Several Ghanians Think It's a Compliment to Call Women Fat (Obolo) While They're Walking on The Streets of Ghana

Saturday, 20 May 2023

By: TB Obwoge

Today another Ghanaian man said that it's a compliment to scream out fat mommy, big biggie, biggie mommy or fat momma towards me and other women when walking down the streets.

In Ghana street harassment is horrible but unlike in the United States it doesn't get you killed.

Women are body shamed all over the world, the way a woman looks determines how she's going to be treated. Women have been refused employment or promotions at their current jobs because of their appearances.

While people are allowed to make their choices within their personal relationships, the way someone looks should not earn them negative attention. Note it's always the most marginalized communities that mistreat others.

Body shaming is so common in Black American and Black African societies, especially among women. Woman to woman body shaming has happened all too often in communities where the people are of the same ethnicities.

I've found that even in South Korea there is an issue with body shaming. So bad so that the bullying has led to suicides.

Bullying in South Korea and suicides was what led to the glass doors being added to train stations. You can not have access to the tracks, as there is a large glass wall blocking people from getting to the train-tracks. Once the train arrives, the doors on the train open, then the glass doors on the platform open.

In Kenya I've written 3 times where women not only joined men in body shaming other women. The women outnumbered the men in doing the body shaming of one of their own.

Accra, Ghana when you step out your door there are going to be names hurled in your direction. Especially more if you look different than others. From those with skin conditions like vitiligo, to albinism to being fat.

People think it's polite to public shame you, pointing, laughing, taking photos of you. Even though when you travel you're warned several times about taking photos of Ghanaians, they don't care about that when it comes to a visitor. Once I was asked to take a photo with a delivery driver, hundreds of times I've caught people snapping my photo.

Never done in a kind way either, always laughing pointing and insulting. Once I was having a meal the man took my photo, the man I was with had his back to them. I was angered but used to it.

Some days when you have severe anxiety and depression going outside is difficult to do. I once found myself only going out at night, when I did so I was always with another person who would see how badly I was treated.

There is no medical term "SUPER OBESE", also I've watched this show he's speaking of these women are overweight. No they are not morbidly obese, they are overweight and they can dance. A person who is morbidly obese usually can't, he also called them curvy women.

In Ghana a woman with a large butt and huge breasts is overweight but they don't get called fat or obese. This is what he's speaking of, yet someone who isn't curvy is always showered with insults. This is what many Ghanians call being polite, shouting out white woman (when you're not white at all) or other nasty names for darker skinned people.

This is where culture is always giving rudeness an excuse. The larger women I've met in Ghana don't like the names either but they all know nothing will stop them. These mostly all men won't ever leave women alone in Ghana. Especially as they're now killing women on a daily basis.

This was incorrect as it was 5 women within 3 weeks, killed in the most brutal ways imaginable in Ghana by their boyfriends or husbands.

Thank you for reading 🙏🏽 Please consider buying a coffee for Lacey's House efforts in Gender Equality & Children's Rights

©️TB Obwoge 2023 All Rights Reserved