Hospital Bed Confessions
A Month of Unexpected Journeys
This month’s newsletter comes to you straight from the glamorous... emergency room at Klinique Hospital! Yep, you read that right. I have had quite the adventure this month and despite my unexpected appearance at the hospital, I knew I had to get this newsletter to you, no matter what! Perhaps the most shocking news I received this month is my diagnosis of this condition I never even knew existed until now. Apparently, my body has decided it’s a one-person brewery, fermenting carbs and sugars into alcohol all on its own. But don’t worry, I’m fine and in good spirits (pun intended)!
In this newsletter, you will get a scoop of the Latest Debates in our community, learn more about the Auto-Brewery Syndrome, get an earful of What Women Wish and also share in some interesting Community News. So, buckle up, because I’m taking you along on this unexpected journey.
Community Scoop
“You can't fight for all humans, because not all humans are worth fighting for.” This is a statement that's been making the rounds in our community, sparking quite the debate! It seems like it could apply to the current cabinet, social media abusers, or those responsible for the crises in Congo and Gaza. But what about people exploring their gender identities beyond societal norms, especially those marginalized to some degree? Yes, no, maybe?
My train of thought stems from a heated debate that happened a few weeks ago on our WhatsApp Community page, and I thought it would be the perfect "scoop" for you all. Conversations are at our core, and this one really hits home. Should we debate whether individuals expressing their preference for certain gender, sexuality, culture, and identity deserve human rights? Or is being true to oneself something we should celebrate and support? Let me know your thoughts. I'll be on the lookout ;)
Women's Health Finds
Speaking of finding and defining ourselves, did you know you could get critically intoxicated without ever touching a drop of alcohol? Yep, it sounds wild, but it's called Auto-Brewery Syndrome. I stumbled upon it in a video on TikTok Med School (because, of course, TikTok has everything!), of the story of a woman who had battled this rare diagnosis for years. It’s a reminder that sometimes our bodies have their own quirks and secrets.
In fact, this hits close to home for me because, as I mentioned earlier, I found myself in the emergency room this month with this very condition. Imagine my surprise when I learned that my body was brewing its own alcohol! It was a surreal experience, but it also served as a powerful reminder of how complex and unpredictable our bodies can be. This journey has been an eye-opener, teaching me to be more attuned to my health and to the unique ways our bodies can express themselves.
It’s a humbling experience to realize that even something as seemingly unusual as Auto-Brewery Syndrome can happen to anyone. It’s a testament to the importance of understanding and embracing the unique aspects of our bodies and health. So, while we continue to explore and define who we are, let’s also remember to pay attention to the subtle signs our bodies give us and seek the care and support we need. After all, understanding ourselves, both inside and out, is a crucial part of the journey to self-discovery and well-being.
What Women Wish
If I had a dollar for every time a successful woman was accused of "sleeping her way to the top," I could probably buy Nigeria! From Hilda Baci to Kamala Harris, the "male benevolence" narrative continues to overshadow women's achievements. It’s frustrating and undermines women's capabilities, feeding into imposter syndrome. But guess what? This is not a safe space for imposter syndrome—it’s time to kick it out of your vocabulary because it’s not real!
This section is a love letter to every Nigerian Feminist, on and off social media. The recent waves of hate, violence, and baffling support for abusers fueled by misogyny are enough to make anyone want to throw in the towel. But as a community, we stand with you. We will continue to speak up against gender-based violence and systemic oppression. Remember, we are an unstoppable force, and our voices will always demand the change we wish to see in the world.
In Case You Missed It
Here’s what we’ve been up to in our community!
Our Book Lovers had an amazing time with Aiwanose Odafen, author of '“We Were Girls Once” at the book review at Laterna Book Store.
Our Speaking Club Cohort have successfully completed the first month of their public speaking training!
This Saturday, we will be hosting an Impromptu Speech Contest and you are invited to participate as a Judge.
Her Story Movie Lovers are set to host their very first Webinar on Female
Representation in Nigerian Cinema and the Cultural Narrative with Ebunoluwa Oluwarinu on August 17. Sign up here.
Opportunities Corner
Article Feature of The Month
In The Wake of Progress by Wisdom Olobayo
When Australian women were granted suffrage, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian women (and men) were for a long time exempted; six decades to be exact. In South Africa, black women (and men) were not granted suffrage until 1993, sixty years after women of European descent were granted their right to vote in the same country. Click for more.
We Want to Know
Annnnnnnnd, it’s a wrap!
It's been quite the journey, from unexpected adventures in the ER to deep dives into thought-provoking community discussions and beyond. We hope you enjoyed the ride and found something to ponder, laugh at, or learn from. We are already looking forward to bringing you more stories, insights, and fun updates next month. So, dear gentle reader, until we meet again in the pages of our next edition, take care, stay curious, and keep exploring the unique quirks that make us all who we are. See you next month!
Written by Oreoluwa Ojo & TamaraTari Alakiri
Edited by Oreoluwa Ojo
One thing we do at #herstory is have great and impactful conversations!
You can, and should fight for all marginalized individuals. You cannot nitpick human rights.
I cannot be chanting black lives matter, then go home and brutalize my wife, that means I am only interested in black male lives. Similarly I cannot be fervently supporting gender equality and then go on to support discrimination of gay or bisexual women. That means I am only interested in rights of cisgender straight women.
While I can understand the constraint our social norms pose on supporting some of these issues, I find that the best solution is that which is proposed by moral relativism. Which holds that people do, in fact, disagree fundamentally about what is moral, without passing any evaluative or normative judgments about this disagreement. In such disagreements, nobody is objectively right or wrong, and because nobody is right or wrong, everyone ought to tolerate the behavior of others even when large disagreements about morality exist.
Now what about rapists, pedophiles and serial killers? Do we tolerate them too?
No, of course not!
As a disciple of Nietzsche, here is where I introduce yet another philosophical solution called consequentialism. Which holds that the morality of an action (or omission to act) depends solely on its consequences or the intended outcome of said action. In this view, any action which causes human suffering or fails to alleviate it, is immoral. Pedophiles, rapists and serial killers all cause human suffering ipso facto their actions are immoral. Bisexual and gay women & men do not in their regular daily existence seek to cause harm, hence their actions are not immoral and if then subjected to discrimination, we ought to fight for their rights.