Meet Nairobi's Boxgirls. Sponsored
through Box Girls International, girls in Kenya (and in other locations) are learning to fight back
against sexual violence. As stated on their website:
“Boxgirls supports
women and girls using boxing programs as a catalyst for social change in their
cities. We believe that well designed and delivered sport and leadership
programs change girls’ lives. Boxgirls works with our partner projects in the
field to deliver excellent coaching through club and school programs, as well as
outreach activities to business; government and media decision makers to
improve women’s sport and social participation in general.
We can see every day how
our work is making girls stronger – both in and outside the ring. They are more
confident, can concentrate on their goals and have trust in themselves to reach
them. Strong girls become strong women. And we know that strong women transform
their communities. It’s simple: Strong girls. Strong
communities.”
Strong
girls. Strong communities. This sentiment sounded similar to the smart
economics approach by Chant and Sweetman (2012), where we saw the burden of growing
economically and ultimately ‘saving the world’ was placed on the shoulders of
women and girls. Although I find Boxgirls to be an intriguing organization, one
that is promoting the invaluable tool of empowering girls and women, I do have
a few qualms.
In
this approach, the structural issues are not being addressed and women are
being taught to fight against something that should not be happening in the
first place. Although I do agree that women learning a sport that is normally
considered a ‘mans sport’ can enhance them not only physically, but socially, I
do think they are missing the bigger issue that men (and women) need taught that rape is not okay and it is a crime. This isn't to say programs such as these are not already in place in regions like Kenya, but my argument is that gender based violence has been covered up with empowerment programs through development organizations for too long.
As Corrêa and Jolly (2008) mentioned in their article, "the outcome of the MDG process has been a document entirely desexualized. The only clear mention of sex in the Millennium Project Report refers to sexual education" (p.30). This was also mentioned by The Guardian when they said, “The MDGs five years later [than Beijing] had a much smaller
agenda. In a way, goal three focused on leadership and education. Certainly one
regret is that [the goal] didn’t include violence against women or have an
emphasis on human rights" (2015).
By ignoring sexuality and ultimately sexual violence, the MDGs are ignoring the link between sexuality, freedom and well-being. Although development through the empowerment of women can produce successful outcomes, as I think Boxgirls has done, we need not forget that development interventions need to address the root causes of why women are usually the main targets of empowerment programs. While it may be useful to literally 'fight back' against sexual violence, is it a sustainable approach?
Though I have mixed feelings,I can't help but look at these girls and say 'man they are badass'. :)
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| boxgirls.org |
Thank you Briana for this great insight. I agree with you to some extent. Truly, such empowerment programs cover up gender based violence. But I do believe Boxgirls.org have at least achieved an aim many institutions like the World Bank in many years have failed to address; control over their sexual. Although they are not using the perfect means in addressing the issue of sexual violence, empowerment and equality are been achieved anyway.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of how when sexual violence and violence against females appear on TV and movies women rarely are depicted as fighters. If they are fighters then they are super heroes like in Kill Bill or The Girl Who Played with Fire. It is either passive femininity or quasi-masculinity. There seems to be lack of imagination when it comes to how organizations and film makers deal with this issue.
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ReplyDeleteThank you Briana for this post. I really enjoyed watching the campaign and getting to know about this initiative. It seems that boxing – and this particular program - is having a very significant and positive impact on these girls living in Nairobi slums.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with you that these campaigns are not fundamentally fighting against the causes that underpin and perpetuate rape and gender – based violence, I am going to focus on the advantages of incorporating them in GAD initiatives as I believe they constitute a powerful tool to shift traditional roles that have been imposed on us women, and help recover confidence in women that have suffered gender violence.
Firstly, these initiatives constitute a unique opportunity for underrepresented and oppressed women to recover self-esteem as they become stronger and capable of defending by themselves. Secondly these initiatives create spaces that otherwise would be inexistent. These spaces can allow women to deconstruct notions of gender roles for example. Thirdly, women can create bonds with other women that have faced the same traumatic situations allowing them to heal and get stronger. Additionally, initiatives like Box Girls, are attempting to fight against stereotypes within a community. According to one of the participants of the program, boys have started to mention the: “we want to be like you”. This definitely shows that the community in this case, boys are seeing women as equally capable peers.
I am sure that the real “fight” they have is at home, explaining to their families that they want to do something that is traditionally a boy’s thing.
If you want to explore more about this initiative, below you can find the link to see "Box Girl", an award-winning short documentary made in Nairobi last year that centers on Sonko and the work of Box Girls. http://www.documentarytube.com/videos/box-girl
Great points, Belen!
ReplyDeleteI recently watched that documentary and have since changed some of my views. I too think Box Girls helps to create a unique opportunity for women and I especially agree that it helps women who have faced similar traumatic events bond together.