Praise Otito Obanya: Feminism Is Not About Chores: That's What We Keep Getting Wrong

Praise Otito Obanya's timely intervention is a welcome respite from the never-ending debates about who does what in the home. The 27-year-old writer's recent piece lays bare the elephant in the room: feminism is not about chores, and it's time we stopped reducing it to that. When we get bogged down in who cooks, who pays the bills, and who bathes the children, we're missing the point entirely.

The conversation around feminism often gets hijacked by trivialities that have nothing to do with the movement's core principles. We're distracted by who does what in a relationship, and in the process, we sideline the deeper issues of power, respect, and accountability. This is not to say that these conversations are entirely irrelevant, but they're a red herring, a way to avoid the real meat of the issue. When we focus on who does what, we're not addressing the systemic inequalities that feminism seeks to dismantle.

Feminism is often mischaracterised as a struggle for dominance, a zero-sum game where one side wins and the other loses. This couldn't be further from the truth. Feminism is about removing barriers that exist solely because of gender, not about enforcing a universal template for relationships. Equality does not require uniformity; it requires fairness. As Obanya astutely points out, equality is not about who does what, but about how people are treated.

When we reduce feminism to who does what, we overlook an important truth: gender-based expectations harm everyone. These expectations are not just about women; they're about men too, and the restrictions placed on them because of societal norms. By framing feminism as a conflict between men and women, we're perpetuating a false narrative that overlooks the real issue: systemic inequality. As Obanya notes, this misunderstanding has led to suspicion and disdain towards those who identify as feminists.

Growing up in Nigeria, Obanya was familiar with the reaction of suspicion and disdain towards feminism. It was a puzzling experience, especially when her father, who was the first person to describe her in terms associated with feminism, did so with clear admiration. This moment stayed with Obanya as she grew older and began to understand activism and feminism more deeply. It's a powerful reminder that feminism is not just about women; it's about society as a whole.

Obanya's intervention is a call to action, a reminder that feminism is not just about who does what, but about fairness, dignity, and equality. It's time we stopped reducing feminism to trivialities and started addressing the real issues. By doing so, we can create a more just and equitable society for all. As Obanya so eloquently puts it, feminism acknowledges that society needs the contributions of all genders. It's time we start valuing those contributions equally.

As we move forward, it's essential that we have a nuanced conversation about feminism. We need to move beyond the trivialities and focus on the real issues. We need to recognize that feminism is not just about women's rights, but about human rights. By doing so, we can create a more just and equitable society for all. As Obanya so powerfully puts it, feminism is not about enforcing a universal template for relationships; it's about fairness, dignity, and equality. It's time we start valuing those things.

Feminism will not be reduced to a trivial debate about who does what in a home. It's time we took the conversation to a higher level.