Beyond the hashtag: No quick fixes for the lack of equality in women’s rights

Twitter and other social media forums have been blowing up these past few weeks with support for the kidnapped girls in Nigeria and speaking out against the misogyny behind the recent murders in Santa Barbara, California. While the #BringBackOurGirls and #YesAllWomen campaigns are encouraging dialogue, they’re the product of a much larger issue at hand; the continuing global struggle for women’s rights and equality.

Boko Haram probably didn’t expect to garner global media attention or encourage the massive outpouring of support on social media when they kidnapped almost 300 girls. With little action taken against them despite more than 500 deadly attacks in their repertoire over the past five years, including the abduction of a group of Christian girls last year who were forced into marriage and converted to Islam , April’s mass kidnapping was hardly out of character for the terrorist group. In fact, some groups are blaming the Nigerian government’s inaction regarding previous attacks as the impetus for this tragedy in Chibok.

Photo: Facebook/Bring Back Our Girls

The Nigerian government’s worrisome lack of response is testament to the little value Nigerian society places on its women and girls. However, the mass protests led by Nigerian women and the tidal wave of support on social media are confirmation that despite many obstacles, women’s voices in this country are starting to be heard. It is largely due to the numerous protests the women led, which grew in size and scope, that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration finally decided to accept the previously ignored international assistance offered to Nigeria to find the kidnapped girls. The influence of these women’s voices shows the potential for women to be more closely engaged in counter-terrorism efforts in Nigeria, and it is a reminder of the incredible importance of women’s civic participation and the ability to speak up and speak out.