Editor's Note
"I once had a dream that indeed,
GoWomen all around the world were
in power."
My
GoWoman
anthem of choice
for the last issue
was
Beyonce’s
Who Runs The
World. When I
heard the song for
the first time, I felt
really uplifted and
I wished that the
crowned queen of
the Beyhive would
use the imminent
music video to
give us something
s i m i l a r l y
inspirational. With
lyrics
like;
“...
How we’re smart
enough to make these millions. Strong enough to
bear the children. Then get back to business...” I
wished for a video that highlighted our struggles as
women, whilst also celebrating our triumphs.
And then she continues; “... my persuasion can build
a nation. Endless power. Our love we can devour...”
At this point I envisaged a tribute to Emmeline
Pankhurst, Rosa Parks, Mary Robinson, Oprah
Winfrey, Arianna Huffington, Madeleine Albright,
Condoleeza Rice, Christine Lagarde, Michelle
Obama, Hillary Clinton, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,
Joyce Banda, I could go on and on.
I got excited thinking about all the GoWomen who
have paved the way for us by shattering glass
ceilings. It may have been the retro-feminist in
me but I soon snapped out of it when I discovered
that Queen Bey had instead settled for the obvious
and ubiquitous option of a video full of her usual
saucy dance moves and sultry fashion. However,
I assumed that between the horses and the lions
and the dance battles with an army of men, we are
supposed to derive some sort of symbolism of women
standing up to and striving against adversity.
Each time I listen to the song I wonder; what if
women really ruled the world? I once had a dream
that indeed, GoWomen all around the world were
in power. They were pounding pavements, doors
andwalls, progressing positively in unison.
8
GOWOMAN SEPTEMBER|2013
They were healthy as well as wealthy. These
GoWomen believed in their potential and
achievements. They didn't sell themselves short
by constantly exhibiting their sexual saleability.
Strutting their way into parliaments and
boardrooms, power-dressing instead; they ruled
the world with their clothes on!
These powerful GoWomen understood that there is
strength in numbers and far from the dog eat dog
mentality that exists among some, they supported
and embraced each other. They appreciated that
jealousy is a weakness and chose to recognize and
highlight each other’s strengths, love each other
and learn from each other. Inspired by the Ubuntu
philosophy they chanted; “I am what I am because
we all are.”
As well as the corporate and political prowess
as exemplified by Sierra Leone's cover GoWoman
Miatta Kargbo, they believed in the power of
creative freedom like Ghana's cover GoWoman Jojo
Abot. They were self-made. They sang. They acted.
They danced. They wrote. The were self-taught.
They designed. They directed. They innovated.
They focused. They were businesses. They were
brands.
They loved. Dedicated mothers and wives; they
were passionate. They stood side by side with
men who respected them and saw them as equal
partners in progress, rather than next in society’s
gender hierarchy.
Moving on from Beyonce's Who Runs The World,
as I listen to Alicia Keys sing Gi ??=????????) ?]?????????????????????????????????$?????)??? ?]?????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????????????????)???????)Q???????????????????? ?]????????????A???)Q??e??) ?]?????????$$$$()A???????? ??????()Q??????I?????}I=Q?$$$$)????????????????????????() ?]????)???????????)$?????????????????????$???????????) ?]????????????????????????????????)?????????????????????$?????????????$)??????????????????????????????????$???)??????????????????????????????????????)???????????????$?????????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????) ???????????????????????????????????)??????????$???????????????$?????????????Q??????? ?]?????5??????????????)??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)??????()$???????????????????????????????????$)?????????????????????????????????$??)??????????????????$????????$???)???????????????????????$??????????????)M??????????????????????$??????????????)??????????????????????????????????)M?????1????????????????????????$???)??????????????????????????????????)??????()Q????()1=Y()Q??????????????????????M?????????)?????????????$???????????????????????????????????????????????)?????????????????M????%????????????)?????????$?????????????????????????????$????????????????????????????)??9????()$?????????????????????????????????????)?????)?????()]????????$??????????????????????)???????? ?]??????]?????????????????????????????????????????????????????)?????????????????????????????5???????)??????????????????????????????????????)?????????????????????????????? ???????($)??????()e??() =]=58?MAQ5 I?????((?((0