Wednesday
Oct072009
Update In A Place Where Women Rule: Violence Rears Its Ugly Head
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 8:25AM The Blogmother
Hat tip to Evolving Slices. I originally was going to make this a Good News Tuesday post about an all-women's village in Kenya that was started 15 years ago. I wondered how they had escaped violent retribution and thought that they had been remarkably blessed to have escaped retribution. I did a Google search and it turns out... they didn't escape violence. The original story I saw was from 2005, I thought it was hysterically funny, sad, yet hope-filled at the same time. As a result of extremely poor treatment in African a brand of gender equality is emerging. In Kenya 15 years ago, a group of homeless rape victims set up their own village.
You have to read the entire article. So in doing my Google search for a follow up. I found an update at the Vital Voices blog from this August. The founder of the Village gained some international renown and fund raising efforts were carried out to the benefit of the entire women's village. However, when her estranged husband found out, he brought a bunch of armed thugs to the women's village to get his share. I'm shocked! [NOT]... after 15 years he shows up when there is money to be found.
He basically invaded the all-women's village and sent the 48 women who had found a refuge there scattering:
She's now to scared to return to a village that SHE BUILT.
A strong will and passion is not enough. You also need security. All of you talking about getting on Arks and sailing away has better make sure that your ark is armor-plated and retrofitted with 50 caliber machine guns, missile defense, and water cannons. As long as a few of you slip away here or there things will be fine, but if there is ever any mass awakening be prepared.
There is an EXTREMELY strong argument to be made for "movements" that occur under the radar. Kind of like the Underground Railroad. Yes, you need public faces, but often times the heaviest lifting gets done in obscurity.
This incident also points out the need to have allies in the larger community. Isolation provides some modicum of protection, but it also makes you vulnerable to attack. If you are going to be isolated, make sure you are as self-sufficient as possible. This includes an adequate defense. All it took was one man with a gun to destroy what it took this woman 15 years to build. The police in Kenya apparently are not pursuing and incarcerating this man so the women and the founder are living in terror. In other words, one gun wielding man was allowed to destroy this safe haven for women.
For information on fire arms training, you can visit the National Rifle Association's Women's Training Program. Remember Harriet Tubman carried a Bible AND a pistol.
Ten years ago, a group of women established the village of Umoja, which means unity in Swahili, on an unwanted field of dry grasslands. The women said they had been raped and, as a result, abandoned by their husbands, who claimed they had shamed their community.
Stung by the treatment, Lolosoli, a charismatic and self-assured woman with a crown of puffy dark hair, decided no men would be allowed to live in their circular village of mud-and-dung huts.
In an act of spite, the men of her tribe started their own village across the way, often monitoring activities in Umoja and spying on their female counterparts. Washington Post.
You have to read the entire article. So in doing my Google search for a follow up. I found an update at the Vital Voices blog from this August. The founder of the Village gained some international renown and fund raising efforts were carried out to the benefit of the entire women's village. However, when her estranged husband found out, he brought a bunch of armed thugs to the women's village to get his share. I'm shocked! [NOT]... after 15 years he shows up when there is money to be found.
Recently, with Vital Voices’ support, Rebecca traveled to the United States to showcase artisan products from Umoja at the Santa Fe Folk Art Festival. Proceeds from the sales and fundraising efforts belong to the entire community. Having learned about Umoja’s income, Rebecca’s estranged husband and another family member traveled to Umoja allegedly armed with a gun and confronted her on August 18. Vital Voices Blog
He basically invaded the all-women's village and sent the 48 women who had found a refuge there scattering:
The gunman, Fabiano David Lolosoli, is the former husband of Rebecca Lolosoli, who founded the village in 1990. Mr Lolosoli allegedly came to the village looking for Ms Lolosoli, who was not home at the time, and said he was going to kill her.
"He told the women to 'leave before he shot them,'" said one eyewitness, contacted by AP.
According to local sources, Ms Lolosoli has filed complaints with the local police chief (Officer Commanding Police Station) in Archer's Post, Kenya, and also with the area police chief (Officer Commanding Police Division) in the town of Maralal. She was told that the attack is considered a domestic issue and the police would not intervene.
According to sources, the 48 women who live at Umoja Uaso have scattered and Mr Lolosoli is still leaving and reentering the village, carrying his gun.Kabissa.org
She's now to scared to return to a village that SHE BUILT.
Uncertain and insecure, Rebecca remains reluctant to return to Umoja. She plans to travel to Nairobi to meet with members of Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), an organization with expertise in violence against women. Members of Vital Voices Global Leadership Network in and around Nairobi have shown extraordinary effort in reaching out to Rebecca and providing for her needs.
A strong will and passion is not enough. You also need security. All of you talking about getting on Arks and sailing away has better make sure that your ark is armor-plated and retrofitted with 50 caliber machine guns, missile defense, and water cannons. As long as a few of you slip away here or there things will be fine, but if there is ever any mass awakening be prepared.
There is an EXTREMELY strong argument to be made for "movements" that occur under the radar. Kind of like the Underground Railroad. Yes, you need public faces, but often times the heaviest lifting gets done in obscurity.
This incident also points out the need to have allies in the larger community. Isolation provides some modicum of protection, but it also makes you vulnerable to attack. If you are going to be isolated, make sure you are as self-sufficient as possible. This includes an adequate defense. All it took was one man with a gun to destroy what it took this woman 15 years to build. The police in Kenya apparently are not pursuing and incarcerating this man so the women and the founder are living in terror. In other words, one gun wielding man was allowed to destroy this safe haven for women.
For information on fire arms training, you can visit the National Rifle Association's Women's Training Program. Remember Harriet Tubman carried a Bible AND a pistol.
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Reader Comments (32)
Good point, good point, as always! :)
In America we have so much access to guns, knives, mace you name it. I wonder what can be done to help them, can they buy guns in Kenya if folks sent them money?
The women really need to take Africa over, for the most part the men are selling the continent off for a dollar and fifteen cents.
If this is the same village that I read about several years ago the violence and harassment has been ongoing almost from the beginning. The men got angry because the women were successful and became a tourist attraction. I have to assume they didn't have access or ability to relocate. When you escape from terrorists you can't move across the street, especially when you have money and resources. They will certainly follow you and take what is yours.
I hope they try again. This time with patrol and weapons. I wonder if being on the offensive is an option....
Good point, Roslyn. You can't build an ark and dock it in the same sea where all the sinking ships reside if you don't have the means to provide security from the invaders.
I'm all for getting on the ark and escaping, but we have to remember to form alliances in other communities as you say. Women can't do it alone.
I've been reading but this is my first comment- whooohoo!! Love this post!
Studying military science, not only psychological warfare is essential for black women these days. Personally I would never want to isolate myself from any men or problem..because as we see in this example it will catch up to you later on down the line. Self defense lessons are def on my list od to dos now...thank you for this!!
Word to Roslyn and Jazine.
My question is - how did the men know the women were building their own village to start with? Someone had to tell them. I sincerely hope it wasn't one of the village women - talk about sabotage. Good case for why you can't tell any and every person of your plans, or provide them access to your haven.
Unfortunately, this seems to be a case of a good idea being executed poorly. Which......is rather similar to a bad idea in terms of outcome. Did none of the women think it would be safe for them to be successful with no repercussions? Knowing the cultural ideals there? No one thought strategically about a true safe haven and security? I'm confused.
Part of that divestment strategy or the "Ark" is to NOT tell people what you're doing and to prepare for such potential attacks as well. Clearly others will make every effort at sabotage so we have to be prudent in taking steps when getting out of the Matrix. That was part of the post-Matrix training as I recall. Everyone still invested is a danger to you and your safety.
Lesson learned!
The men's behavior here is no different that some men's behavior when their arrogance, insecurities, sexism/patriarchy, greed, etc, take over. This attitude is universal, sexism/patriarchy is universal.
If I remember correctly, the ex-husband and others heard it from other people, local media there, etc. Good news in such bad situations also travels fast. :(
Maybe if Nobel Peace Prize winner and sister-Kenyan, Dr. Wangari Mathai paid a visit, made some public appearances, etc., would help our sisters there? Have any of you seen the pictures of Dr. Mathai and other women who were beaten back in the early days of Green Belt Movement? :(
That says alot about the genetic mentality of a DBR BM no matter where they're planted.
@Daphne I believe there were a few DBR BW in the compound who were leaks.
Before we get of track and try to mak this about one particular group of men instead of the patriarchy in general, many of the rape victims were raped by British soldiers. 1600 between 1970 and 2003.
I'm not buying into genetic pathology.
Reminds me of a lot of black men in this country when it comes to relationships. I don't want any of you but I also don't want you to exisist without me (or in the case of relationships, I don't want you with anyone else). It's like we are supposed to dry up and blow away if these diabolical brutes don't deem us worthy of their attention or support. In the case of this village, maybe the men should have slunk away after not being able to protect their wives, mothers, sisters and daughters from the rapes. That's why I always say good riddance to any black man who says he wants nothing to do with any black woman because with that attitude you are more of a hinderance or even a danger than anything else.
It really is all about patriarchy, no matter who is practicing it (black men, white men, Asian men, etc.).
Maybe when you live close to something for a long time, you lose track of how deadly it really can be. You get calibrated to something really horrible without understanding the depth of the horror. Until it strikes you personally.
I hope the women will find a place to live (perhaps in a city, where there may be least the appearance of gov't protection) and they can rebuild their faith in an independent life.
You don't own it unless you can defend it.
Kudos for posting the NRA information. I've been shooting since I was 11 (Texas native...lol). First gun I shot was a rifle. The backfire almost knocked me down, but I've been hooked since. I encourage all women to purchase a gun (or two, or three), learn how to shoot it and clean it safely, and practice regularly at your local firing range. The NRA website is a great starting point and its associates are VERY informed and willing to assist.
Again, if it's the same story, some of the women were still having relationships with men in the village. The men weren't allowed to live there, but some of the women were having liaisons of various types with them. If I find the article I originally read I'll link it. So many of my old links are broken now.
Since we're talking shop here in some detail, let me make some plain talk comments.
First, it was extremely foolish for these women to create that all-female village in the first place. All that did was make them a target. An undefended and really indefensible target---given the apparent cultural climate of that country. Does anyone really believe that the MALE law enforcement/military in this country would put up with armed women shooting back at MALE attackers---some of whom might be police or solidiers? This sounds as likely to me as the Taliban tolerating armed women rising up in their midst to protect themselves.
I believe that the building of this village was as silly and naive as any woman (or group of women) in Afghanistan attempting to live free while continuing to live within that country.
This was NOT an example of divestment or sailing away in an ark. It was an example of trying to build something nice and safe for women while remaining in the middle of Hell. This does not work.
And this erroneous strategy stems from the erroneous idea that the problem is being caused by a few bad apples. No, the problem is that these collectives (Kenya, the Congo, Afghanistan, the African-American collective) are culturally rotten to the core when it comes to women's quality of life. These cultures cannot sustain a decent quality of life for women. The same way the modern African-American culture cannot sustain a decent quality of life at all.
To get on an ark is to get up and totally LEAVE the toxic, dangerous environment.
In the context of these particular women (and women in similar circumstances in other African countries and places like Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia), getting on an ark would mean leaving these countries altogether and moving to the West where the widely, publicly accepted level of brutality with their patriarchy is much, much less than in these other places.
Again, "away" means AWAY. For real. As in being AWAY from most other members of one's group.
In the "immigrant woman from the 3rd world" context, "away" does not mean living within an ethnic enclave within the West. For example, living within Turkish enclaves in Germany is why Turkish-German women are still subjected to so-called "honor killings" even while technically living within Germany. They never got away from the bulk of their toxic collective. They live within ethnic Turkish enclaves that have "no snitching" cultural policies about violence against women.
Getting away means actually being AWAY from most others of one's group. This automatically means living in the midst of other people, and making connections to these other people.
In our context "getting away" means living in non-Black communities. AND making connections to non-Blacks. AND making use of non-Black folks' lower levels of tolerance for crime and disorder. AND making use of non-Black folks' cultural tolerance for armed self-defense.
On a practical level, these last 2 steps mean: being willing to bring White law enforcement down on the heads of any AA miscreants that try to chase you to your new location; and being willing to explore various effective means of self-defense.
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
I miss Khadija and Faith are right. Sitting on a fence leaves you impaled.
@Deborah Your last comment made me run around in the circle saying "AH HA!" If you can't protect it, you don't own it. Now you need to write a book about that right there.
@Roslyn definitely pass the links along. i think this is a great case study of what NOT to do.
To some extent you have to wonder about the international community that made her a star and didn't also make moves to protect her.
I don't know. I don't think it was foolish of them to create an all women village. I think the problem was that they didn't consider the security issue. Maybe it should have been gated, with security....with a school on site.
If you want to play "footsie" with rapists and murderers or even a decent fellow, you have to "leave" the community to do it.
I had been thinking of something similar here in the US. We've got pretty serious discrimination laws, so I don't think women could legally do anything like that here. But, it's been an idea, I've been thinking about.
A sustainable community...WITH SECURITY. There are little pockets of interesting stories dying to be put together, don't you think?
I've read of one story where residents couldn't get a large chain grocery or department store to come to their small city. So, the community built its own and now the residents are owners of it and its quite profitable.
I've read other stories where communities have chipped in to acquire the services of police or security...just for their community. One of my favorites...a community that hired its own doctor. This guy makes house calls. He's paid by the community.
All of these are American stories. I would have to dig up the links, but I don't really need them anymore. The stories alone make you think of what you can do when you put your mind and money to it.
The government wasn't involved in any of these examples. In each case, resources had to be paid in by the residents of the community.
Interesting...
This was a very interesting article!
@Khadija
"Does anyone really believe that the MALE law enforcement/military in this country would put up with armed women shooting back at MALE attackers"
Excellent point!
What concerns me about this "all women's villiage" is the implication that all or most men are evil. In my opinion, that's counterproductive. I say this because women are at times culprits in the degredation of other women.
In the Wonder Woman comics, wonder woman's island was a safe haven for the Amazons. However, although their homeland was created by the Greek pantheon and isolated, the Amazons were fierce warriors that trained constantly in warfare since birth. Lesson: women-only villages need not only allies but weapons and classes in martial arts.
@LorMarie I didn't see the all-women's village as an indictment that all men are all evil. It seemed more like protest - female rape victims were abandoned by their communities as being defouled so they decided to create a place where they would still have value. I'm assuming here that they would also have received flack/disdain from the "good men" of their community for being "ruined." These good men/bad women were of no use to these women.
**
Now the women of the village were naive. But, still wow. With hardwork, vision and passion that woman established an entire village. I'm sorry that the village's status is shaky right now, but I guarantee you the fact of its existence inspired and mentally freed others to dream as well. So, I don't think we've heard the last of this type of village.
**
I just realized how much this talk of divestment reminds me of immigration and middle class black/white flight. Basically the option is only available to the people with resources to flee. And everyone else is left behind to rot. Look, I don't believe you can say "go to hell!" to the rest of the world and believe that you will be able to live in paradise. Taking care of your safety and well being is understandable and wise, but complete abandonment of others is not.
@LorMarie
"What concerns me about this “all women’s villiage” is the implication that all or most men are evil."
I see what you're saying, but I think their situation is unique. I think they were seriously trying to survive the best way they knew how. I think the article said these were homeless rape victims?
Someone was telling me about some place in Africa where men were raping small girls...the younger the better, because they believed sleeping with a virgin could cure AIDS.
I don't know much about the area these women came from...but, if that's my environment, I'd probably think it safer to keep a great distance from anything with a Y chromosome. What a story...
"I’d probably think it safer to keep a great distance from anything with a Y chromosome."
See this is where we part. This is where I part with a BUNCH of my readers. The men in my life have always held and continue to hold protective roles. I'm not giving that up. I'm happy to have them in my life. That's what is so horrifying about these predators. That's not my reality.
@Gem2001
It's not my reality, either. Growing up...everyone I knew was married and seemed settled and boring. In my tiny bubble. I grew up in the house with my parents. So, did they, and so did their parents. There was no indication that these weren't safe havens...not perfect havens by no means.
I considered my father to be really my protector until I got married. Now, my husband...whether I acknowledge I need it or not, plays a similar role.
So, to have to be protected FROM the men that were around me, uncles, cousins, fathers, husbands...would be totally foreign for me.
My husband and I considered adopting years ago and went through the home study process and training. I was surprised to find out that in our area, they were looking for single mothers. Why? They had some children that they could not place in homes with adult males.
The children had dealt with such trauma, they didn't trust adult males. Attempting to even have them fostered in two parent homes didn't even work well.
One child mentioned, whose story I can not forget would purposely wet herself, because the only way she could keep her stepfather off her was to constantly smell like urine. When placed in homes with two foster parents, she returned to that habit as a defensive mechanism...and eventually was placed with a single woman.
It's not my reality. I'll never really understand it. But, I sympathize greatly.
Gina, I hear what you're saying and generally agree. But it seems for these women of the all-women village, none of the "good" men stepped up to help them when they were discarded as rape victims, and none of the "good" men seem to be stepping up to defend them now. Based on the systemic and cultural prejudice against rape victims in these women's geographical area, it might be hard for them to trust any man of their geographical area when the women know the attitudes these men likely hold against rape victims and against women making themselves independent in any real way from men (they can't even get their local police to protect them from one man with a gun!). These women would likely trust men who come from outside than even the so-called "good" men of their area who they know could turn on them at any time without risk of retribution (or even the smallest of negative consequences).
I was shocked, but not surprised, to hear about the interesting story about the female village. I don't think I saw where the village is located.
The establishment of the single sex village was a necessary, and seemingly the only, solution to the problem of being cast out for being raped. In this case there were no "good" men. Men have to stop pretending, and women stop believing, that it's enough that they protect their "own" and change the institutionalization of patriarchy which benefits all men.
If these women were attacked by other men, their own men would probably retaliate by raping the other village's women. Women are just nameless chattel, barter between men, just like the Old Testament.
Evidently, women in Africa are powerless against male predation, otherwise why can't they stop the rape of young girls as a cure for AIDS or genital mutilation?
Perhaps another village could set up its own institutions: police and fire protection, courts, medical care with aid from abroad. Wells could be dug, sanitation provided, agriculture cultivated.
But given that, men would probably make war on it.
I am sad to hear that this has happened to the women who formed this village. It is difficult to say what they could have or should have done because I am sure they did everything that was humanly in their power. Concerning security, weapons, martial arts, etc. based on what I saw of their situation such things were not available to them. They were pretty much on their own, and the village as it was was the only option left to them.
The only way I could see this current attack on them being prevented is if an outside donor was willing to pay to move them completely out of the region, with their concent of course. That is move them to a place where their needs in terms of protection under a legal system could be secured. Whether that was in Kenya or somewhere else where they could be give refugee status.
@Khadija: "Does anyone really believe that the MALE law enforcement/military in this country would put up with armed women shooting back at MALE attackers—some of whom might be police or soldiers?"
Don't be silly, Khadija. If any Western police force faced the Kenyan situation -- an armed man threatening to kill all the women in an apartment building, dormitory (whatever) of 30 or 40 women and girls -- the male attacker would be dead or in custody within an hour.
Unlike Africa generally, and Kenya in particular, this behavior would not be tolerated. Remember, Kenya is a country that only recently passed laws against forcing 13 year olds into "marriage" with old men. We call this "rape" in the West.
@Big Bill:
I'll resist the urge to respond to your comment with snark. I was referring to the naive expectation that the mostly (or all) MALE Kenyan military/police would come to the aid of armed women shooting back at MALE attackers---especially since some of the male attackers might be off-duty members of the military/police themselves.
It's similar to expecting the all-male Taliban to come to the aid of armed women who are shooting back at male attackers---especially since some of the male attackers might be Taliban members themselves.
Your misinterpretation of the statement was probably caused by my use of "this" instead of saying "that" country. I was referring to Kenya.
The second part of your comment where you state, "Unlike Africa generally, and Kenya in particular, this behavior would not be tolerated. Remember, Kenya is a country that only recently passed laws against forcing 13 year olds into “marriage” with old men. We call this “rape” in the West" is an example of what I was getting at.
As demonstrated by the example you gave, many third world cultures have no interest whatsoever in protecting women and girls. This is why any woman from these sorts of 3rd world countries who wants to breathe free needs to flee to the West.
I will also note that the widespread African-American attitudes about women and girls are as backwards and dangerous as those in the 3rd world. Similar to the example you gave, many African-Americans ALSO think that it's okay for an old man to have (forced or otherwise) sexual relations with a 13 year old girl. African-Americans ALSO believe that it doesn't really "count" as rape when Black girls or women are the victims.
Good day.