Women and Girl Spaces in Somalia.

Photos with my best friends Enjoying our space.

Many countries seek to define innovation and effective approaches to empower women. Space for Women is part of the main focus by government, International communities and relevant stakeholders to build women’s overall capacity and development needs in the society.

After boarding a bus today from the town, the first thing I realized was that the bus was full of youth, middle-aged and elderly women. You can’t imagine how noisy it was but the best thing was the smiles and confidence on this women’s faces while they discuss and argued about political issues and other personnel-related issues. Others gave their opinions freely and believe me you could see they really needed an opportunity like this to showcase their ability to analyse issues in the best way possible. Their arguments and suggestion were so professional you’d think they went to school and studied. The hegemonic femininity was also in play and this was striking because one could see different diversity aspects being performed in their own unique way. The truth is, women are the ones on the ground with all the problems and solutions. If only they would be given platform similar to what we had today on the bus, I am sure the country is moving in the right direction.

I was amazed and you can imagine the wide smile I had on my face. I had so many gender theories and aspects and concepts running through my mind over and over at that moment. It felt so nice, I just wished that they could read my mind. I wanted to just let it out and make them understand and see what is happening on the bus is so amazing and has an enormous meaning, result and impact if it would be done consistently. But no, I couldn’t because of the time and also because of the circumstance we were in. I wished I could say a word even though I knew some couldn’t understand immediately for they require a little more education and training on the subject matter.

Although the driver and the tout were young men. I imagine what if they were also females. How amazing would it be to have a bus 100% feminised! Believe me, the ladies would just relax, feel comfortable and free to discuss or say whatever they want.  Just imagine!

I believe Somali people are in the progress of empowering more women, offer them space and allow women rights to participate in all social, economic and political aspects. Therefore, there is still room for improvement to see that women’s rights are claimed and exercise effectively.

In regards to the conceptual notion of space, we see that is gendered and highly politicized as a social resource in all societies. The feminized spaces are considered least important and some are still functioning through the benevolence of males. Therefore, women political movements, ideological, activist and structural spaces must remain women-only space.

Somali Version.

Dalal badan ayaa doonaya in ay helaan habab kala duwan oo wax ku ool-ah oo lagu a wood-siinayo haweeenka. Dalal ka qaarna qorshahooda ugu waa weyn ayey ka mid tahay. Sidaas si lamid ah Beesha caalamka iyo daneeyayaasha (stakeholders) waxey ka qey-qaataan dhisida iyo in haweeenka la siiyo fursad u saamaxda in ay ka qeyb-qaataan siyaasadda, nabadda iyo amniga ee bulshadooda.

Kadib markii aan bus manta kasoo raacay magaalada, wixii igu horeeyey ee layaab igu noqotay inaan arko waxay ahayd buska oo ay buux dhaafiyeen gabdho isugu jira dhalinyaro, da’da dhexe iyo kuwa waawayn. Ma qiyaasi karayso siduu sawaxankoodo ahaa balse arinta ugu fiican waxay ahayd farxad iyo kalsoonida ka muuqatay wajiga gabdhaha marka ay ka hadlayeen arimaha siyaasada iyo nolosha gaarka ah. waxaa wajiyadooda laga dheehan karay farxad iyo kalsooni iyagoo ka doodaya arimaha siyaasada wadanka. Qaarkood waxay muujinayeen fekerkooda si xoriyad ku jirto waxaana hubaal ah haddii gabdhahaan fursad la sihiin lahaa inay sida u wanaagsan arimaha taagan uga doodi lahayeen. Talooyinka ay soo jeedinayaan iyo qaabka ay u doodayaan waxaad modaa dad mihnad leh oo wax bartay oo kabaxay iskuul iyo jaamacad. Halka kuwa kalana si xor ah fikirkooda u dhiibanayeen waxaa hubaal ah inay u baahanyihiin fursad sidaan oo kale ay ugusoo bandhigaan kartidooda ay wax ku cabari lahayeen sida ugu fiican. Habka dood wadagoododa iyo talo is dhaafintooda wuxuu ahaa mid cilmiyaysan waxaadna la moodaa inay yihiin dad jaamiciyiin ah. Kartidooda dumarnimo waxay door ka ciyaaraysa inay kukala duwanadaan aragtiyadooda siyaabo kala duwan.

Xaqiiqdu waxa waaye dumarku inay yihiin kuwada udub dhexaadka u ah xalinta dhibaatoyinka. Haddii ay heli lahaayeen fursad lamid ah mid kay maanta buska ku dhex muujiyeen waxaa hubaal ah in dalku inuu gaari meel wacan dhinac walba.

Waan la yaabay run ahaantii mana malayn karaysid farxada balaaran ee wajigayga ka muuqatay. Wakhti xaadirkaas waxaa maskaxdaya kusoo dhacay fekrado iyo aragtiyo badan oo la xiriira arinta jinsiyada. Way wanagsanaan lahayd inay maskaxdaydu arintaas ku hayo.  Wixii ka dhacay buska waxay ahaayeen layaab sidoo kale dhalin lahayd natiijo iyo saamayn micno wayn leh haddii si joogta ah loo samayn lahaa. Lkn ma suurtoobin sababo la xiriira wakhti iyo daruufo jiray awgeed. Inkastoo aan rabay inaan lahadlo lakiin waxan garawsaday inaysan qaarkood fahmayn una baahanyihiin in yaroo tacliin iyo tababar ah oo la xiriirta maduucan.

In kastoo daraweelka iyo kirishbowguba ay ahaayen wiilal dhalin yaro ah waxaan is waydiiyey kawaran haday iyaguna dumar ahaan lahaayeen. Sidee bay cajiib u ahaan lahayd hadduu busku 100% dumar ahaan lahaa! Run ahaantii, gabdhuhu waxay ahaayeen kuwa faraxsan, dareemaya dabacsanaan iyo xoriyad ay ku yiraahdan wax kasta ay doonayaan. Bal Qiyaas!

Waxaan aamisanahay in dadkeenu horomar ka samaynayo sidee loo awood siin lahaa dumarka, iyadoo la siinayo fursado lana tixgalinayo xuquuqda dumarka ay kaga qayb gali karaan arimaha bulshada, dhaqaalaha iyo siyaasada. Sidaa darteed, waxa jira wali fursado horomarineed si loo arko xuquuqda dumarka oo hana qaaday si wanaagsana loo meel mariyey.

Markii laga hadlayo ra yiga fursada, waxaa muuqata inay dhamaan khayraadka mujtamaca la jinsi qubay lana siyaasadeeyey si wayn. Doorka dumarka waxaa loo tix galiyaa mid aan muhiim badan lahayn iyo in qaarkoodna ay qaarkood ku shaqaynayaan iyadoo mudnaanta laga siinayo ragga.

Sidaa daraadeed; dhaqdhaaqa siyaasadeed ee haweenka, afkaarta, u ololayntooda iyo shaqadooda waa inay ahaydaan kuwa u gaara dumarka.

By: Bisharo Ali.