The Plight Of A Girl Child In A Developing Country
Hi all,
How are we all doing today?
I received a guest post from a mom living in Nigeria on the plight of a girl child in a developing country and I just had to share it with you. This is not a usual topic for my blog but sometimes a different type of read is not amiss.
Updates from Segilola Salami
Before sharing the guest post with you, several things have me super excited that I would like to tell you about. First of all, plans for my book launch event for Abiku: A Battle Of Gods seems to be taking off in a way I never imagined. I engaged the services of a publicist and . . . you know what, just get your tickets and be prepared to be AMAZED on the day. When you get a publicist who knows what s/he is doing, you know you have found your next best friend. After the event I will give you an update of the experience.
The other thing that has me excited is that I have just completed my next non-fiction children’s book “How To Tell The Time On A Clock In Yoruba”. It was a superb feeling getting back to the genre I love. Don’t get me wrong, I did love writing a paranormal romance and developing the different characters. The characters have started talking to me, asking me to finish their story . . . so keep watching this space 🙂
Just so you know, How To Tell The Time On A Clock In Yoruba is currently only available for purchase via my website. It should be in general circulation from January 2017.
If you follow my podcast The Segilola Salami Show, you’d have heard me announce in the how to deal with stress episode that in the run up to the end of the year, I would be doing a special episode on child abuse. The rough plan so far is to do 7 episodes on:
- Identifying child abuse
- Getting justice for the victim
- the five stages of grief for episodes 3 – 7
One of the reasons why I am super excited about this is the guests. I can’t tell you much about them now but I foresee AMAZING discussions. Of course there would be book recommendations too. So make sure you subscribe to my podcast if you haven’t already done so, so you don’t miss an episode.
You might wonder why I would want to cover such a sad topic but I think it is actually quite an important subject.
In response to the podcast announcement, a listener sent me this post to share with you.
ASHAWO!
I was 14, 15 maybe when I was first called a prostitute. The reason? I was said to be stubborn. Why? I didn’t run an errand for someone who had a Y-chromosome. With well functioning hands and legs.
Was that supposed to make me sad, break me, make me cry? Pfff!
Slut, whore, bitch, akunakuna, ASHAWOOOO!
All because you have a vagina!
Who is an ashawo really? Why are they so passionate about these words?
But I respect the ashawos. Have you ever tried going into their heads rather than between their legs?
Do you know their story? Would you have done any better if the tables were turned.
For the real prostitutes, it ain’t just fun and fleshly pleasures. Its a lifetime of risks, diseases, competitions. A dangerous occupation. You shame them in the open but lay them in secret.
You feign decency in public but loose good money just to enter the place. A place many have been to before you, you mind not. Who is the ashawo?
But the ladies say it too. Its their cheap bring her down, I’m better than her mechanism.
They offer their vaginas for some wads of cash. You offer yours for the “I love you” he says but never means, some pass marks or a job offer.
They stand by the roads and on the streets, you stand on campus and in the office.
Ashawo na ashawo.
Its their life, its their choice, its their vagina.
Before you use those words ask yourself, “who have you helped?”
RESPECT THAT ASHAWO!
About the author
Modupe Alao is a stay at home mom with a 3 year old little boy and they live in Nigeria. You can connect with her on Facebook.
Ashawo is a Nigerian slang term for prostitute. Some lowly people feel the need to address girls (and women) as prostitutes for not conforming, for choosing to not be mindless zombies and for standing up for themselves. That in itself is a form of abuse that no one, least of all a girl, should ensure.
What are your thoughts on the plight of a girl child in a developing country? Please leave a comment below. Sharing is caring, please click on one (or two or three ;)) of the social share icons to share this post with your network.
Until next time! 😀
