“As a coloured woman my ancestors would be proud.”
These were the words of author Shana Fife following the launch of her book, Ougat: From a Hoe Into a Housewife and Then Some.
Invited by Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Senior Living Spaces Cluster (SLSC) to discuss some of the themes she explores in the book with senior Maties, the Fife grapples with issues ranging from gender-based violence to sex, teenage pregnancy, abuse, parenting and more.
She was born on the Cape Flats, and in her book she reflects on her upbringing, being “rejected”, called “ougat” and sometimes “not being understood” by her parents.
Fife tells her story as a young woman of colour who fell pregnant at age 20 and the shame she felt at the time. She reflects on a journey that saw her stereotyped as a woman and one abused by men.
Fife initially started writing about her experiences in a blog “just to get it out”.
“People were tired of me complaining about my abusive relationships, having another child, not getting a job, and I understood that.
“So I didn’t want to burden them anymore, and I also just needed to get it out, so I started to blog in 2014,” she recalled.
The main idea behind the blog was to pen her emotions down as she was ‘‘lonely” and “sad,” but she decided to set her journey down in a book, which was published last year as a means to share her journey with other women.
“I had to do it – share it with other women. Not that my story is unique, but I think it is important to get the message out there because many other women are suffering just as I did.”
People being abused must speak up, but be “careful of their abusers” before doing so, Fife implored.
“I think everyone knows what is best. An abused person does not always have a choice, sometimes they can’t leave because the abuser is the caretaker or provider of the household, so I understand. But if someone is ready to leave – speak out. But also have a plan in place because abusers are dangerous when you try to leave.”
Now, especially in Women’s Month, women should know and celebrate their worth, Fife advised.
“It’s important for women to know that they are valuable before friends, before men and before anything else, because we are already enough. As women we don’t need anyone’s validation, no matter what type of women we are, whether married, single, gay, transgender or whatsoever.”
Tendani Tshauambea, a student leader and organiser of the event, said SLSC deemed it necessary to host Fife, as her book is “relevant, fresh and meaningful” to students in the community.
“The topics discussed were very relevant experiences that women deal with currently. It was so powerful how every woman and man present audience could relate to one or more parts of Fife’s story,” said Jaina Lalla a postgraduate science student at SU.
