Contrary to what Adama Sarr aka Mama Linguere, a confessed feminist, spouted last week that “being a woman in The Gambia is a punishment”; practically, the reverse is the case.  

Ms Sarr, out of boredom due to the partial lockdown, wasted her time and ink to write about non-existent widespread oppression against women in The Gambia. While I cannot dismiss her submission in its entirety, especially the part about the Police, because that institution needs deliverance, everything else is her own imagination, laced with false sentimentality.  

The respect, honour, empathy we have for women is ingrained in us, passed from generation to generation, but in Sweden, where she lived in the past decade, it was forced upon them through various legislations.  

Fair treatment of women in Europe and the larger western world is out of fear of the consequences of breaking existing laws and the very powerful so-called gender activists.  

Here are some of the privileges one enjoys for just being a woman in The Gambia:  

Jobs/Opportunities 

If a man is competing for a job with a woman with an identical CV, 9 out 10 the woman will get the job. The only time that a man goes head-to-head with a woman and get hired is when the gulf in experience and education is so wide that rejecting him would be criminal. 

Nothing personal but let's use her job offer as an example. She was an estranged housewife in Sweden when she was hired as Human Resources Manager at SSHFC ahead of a guy who was overseeing that office and has institutional experience.  

She got the nod despite the fact the last time she worked in a related field was over 10 years ago at MRC.  

Excuse 

Women here get a pass or excuse for their waywardness or mindless utterances, unlike the opposite sex who would get savaged for similar transgressions. You often hear “Jiguen hellam moutut”. While this might sound patronising, but that’s not the intent, it is their get-out-of-jail-free card.  

Social events/gatherings 

At social events, women are usually given the best seats in the house. They are at the front closer to where things are happening whilst men are at the back and boys further back. In naming ceremonies, it is not unusual to see young girls in their twenties or even late teens, well dressed and seated, but men who are old enough to be their fathers standing as they’ve given up their seats to them.  

Argument 

A lighthearted banter with female friends can sometimes turn heated. And it is like a taboo to get into a heated argument with women in public. You will get a dressing down for it and risked being labelled “Gorr Tajal ma togou”. If you cannot argue with women surely you cannot start a street fight with them. If you do, you will hate yourself for it. If you are lucky, you will be slammed by your fellow men otherwise you can get a concussive punch in defence of the woman. People are not interested who is right or wrong or what was said or done to you.  

To conclude, I am not saying we are saints, far from it, but we are far ahead of many nations in the fair treatment of women. In fact, they enjoy preferential treatment here. As with anything, there will always be exceptions. There are some despicable men in our midst who treat women with disdain, but they are in the minority. You wonder, why do most females prefer male bosses? 

Saul Sarr

UK