Female Activists condemn “Stingy Women Association” joke

Female Activists in Jos, the capital of Plateau State say “Stingy Women Association of Nigeria,” a joking trend on social media, started to counter to its masculine version, “Stingy Men Association of Nigeria” legitimizes prostitution.

Both hashtags started during the last yuletide, with some single male social media users jokingly announcing the suspension of relationships to save costs. Most females responded to the jokes with the threats of not accepting a comeback after the festivities.

The male hashtag was popularized in the second week of January, mostly by comedians. A badge with a fist held up appeared on most related jokes. Its feminine counter appeared shortly later, with a badge showing crossed female thighs.

A supposed motto on the badge says “Do not open”. The male joking motto says “Let me see what I can do” on some posts, and “Don’t give shishi”, meaning, never give a penny, on others.

The female counter, Mrs. Violet Adama, a Social Activist says shows self-disrespect by women.

“This goes a long way to show how women are degraded and to think that what the society and we (women) think that our power to getting what we want lies in between our thighs,” Violet wrote on Facebook.

According to Violet said, a woman is not “food” unless she choses to be.

“Please as a woman, know your worth, gain your economic freedom and be independent so you don’t have to belong to the “SWAN”,” said Violet, the Chief Executive Officer of Zishiya Empowerment Foundation, a local foundation empowering disadvantaged groups and providing psychological therapy for drug dependers.

Another Activist, Miss Mildred Bako wrote, “We have been working tirelessly to change the narrative that women are subjects and not objects but unfortunately, a good number of you women prefer being objects.

“Kindly remember that, the value of a woman is not dependent on the the subservient value that a man ascribes to her,” said Mildred, a child rights Activist.

A male commentator, Mr. Damba Dang also wrote that the female counter to the male joke suggests that “Money resides with the men and sex resides with the women.

“So when men withhold their money, then women will in turn withhold sex.

“No wonder, those who have such beliefs spent all their resources trying to look seductive without developing their capacity.”

Many commentators however believe the trend is a joke and should never be taken seriously. Still, “Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious,” says English actor, writer, and filmmaker, Peter Ustinov. American comic actor and writer, Sid Caesar also believes comedy is based on truth. “You take the truth and you put a little curlicue at the end,” he says in an old write-up. 

Dorothy Parker, an American poet, writer, critic, and satirist has also been quoted as saying Wit has truth in it; wise-cracking is simply calisthenics with words.