YET AGAIN I am faced with the daunting task of engaging readers on Christmas Day, which is challenging when one considers that this type of discourse is not exactly high on the list of priorities for traditional readers on this day. The topic I have settled upon is one that is seasonal to some extent, since this is after all the time when we are supposed to spread joy, goodwill and hopefully reflect on the way we treat others. Consistent with this perspective, I am inclined to explore this new movement that has evolved and has been associated with the hashtag #lifeinleggings.
The precise origins of this movement appear to be located in the need of one woman initially to share negative personal experiences, which were grounded in gender relations. The movement she inspired reflects the fact that she is not alone, but is one of several women forced to endure sexual harassment of emotional and physical varieties. Interestingly, much of the sexual harassment is not intended but is instead reflective of male behaviour that has sadly become the norm in this region and the world, which is the crux of the problem.
These types of concerns are familiar to those who contemplate gender issues that can be as simple as the need of some men to “cat call” women to whom they are attracted, or to refer to them as “food”. Like so many offending actions, offence here is often not intended by men, but is rightfully taken by some women that associate these episodes with male efforts to own female bodies. The “cat call” is at one end of the spectrum, while at the other end is the type of sexist behaviour exhibited by President-elect Trump much of which has been normalised in our societies today.
The #lifeinleggings movement provides a unique opportunity for men to understand the full impact of our behaviour towards women, which will enhance our understanding of each other and hopefully bring an end to offensive behaviour. The appropriate reaction therefore is for us (men) to listen, comprehend and modify our behaviour accordingly. Sadly; however, the reaction has been the production of one electronic phallic symbol, which is otherwise known as an eggplant.
I have several challenges with this eggplant, not least of which is the fact that one struggles to identify the similarities between that purple vegetable and the projectile it is intended to represent. Similarities aside; the symbolism is clear and unfortunate since on the one hand we have the #lifeinleggings symbolism, which is about offensive male behaviour, which is countered by a phallic symbol suggesting that the penis is the central focus of the conversation. Properly understood the conversation is about people with penises, but the suggestion that it is all about the penis (in and of itself) misses the point and reflects an inherent obsession of men that is at the root of this problem.
If people cast their minds back to even the most recent machinations of the men’s organisation MESA, one might recall a similar, although less phallic, reaction. When presented with overwhelming evidence of offensive behaviour on the part of men towards women categorised as domestic violence, MESA’s reaction was to tell a story of women’s misbehaviour towards men as though one justifies the other. That organisation, and indeed the proponents of the eggplant movement are yet to understand that one cannot excuse inappropriate or destructive behaviour by referencing provocation or even hypocrisy on the part of women, especially as those female behaviours are often reactions.
Historically, men have had little difficulty sharing in these ways. We speak directly to women and express ourselves regarding their appearance and we seem infinitely more comfortable with our bodies to the extent that so many men name their penises. Such self-confidence is positive; however, there can be negative connotations when our expressions are taken offensively. In response to this need for balance several years ago women mounted a conversation known as the “vagina monologues”, which helped to encourage female conversation in the interest of balance. That conversation was more sexual while this #lifeinleggings conversation embraces other gender-based perspectives and I can only wish its proponents well and hope its detractors would stop their posturing and use this as an experience from which they can learn and grow.
Peter W. Wickham is a political consultant and a director of Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES). Email: peter.w.wickham@gmail.com