could get allies. So women could get into politics through the mainstream into key parties and work our way through but the truth is men are entrenched in those spaces and the second one is for us to have our own structure and get allies who will support us. I prefer the second option; I may be idealistic however that seems the way to go.
Combining career, activism with the home front
It is tough, however, I enjoy my role as an activist, lecturer, a mother to four children and my husband, Olufemi Ojo, doesn’t make it feel that it has to be a difficult task being a wife. I think I have had the good fortune of him understanding my needs with respect to my work as activist, lecturer and researcher. The children too understand that I have to do all of these things. I also enjoy the emotional support of my children.
Advice to young girls and women
They should love themselves, that is the first stage so that when they interact with others, they won’t feel inferior but have self confidence in their identities. When they know their identity, it will be easy to spot abuse and put a stop to it. I want young women to be respectful of others and feelings of others. That is very important. That way, you contribute to a society that values empathy. Putting yourself in the shoes of others is important. Finally, work hard in whatever profession you have chosen, negotiate, manoeuvre, assert, affirm yourself as you go along the way and interact with people.