Shameful and Sexist, KEWOTA Condemns the Misuse of Women’s Bodies in Social Media Propaganda

   By John Kariuki The Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) has issued a blistering condemnation of the sexist and degrading caricatures currently circulating on social media. These doctored images exploit women’s bodies without consent, reducing them to tools of propaganda in a manner that is both shameful and inhumane.The explicit caricatures, often depicting half-naked women, are purportedly being used to criticize the alleged abductions linked to state actions. However, instead of addressing the issues at hand, these images perpetuate a culture of disrespect, sexism, and objectification. They trivialize the dignity of women and expose them to public ridicule, all while ignoring the consent and rights of those depicted.KEWOTA CEO Benter Opande minced no words in her criticism:> “This vile act of circulating images that demean and exploit women is an attack on our dignity and humanity. Women’s bodies are not tools for political games or vendettas. Such behavior is repugnant, sexist, and completely unacceptable.”These images do more than insult women; they poison society by normalizing disrespect. Children are being exposed to this filth, consuming content that teaches them to associate women with negativity, objectification, and ridicule. This is a moral crisis that demands urgent action.KEWOTA further criticized the creators and disseminators of these caricatures for their cowardice and malice. Hiding behind anonymity, they have unleashed a wave of digital violence targeting women, a move that speaks volumes about their lack of decency and humanity.“It is abhorrent that in this day and age, women are still being reduced to objects of mockery and political tools. This is not freedom of expression; it’s an abuse of freedom,” Opande asserted.KEWOTA is demanding immediate intervention from authorities, social media platforms, and civil society organizations to curb this online misogyny. They are also calling for legal action against the perpetrators of this digital violence.The association emphasized that women must not always be associated with negativity and scapegoated for societal frustrations. Instead, they should be accorded the respect and dignity they deserve as equal members of society.“This behavior reflects the worst of our society. Women’s rights are human rights, and we will not stand idly by while they are trampled upon,” Opande concluded.This is a call to action for every Kenyan to reject these dehumanizing acts and stand against the normalization of sexism and digital violence. Women deserve better, and it is high time society stops weaponizing their bodies for personal or political gain.  Read More