Things That Make Me Go Hmmmm

I'm admittedly a bad feminist.  The book of the same title by Roxane Gaye spoke to me on a spiritual level.  In fact, when I realized I left it on a place I was temporarily devastated and will 200% be purchasing another had copy.  I openly carry my feminism but sometimes I do wonder why I don't notice and/or take offense at things that other feminists do.

For example, a few weeks ago, I read a letter to the editor about the fact that Buddy Hield receives a great deal of recognition in comparison to Jonquel Jones although both of them are draft prospects for the National Basketball Association - one just happens to be a woman.  When I saw the letter to the editor, I thought to myself shit you're right, but I didn't give it much thought after that.

However, recently, I was riding to Eight Mile Rock (it should be noted that both of them are from the Western End of Grand Bahama) and noticed that in addition to Buddy's huge billboard there was another smaller sign about another male athlete because he received a medal at Carifta.  Now, I don't know if this sign had always been there and I just noticed or what but that sign really had me like WTF?  I don't want to minimize his accomplishments at all because I can't run for more than 2 seconds without getting winded, however people literally get medals in Carifta every year so I really had to question why his accomplishments warranted a sign, yet Jonquel who is now actually playing in the WNBA doesn't have one.

I know I shouldn't be shocked that she has no billboard seeing as The Bahamas is one of the biggest patriarchal societies there is, in fact when it comes to women's rights, we're on par with middle Eastern countries - but for some reason her lack of recognition grinds my gears.  I guess the fact that we're such a sport loving society made me think that equality in achievement would be a thing.  I understand that the WNBA isn't as big or as watched as the NBA, but shit, how many of us can say that we have the ability to even make it to our company's night leagues?  I'll wait. 

I read about her in the local papers often, the fact that she was drafted made it to the local news, and yet someone with a Carifta medal has a sign and she does not.  Small injustices like this makes me think about the upcoming gender equality referendum.  It makes me wonder what the chances of the bills passing are.  Because if we can't equally celebrate someone just because of their gender, who's to say that the majority of people here care about their rights?