OP-EDS: Is Vera Sidika A Feminist Icon
For those of you who have read this article in print you’ll notice a fundamental difference. A mistake that we have attempted to correct. We at UP magazine are respectful of any one person’s gender or neutrality with that regard to that matter. We apologize to Neo Musangi for the unfortunate oversight that led to them being referenced to as a woman whereas they are gender neutral and would prefer to be referred to using neutral pronouns such as They/Themselves/Neo. Any inconvenience caused is highly regretted.
The gossip columns blaze with her name at an incredible rate. Love her or hate her there is a simple truth to Vera Sidika: she is simply everywhere. There are perceptions of Kenyan women that are changing daily and for better or worse, Ms. Sidika has found herself within the eye of the social hurricane. Her blanket impact on the Nairobi socialite scene raises some major queries about women, public image and accessibility of celebrity. Perhaps most crucially what role does she play for Kenyan women? Sure Vera Sidika is an icon of the internet age, but is she a feminist icon? We pitted two outspoken feminists against each other in a duel of words to hammer out whether Vera Sidika is a stalwart of the Nairobi feminist movement or if she’s simply an ass with a big ass.
In one corner we have Abigail Arunga; feminist thinker, author of Akello and acclaimed blogger. She’ll be arguing that the efforts of Ms. Sidika don’t just fall short of feminist ideals but may actually be pulling them backwards in time. Across the ring in the other corner we have Neo Musangi; genderqueer feminist of unknown origin and with no particular direction. They are all in favor of Vera Sidika as a feminist icon and will argue that she’s an integral part of progress for Kenyan women.
YES - Neo Musangi
Whatever it is that Vera Sidika represents in Kenya is not exactly, and immediately, digestible. She is beautiful and perhaps even desirable. Vera is the kind of migraine that refuses to let the body-policing brigade sleep. She destabilizes everything that the church, the conservative Women’s Rights crew and a warped 8-4-4 training has taught us about the art and craft of Misshood and respectability. Like her friend-turned-foe, Huddah Monroe and Corazon Kwamboka (like Vera, this too is from Ghafla!), Vera’s body ‘belongs deeply to herself’ even if only sometimes. Whether she is modifying her body or posting pictures of her nude-self on Instagram, Vera continues to push the boundaries of what we think we know. She shocks and shakes a lot of the systems that are meant to keep a woman in ‘her place’. In a context that is so disturbingly, and oppressively, defined by the rules of patriarchy, Vera is a sort of Robin Hood character: outlawed but lovable, extreme but desirable, free but contained. The kind of woman that the system would hate to love, but loves all the same. This is not at all new to us, and especially to feminists.
In a span of slightly over two years, Vera has become a household name. Surely what’s not to like about that if she enjoys it? Vera is making money and living large. Weave-wearing women, men, drag queens and cross-dressers would do anything to wear Vera’s KES. 45,000 hair. She is the kind of glamorous sex worker who knows that in a Capitalist world, one’s body is a valuable good. She understands what the market needs and uses it to her advantage. Now that is a good thing. Provided Vera continues to present herself as available, but expensive; monied, but needy; and, heterosexual but adventurous, she will continue to be successful.
So, go on Vera and choose. Inject as much silicone into your body as you can afford, lighten your skin till you look like a guava and post as many nude pictures as you want because this life right here is yours.
NO - Abigail Arunga
Every time Vera Sidika breathes and her protruding twins jiggle, Instagram is on fire. Dislike her not for her complexion – when it changes, it becomes a trending topic; to a frightening extent. She doesn’t speak out often but when she does, it is meaninglessly discussed for weeks after – we’re still quoting the price of her skin lightening operations whenever bleaching comes up in conversation.
She is our country’s very own, very bootylicious, borderline useless Kim Kardashian. And she knows what Kim K knows – the more you do, the more you add, the more people hate, the more money in the bank you get. Is she a feminist?
It’s a dubious proposition at best. Perhaps she is in complete support of women getting paid equally and against women getting stripped in the middle of town in broad or otherwise daylight. Since she doesn’t say it, and doesn’t take a stand on any of it; it honestly doesn’t matter. In the meantime she’ll just smile, stay quiet and look pretty (if not mildly artificial); after all isn’t that women are supposed to do?
A feminist icon? I think not. What rights of women is she advocating for, that we don’t have? Or need better implementation of? Women have a voice; it just isn’t Sidika’s. We are still fighting battles (land, who owns your uterus, etc.) and her presence won’t impact the outcome. It’s hard to be a feminist icon if you have zero impact on the feminist cause.
When I think feminist icon, I think of suffragettes and Maya Angelou, Wangari Maathai and Damaris Ayodo. When I think girl with fantastic assets who makes for great window dressing, I think Vera Sidika. It’s not the same thing.
