home archive rss

I Studied Abroad in Africa!

So.

You go to one of those fabulously elitist schools where everyone talks about privilege, classism, racism, sexism, etc. as if they don't practice it in real life. But in order to really see the world, they decide to go somewhere where they can understand what their privilege looks like. So they choose AFRICA! Yay! A whole continent dedicated to helping white people understand what it means to be poor and undeveloped.

This is for all you fabulous biddies who decided that Africa was the right place for you. There's nothing like good 'ole exotification to fill up your time while basking in the hot Saharan sun, wearing your "traditional" African clothes, eating "weird" foods and taking as many photos of black children as possible. You go, Gurl with lots of privilege! This is dedicated to you.



to submit, go to: gurlgoestoafrica.tumblr.com/submit or email gurlgoestoafrica@gmail.com

Implicit Sexism

Hi,

I was wondering why you only show women in your blog. Is it not true that their are also men (of all colors) who trivialize Africa and its diversity? Indeed, it was rich men who colonized most of Africa by degrading men and women of all colors. Also, by only showing women, you re-enforce the gender stereotypes that women are silly and stupid. Please expand your blog so it includes people of all genders. 

Hey Gurls!

We’ve gotten this question a number of times. You’re right in saying that there are men (and women) of all colors who trivialize Africa and it’s wide and rich diversity. We are really against the idea that “men’s volunteering/work” is more serious or legitimate than “women’s volunteering/work”. It is a pretty awful coincidence that the majority of the photos on this blog are of women. In the past, we have posted pictures of men. In terms of the description and name of this blog, we really meant to say “rich people from the Global North” but seriously, no one would read it if that were the title.

Thanks for reading!

African Love

  1. pretentiousilliterate said: Love you and everything you do, but it’s prob not a “coincidence” that more women end up on your blog - it’s that people who submit to you share the biases you describe, and thus are more likely to submit ladies’ pics. But maybe this post will help!
  2. 100yearsoflolitude reblogged this from gurlgoestoafrica and added:
    India the most colonialist Americans I...part. I think partially because they had a lot...
  3. Ms. Mcdougal submitted this to gurlgoestoafrica
link 12 16/02/2012 — 3 months ago