Araweelo Essay
Nimo Mohamed
ENGL 2261-01
Creative Non-Fiction Writing
Professor Tracy Tuner
3/3/15
Araweelo: A Role Model for Somali Women
Like every culture Somalis also have folktales and mythology; my favorite one being Araweelo a Somali queen who fought for female rights. Araweelo was a queen in fifteen A.D. She was the first born of three daughters and natural heir to the throne. Unlike many rulers, Araweelo fought for female empowerment; she believed society should be based on matriarchy.
She was well- known to castrate male prisoners. Araweelo was eminent all over Africa, and it was said the Queen of Sheba sent gifts to her in the form of gold coins as a congratulatory gesture.
Araweelo was prevalent for defying gender roles. Before she became a queen, during the Buraan droughts, she and a group of women fetched water and hunted to prevent her town from migrating and to relieve starvation. During her reign, Araweelo's husband objected to her dominate role as the main source of income. He thought women should be restrict themselves to only domestic duties concerning the house and leave everything else to men. In response, Araweelo commanded that all women across the land leave their …show more content…
Growing up, she noticed that men were more often instigators, participators and conductors of war. When I was five years old I remember my older guy cousins would often come over to our house and play “Battleship”. At first I didn’t mind and wanted to join in, and maybe even play too. But they told me “Go play house, little girls don’t play war games.” I personally have been told countless times by family members and friends that women play a “certain” role, and we should just stick to it. In my eyes Araweelo did not only stand firmly besides her beliefs, but she played “Battleship” and won against the men! She fought for the liberation of women in a patriarchy society for the power of
ENGL 2261-01
Creative Non-Fiction Writing
Professor Tracy Tuner
3/3/15
Araweelo: A Role Model for Somali Women
Like every culture Somalis also have folktales and mythology; my favorite one being Araweelo a Somali queen who fought for female rights. Araweelo was a queen in fifteen A.D. She was the first born of three daughters and natural heir to the throne. Unlike many rulers, Araweelo fought for female empowerment; she believed society should be based on matriarchy.
She was well- known to castrate male prisoners. Araweelo was eminent all over Africa, and it was said the Queen of Sheba sent gifts to her in the form of gold coins as a congratulatory gesture.
Araweelo was prevalent for defying gender roles. Before she became a queen, during the Buraan droughts, she and a group of women fetched water and hunted to prevent her town from migrating and to relieve starvation. During her reign, Araweelo's husband objected to her dominate role as the main source of income. He thought women should be restrict themselves to only domestic duties concerning the house and leave everything else to men. In response, Araweelo commanded that all women across the land leave their …show more content…
Growing up, she noticed that men were more often instigators, participators and conductors of war. When I was five years old I remember my older guy cousins would often come over to our house and play “Battleship”. At first I didn’t mind and wanted to join in, and maybe even play too. But they told me “Go play house, little girls don’t play war games.” I personally have been told countless times by family members and friends that women play a “certain” role, and we should just stick to it. In my eyes Araweelo did not only stand firmly besides her beliefs, but she played “Battleship” and won against the men! She fought for the liberation of women in a patriarchy society for the power of