young and elderly women are seated in their beautiful outfits with marching colors of their choice. Some were smiling, mingling with friends they haven't seen in a while as the panelists shared their experiences as feminists, women, the challenges they face in their field of work and how they have been able to overcome them.
This was the 15th edition of the feminist lecture series; "Herstory," organized by the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA). Under the theme "The Whole Debate: Society's Expectation of Women," a powerhouse panel of leaders gathered to share their journeys of overcoming judgment, religious constraints, and the pressure to be "picture perfect."
The panelists reminded the participants that women are "Whole", bold, brilliant, and beyond society's boxes.
Moderated by Nobel Laureate and GPFA Founder Leymah Gbowee, the discussion featured Cornelia W. Kruah, Minister of Youth and Sports; Grace Hawa Weah (popularly known as Master Queen); and Professor Zuleka Randall Woods. Together, they delved into the complex ways women are judged for their clothes, their lifestyles, and their choices.
Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines
The conversation took a poignant turn when Madam Gbowee asked Minister Kruah a central question: "What was your 'stringing' moment?"
Minister Kruah reflected on her entry into the male-dominated world of politics. "I went to St. Theresa Covenant and when you are in a group of females, you tend to constantly check on one another," she explained.
She noted that entering politics shifted her circle toward male friendships, which unexpectedly gave her a sense of freedom. "In that space, I started at the top unstrung. I didn't have to think about 'stringing' myself around them. As I grew comfortable, I stopped caring who else I was around because I was already used to being free. I 'unstrung' because there was no one there trying to pull my strings."
Madam Gbowee added her own hard-won wisdom, recalling how she handled public scrutiny after receiving a presidential honor. "If you intend to have a relationship with anyone and they write anything about you, don't read it," she advised. She spoke of the strength it takes to ignore the commentary: "Na na I kpaku" (Now I am firm). "You show them what you are made of so that they aren't pulling your strings."
Sandra Dorbor, Executive Director of the Liberia Safe Space Initiative (LSSI), shared her experience with the "whole" of societal expectations. When she used social media to reveal her story of sexual abuse, she lost 80% of her circle.
"Everyone in my circle supported the perpetrator," Dorbor said. Madam Gbowee noted that the pressure to maintain the image of a "good girl" from a "good family" often silences victims, protecting the family name at the expense of the woman's soul.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Margaret questioned the judgment based on appearance: "Does what I wear really tell people who I am? Naomi spoke on the judgment faced by married women: "Don't 'string' for them. Just be yourself."
Amelia discussed the radical act of reclaiming labels: "I identify as a feminist... [when they label me] I've been answering, 'Yes, I am a prostitute and I don't want to be it anymore'--owning the narrative to disarm the judge.
As the session drew to a close, the focus shifted to the balance between personal freedom, culture, and religion. Cecelia G. Clarke urged women not to remain in toxic environments for the sake of appearances. "I needed to give a voice to the undermining and the stereotyping," she said.
Madam Gbowee concluded with a powerful reminder that feminism and healthy relationships are not at odds. "You can be a strong feminist and an independent woman in any relationship," she said. "The way you will respect me is as the queen I am."
The conversation was honest and powerful! The message was clear: "we are not fragments of society's expectations, "We are Whole"! What "hole" has society tried to place in your whole?
The 15th Herstory series ended not just with applause, but with a renewed sense of agency for the women in attendance--a reminder that the only strings worth holding are the ones they choose for themselves.
