General Gender Observations

First and foremost, I love being a woman. Despite sexism, machismo, and the ever-ruling patriarchy, I am happy to be a woman. This does not mean that I do not acknowledge the challenges that come with having two breasts and a vagina. I have studied gender in school and continue to follow women’s political issues around the world. I know all about the horror and heartache that some women experience and the assumptions that result from merely possessing female anatomy. These challenges vary in intensity from culture to culture.

For instance, I did not expect making friends near my age in my site to be so difficult. Plenty of men want to be my friend but usually, even if married or taken, their intentions are clear. Furthermore, I know my reputation might suffer from friendships with only males in my site despite everyone in my site thinking that I am married to another male Peace Corps volunteer here. Maybe its paranoia but I cannot risk it. I have almost 2 years left and a lot of hope left to do more, to integrate more, and to learn more. It is clear that the Madonna complex is strong here and to work successfully within this culture, I submit. I do something that I tried so hard my entire life to not, I care about what others think. A lot. It matters here, especially for a woman. If my reputation slips, so will my influence.

However, it is a different story for my two male site-mates. Women and men pursue their friendships. Even when the women make their sexual intentions clear or they are surrounded by women. No one second guesses their quality of character. Their influence does not weaken hell it might even strengthen in the eyes of other men. I joke that they are called “El Gringo Divino” meaning "The Divine White Man" in English. Their male anatomy provides them with entitlements. Que Suerte! (What luck!)  

To a feminist desperately wanting equality for all, gender imbalance is obvious here. One day each week, I teach a health class at an at-risk youth center. I love it there. The kids, the energy, and the program are all energizing. From my time there, I cannot help but notice the stark difference between the boys and girls when it comes to answering my questions, participating, even reading aloud. The boys nearly knock each other over trying to answer first and sometimes even argue over who gets to read which sentence out loud. On the other hand, the girls are another story. If boys are present and I ask a girl a direct question, usually she retreats, looks down then around at her class mates before looking back at me and refusing to speak. When only in a group of girls, they are slightly more outgoing, more secure but still reluctant and shy. Sadly, I doubt the girls grow out of it. Proof of this is my experience working with both adult males and females here.  Males usually ask and answer questions, some even challenge me. Women, usually need to be encouraged or their answers to be guided.

Cutest feminist I know, Risa!

Regardless, I still prefer womanhood even in the Peace Corps. I get to talk about intimate health issues with other women easily and I get to inspire young girls to say their opinions out loud. I am an example to the young girls in my classes who shy away from answering questions in front of boys that they too have a voice. I am beyond grateful to be a representation of that and even more so to encourage it in the girls and women here. It makes all the challenges here both gender related or not totally worth it.