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Inside February 21, 2018 .qxp_Layout 1 2/20/18 5:53 PM Page 5 06 View DAILY HERITAGE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2018 WWW.DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH Too much peppering, too much sugaring: Dilemma of feminist activism BY SAMMY DARKO, JOURNALIST AND LAWYER THESE DAYS pepper and sugar connote more than just taste. It has found a place in Ghanaian gender discursive formation. The recent momentum in the feminist activism gained national attention when a group of young women calling themselves PepperDem Ministry stormed Social Media and lately on radio and television with sharp, cutting, and radical approach for gender equality and identity. One of their aims is to flip traditional gendered roles and narratives. This they do by ‘pouring pepper’ on toxic narratives that in their view perpetuate female subjugation. But the high-flying activism suffered a setback, so many people thought otherwise when a patron suggested cooking may amount to slavery. It has been canvassed the comment may have been taken out of context. With this labour was birthed a new group-SugarDem Ministry, the opposite of Pepper Dem. Convinced that the activism of Pepper will cause disharmony at home and in the society, this movement believes equality must be subjected to nature and biology. Their modus operandi is to ‘sugar’ men to get what they want. They intend to pour sugar on these narratives instead of pepper. This feminism casting in the Ghanaian media landscape appears like a reenactment of the gender struggle in the 70s and 80s between Feminists (radical feminists properly so called) and Womanists. Feminism on the one hand refers to issues-based activism interested in destroying the patriarchal system of power that divides society on the basis of traditional gender roles. It If you take too much pepper, what will happen to you? Doctor: People tend to ‘run,’ get diarrhoea. And if you take too much sugar? Doctor : You put a lot of work on your pancreas. You are punishing your pancreas, you may get diabetics. often considers men as enemies of women. Eliminating male control and superiority entitlement is the only way to bring about equality and identity. For instance, why should a female carry the name of the father or husband, male entitlement over a female body, why must cooking be the preserve of women, why should male counterparts earn more than females? There are other forms of narratives that despise unmarried women/single women or women without children. The nuances in some of the narratives can be so subtle that it can easily be glossed over. For example, it is always the woman who is tagged as a prostitute or husband snatcher if seen in the company of a man who is not her husband. Many feminists do not subscribe to religious doctrines and teachings. For instance, many see the Bible as one instrument used to perpetuate female subjugation for centuries. Womanism, •Sammy Darko on the other hand, is a social framework that separates itself from feminism, celebrates womanhood and aims at achieving and maintaining an inclusive culture in all societies. Womanism recognises nature and biology as dictating the gender roles of men and women. Womanists are usually religious. For Christians or Muslims, they believe in the principle that the man is the head, the woman must submit to the man. Their creed reads in part; “We love men. We like being women. We love children. We like being mothers. We value life. We have faith in God and the Bible. We want families and harmonious relationships. We are not at war with our men seeking money, power and influence through confrontation.” In the 1960s and 1970s these two groups did have a go at each other. At a point the inter-group antagonism lent credence to the old adage that women are their own enemies. But this was the nuance; the feminists were mostly elite white women and the Womanists were mostly black women who faced oppression and discrimination at work compared to their white female colleagues. They rejected the treatment of black men as subordinates to white women. On Ghana’s social media landscape, this struggle appears to have reenacted itself. This time there are no white women but black women who subscribe to the ideals of feminism (Pepper- Dem) as against black women whose idles and approach matches that of Womanists or at best Liberal Feminists (SugarDem). There are still black men but the solidarity is with the men who have been sprayed with Pepper. The perception of many is that PepperDem is creating enmity between men and women, breeding women to be arrogant and controlling in the home, getting women to abandon their ‘call role and here the presumption is inclusive of cooking and taking care of the man as the head of the home.’ For the SugarDems, there’s too much pepper. Instead of pepper women should ‘sugar’ their men to get what they want. They accept the man has a special place at home and society as the head. There are certain roles only men can perform and that order must be respected and complimented by the woman. They see PepperDem as the over otherness of the female other. However, PepperDem may say, until there is enough pepper, ‘the oppressor’ meaning the man is unwilling to simply let go the ego/superiority mentality. Truth be told rarely have I eaten a food that has both Pepper and Sugar, its either you want to pepper it or you want to add sugar. Eliminating male control and superiority entitlement is the only way to bring about equality and identity. For instance, why should a female carry the name of the father or husband, male entitlement over a female body, why must cooking be the preserve of women, why should male counterparts earn more than females?
Inside February 21, 2018 .qxp_Layout 1 2/20/18 5:53 PM Page 6 Importance of breastfeeding • A healthier baby THE INCIDENCES of pneumonia, colds and viruses are reduced among breastfed babies. Gastrointestinal infections like diarrhea, which can be devastating, especially in developing countries, are also less common. • Long-term protection too Breastfeed your baby and you reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions, such as type I diabetes, celiac disease and Crohn's disease. • Stronger bones Women who breastfeed have lower risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis. When a woman is pregnant and lactating, her body absorbs calcium much more efficiently. So while some bones, particularly those in the spine and hips, may be a bit less dense at weaning, six months later, they are more dense than before pregnancy. • Lower SIDS risk Breastfeeding lowers your baby's risk of sudden infant death syndrome by about half. • Fewer problems with weight It's more likely that neither of you will become obese if you breastfeed him. WWW.DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH DAILY HERITAGE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2018 &Env. Scientists take ‘first step’ towards biological test for autism SCIENTISTS HAVE taken the first step towards what they say could become a new blood and urine test for autism. Their study tested children with and without the condition and found higher levels of protein damage in those with the disorder. The researchers said the tests could lead ultimately to the earlier detection of the condition, which can be difficult to diagnose. But experts expressed caution, saying such a test was still a long way off. Protein damage Autism affects behaviour and particularly social interaction but it is difficult to spot and is not usually diagnosed before the age of two, and often much later. Currently, there are no biological tests that can spot the condition, which is diagnosed through behavioural assessments by clinicians. For this new study, published in the Molecular Autism journal, researchers looked for chemical differences in the blood and urine of 38 autistic children and 31 children without the condition, all aged between five and 12. In those with autism they found higher levels of protein damage - particularly in the blood plasma - which they said were associated with ill health. Dr Naila Rabbani, from the University of Warwick, who led the study, told the BBC the tests could ultimately be used by doctors to diagnose autism earlier in childhood by detecting these markers. More tests required But she said the next step was to replicate the study's findings in other groups. She said: "We have the method, we have everything. All we need to do is repeat it. “I would really like to go forward with younger children, maybe two years, or even one year old. “Then the next step will be to validate in a larger cohort. Then the tests will be ready for screening.” Dr Rabbani added that she hoped the tests could also eventually reveal some of the factors that cause autism and improve its diagnosis. Autism More men are diagnosed with autism than women - estimates vary from twice to 16 times as many The number of diagnosed cases has increased during the past 20 years, reportedly because of more accurate diagnoses Autism doesn't just affect children - autistic children grow up to be autistic adults. You can't always tell if someone is autistic. There is no cure, but a range of interventions are available Far too early However, other researchers expressed caution about the study. Dr James Cusack, director of science at the UK autism research charity Autistica, said: "This study may give us clues about why autistic people are different but it does not provide a new method for diagnosis. It is far too early for that. "We don't know whether this technique can tell the difference between autism, ADHD, anxiety or other similar conditions. The study also only looked at a small group of people. "The best way to diagnose autism is still through clinical interview and observation." Dr Max Davie, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said it was a promising area of research but it was a "very long way indeed from a test for autism". "While we applaud the arrival of this interesting area of research, it is important that it is not adopted with too much enthusiasm - if applied to a large population it will produce large numbers of 'false positives', causing huge worry and potential harm to children and families." BBC Each Ghanaian ate 143 eggs last year –Research BY OSEI OWUSU AMANKWAA EGG CONSUMP- TION seems to be on the ascendency as a new survey has revealed that the about 27 million Ghanaians consumed 143 eggs each last year. This is according to a recent survey by Amplifies Ghana, an institution committed to promoting the consumption of eggs. The figure is an astronomical increase from a Food and Agriculture Organisation survey which showed that each Ghanaian eats less than 20 eggs annually. The development has been attributed to the many interventions that were instituted by various bodies to promote egg consumption. The Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers revealed last year that over 10% of eggs produced annually are disposed of due to the low patronage of the product. The Technical Specialist at Amplifies Ghana, Comfort Acheampong told Starr Business’ Osei Owusu Amankwaah that at the end of last year, the data changed. “With the production and sale of eggs; for years now, till last year, before the Christmas, there has always been egg glut, farmers are not able to sell their eggs; they pour it away; they destroy them and so on. But last year and so far this month, there has never been an egg glut. There is always shortage in the system,” Madam Acheampong said. She added that, there is a lot of sensitisation ongoing to improve the number of egg eaters. The sensitisation campaign ongoing is focusing on traditional leaders to be change makers in the society. Ghana produces 1.5 million eggs daily. This, the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers says, is sufficient to meet consumption needs. It has been proven that the Cholesterol in egg is positive for the human anatomy. •Eggs are good source of nutrition
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