Women's lived experiences

I had the pleasure of reading a gripping short story by Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi, 'Jumping Monkey Hill'. This particular story dealt with a young women writer who participates in a writer's retreat organizer by a white 'African' literature expert under the auspices of the British Council. I love the way Adichie layers the context of story for ironic effect. I believe it is also her politics which informs the position she takes, a post-colonial writer, woman and writing about African in English.

Ujunwa the protagonist in this story writes about the story of  young woman who seeks employment in an investment bank. In her first work assignment, her character is expected to secure the deal by extending sexual favours to the wealthy client. However, she walks out on this client and refuses to submit to being dehumanized. Ujunwa is also facing a parallel experience as she is being sexually harassed by the organizer. The women's experiences become fused in the explosive ending of the story when Unjunwa's story is criticised by the expert :-

"The whole thing is implausible," Edward said. "This is agenda writing, it isn't a real story of real people."

Ujunwa confronts the expert by revealing that it was her lived experience. I witnessed the defining moment of an African woman speaking to power that tries to control, commodify and prescribe her position in the world. 

There are many such stories in Adichie's book 'The Thing Around Your Neck', but this one stood out for me as relevant to my work. 

Women speaking for themselves
 

First and foremost, I have been very reliant on male contacts to enable me to research my respondents. RDISK, itself is a male dominated organization. However, I am an outsider thus I am not subjected being dictated by anyone. Conciously, I have sought out female contacts closer to the ground. The main interpreter is a woman and experienced in organizing women.

I will conduct an orientation of what I think is a feminist interviewing techniques. As much as I want to obtain data, I want the women to be empowered by the experience. Hence, I have made sure I have a consent form which must be understood and explained to them. They can refuse to answer if they do not feel comfortable to do so. 

Plantations as a male domain

This I have heard repeated by the Tacurong Agriculture Officer, Agrarian Reform Officers, cooperative members and development workers. The fact they are relegated to picking loose fruits, administrative work and de-facto cooperative members (due to inheriting the membership). There is a very keen sense of gender division of labour, however I want to dig deeper. If it based on culture, what is it exactly. Maparbempco has both Muslim and Christian communities, religion will also have a profound impact on the construction of gender roles. 

Selection of respondents

I will be starting with MAPARBEMPCO which has at least 46 women members, 7 office staff, a women general manager, 10 committee members and 16 field workers. I will get the list of names and draw lots. This is to keep to some standards, though I think position is more important.