Everything from getting robbed and injured to getting typhoid fever my last two weeks. For me, this MFS has been both a personal journey as well as it has benefitted my studies and given me an incredible eye-opener to a whole different culture. To be honest, studying colorism has been a bit tricky, something I knew would be a difficult topic to discuss from the get-go. Some of my interviewees witnessed being teased in school for the color of their skin, received nicknames based on their skin complexion and overall, described that women with lighter skin color have it much easier in several settings.
At the same time, I learned that the revolution in Zanzibar and the unity of the people has, according to my observations and my interviews, led to colorism not being as palpable on the island archipelago as on the mainland of Tanzania.
My journey ends here for now, but I will definitely be back soon. Asante sana Zanzibar, you have changed me forever. My stay here in Stone Town is almost coming to an end.
Before coming here, I, like perhaps many others, assumed that I would be going to a country where gender inequality was highly prevalent. I also mentally prepared for the eventuality of males trying to hush me down, ignore my thoughts and undermine my ability as a woman and, worst case scenario, how I would behave when experiencing sexism or harassment without jeopardizing my own safety.
I believe these thoughts have developed because of a narrative that has always been presented to me about developing countries and how they are far behind when it comes to gender equality and how the Western world is advanced in this area. Instead, my prejudices have been challenged and many times, gotten a big slap in the face. In the second week of being here, I had a conversation with my Swahili teacher who is a male about gender inequality. We started talking about the subject when he told me about something interesting he had come to find out somewhere, which he found shocking and disturbing.
