Interview Thursday: "It is my belief that men must be involved in protecting women’s rights..." - NDQ

This is a rare opportunity of interviewing another powerful member of blogsville that I admire greatly. Nigeria Drama Queen is our invincilble guest this Thursday and I am delighted she shared with us.
NDQ is Nigerian-American woman, an extrovert, a drama-queen, a realist and an optimist. She is a hopeful human rights lawyer which we kind of share in common. A potential poet and a wanna-be writer. She is a woman of many parts that believes so much in women's human rights. It's a pleasure known this smart individual. Her blog won the "Best Literary Blog" in Naija Bloggers Award 2009

What has being your experience so far on blogshere/blogsville? Blogsville has been like a family to me. I have learned from the different perspectives and opinions on here. I have laughed out loud and pushed back tears reading some posts. There are some bloggers I feel I know, solely based on their words, and many that have been there for me when I needed it. Of course there has been the occasional drama, and then the great absence felt when loved bloggers leave. I tried to leave but I couldn’t!

I could recall how touched and disturbed you were over a story on Female Genital Mutilation you posted, how can we correct this menace in how society? Female Circumcision is a cause dear to my heart-I wrote my thesis on it. Since that post, my opinions have changed a little. I know for one that laws alone cannot stop female circumcision as a lot of parents often perform this procedure believing that they are fulfilling cultural/religious obligations and/or acting in the best interest of the child. Here are some things I believe have proven to be helpful in the downward trend of this practice that is now being seen in some countries:
*Empowering women: when women are empowered economically, socially and financially, they will move away from harmful practices like female circumcision. An example of this is the Greenbelt Movement founded by Nobel Prize Winner Wangari Maathai where women in Kenya have been empowered by owning communal land. Female circumcision has dropped to a low of about 35% in Kenya. *Alternative rites of initiation: Female circumcision represents a rite of passage in many societies. Alternative rites like Kenya’s “Ntanira na Mugambo” (Circumcision through Words) where girls are taught about hygiene, sex, etc during their coming out ceremonies have been effective. *Male participation: It is my belief that men must be involved in protecting women’s rights, if there will ever be lasting change. In Senegal for instance, the organization TOSTAN has been successful in reducing female circumcision rates largely because they involve men in their dialogues and processes. *Education: I believe that as this new generation becomes increasingly educated (especially through technology) a lot of the traditionally harmful practices against women will cease. This has been the case in Egypt for instance where after school programs that educate young girls on circumcision have led several hundreds of families to renounce the practice. Female circumcision will stop from the grassroots: one woman, one family and one nation at a time.

Is it a wise choice for women to stay in an abusive relationship? Personally, I would NEVER stay in a relationship where a man so much as lays a finger on me. I have seen abusive relationships ultimately end with the death of the woman. I sympathize with women in such relationships though, because it is an entirely different perspective being in that situation.

What do you think women in abusive relationship should do? The answer to this question changes depending on the individual and the situation- especially where children are involved. I have an aunt who stayed in a once physically abusive relationship, and all is bliss now (according to her at least). I also have a friend who almost lost her baby because people told her it would be a disgrace to get divorced (even though her husband was beating her while she was pregnant). Personally, I would run faster than you could say Jack, but to each his/her own.

Given the moment and the opportunity, what will you rather blog about? My blog is collage of randomness: from poetry to prose to politics. This gives me the opportunity to blog about whatever I choose at any time. Each post is a confession . . . a snippet of how I feel at a particular time. I haven’t felt the need to go with a particular theme right now, but maybe in the future I will.

Economic recession, global warming, do you think these issues are overrated?

To the extent that news reports on economic recession, global warming, etc cease to be informative and start to thrive on fear, yes I believe they are overrated. While the economic recession in the US is worse than it has been since the 80s, it is definitely not as bad as the great depression…contrary to some news reports. 

Is globalization the cause of economic recession and global warming?

I don’t believe globalization is the sole cause of global warming but it definitely fuels it. I remember reading somewhere that “Globalization is to global warming what warm water in the Gulf of Mexico waters was to Hurricane Katrina.” For instance, there are the definite carbon footprints that come with the travel that is necessary for global trade. New technologies are also definitely responsible for an increase in carbon emissions, etc.

Could there ever be an end to all the negative issues in the world? Could there be an end to all the negative issues in the world? Maybe. Will there be an end to all the negative issues in the world? Probably not.

What do you think need be done to have a peaceful world?

Good leaders. Period!