Change

 

Everyone at the school was anxious. A new principal had arrived, and that meant change. The fear of the unknown had gripped everyone. Like life, life at the school seemed bleak.

Beside this uncertainty, disappointment also reared its face around the teachers' hearts. It was ridiculous that nobody from Kisumu had been chosen for the principal's position. The new principal was from Thika, which made the Kisumu staff feel undermined and disrespected. Moreover, the method the head office used to introduce the principal had not served him well. The chief finance officer had arrived with him, blazing fire and declaring how lazy the Kisumu staff was. The new principal appeared to adopt this subjective view, as his first speech to the staff he barely knew was full of threats.

Two weeks of holiday  passed, and a new semester begun.

Ochieng made sure he arrived early at school that morning. He had missed his cherished morning workout just to be on time. Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain. Mr. Maingi was already in and had signed the attendance register. Anyone who signed after him was late. Ochieng was not a person to notice such things. While knowing well the significance of keeping time at work, lateness was something trifle that warranted no to minimal reaction from the management. He took the book and confidently penned his signature below the principal's, claiming he had reached school at eight in the morning. He then opened his office, sat at his desk, and started marking exams.

Marking exams was the worst experience in Ochieng's teaching career. He didn't enjoy any bit of it. He hated having to think for the students, that is, trying to validate their wrong answers. Being human and subject to human failings, he hated seeing students fail. Thus, he took his time to go through their papers and think like them. This process was cumbersome and mentally tortured him.

 Striking the right balance among right, almost right, and wrong answers was a decision he faced in every question of the hundreds of papers he marked. But this time, he had to do it. The deadline for submitting the results had long passed, and the new principal, who seemed to be a lover of diligence, was already on their case.

 For a moment, Ochieng wondered whether he would have time for the long lunches outside the school premises, which had become his norm. He believed stepping out of that work environment was beneficial to his motivation at work and health.

 Ochieng's colleagues had finished marking their papers. They were in the process of creating student mark sheets and finally submitting the results to the exams office. Most of them had arrived late that morning, only to be surprised to see Mr. Maingi's signature on the attendance register.

 It was their concern about this occurrence that aroused Ochieng's interest. He had never cared that the principal had signed the register, locking out others. It was a non-issue for him. However, now that his colleagues seemed alarmed, his interest in the matter grew.

 However, Ochieng had no time for idle chatter. His focus was on beating his Friday deadline for submitting the exam results. He put his head down and continued marking.

 Only Lydia's arrival caught his attention. He liked her both as a colleague and as a woman. She was simple, which aligned well with his value for simplicity. Besides, Lydia was attractive - tall and slim, with a small waist that he often imagined taking hold of.

 

But Ochieng was a cautious man. He feared women and kept his distance as much as he could.

 Lydia's reaction to Mr. Maingi's signature was sarcastic. "I hope these measures will increase enrollment," she retorted and walked away.

As she approached Ochieng's office, she checked to see if he was in. Ochieng rose up to meet her and embraced her tightly. She seemed more beautiful this morning - the short holiday had done her good. He held her so tight for a few minutes, unwilling to let go. Once he stopped leaning on her shoulders, he held her waist and looked into her eyes.

 Lydia blushed, pulled away, and started laughing to hide her shyness. Unwilling to push things further, Ochieng exchanged greetings with her casually and let her make her way to her own office.

 Mr. Maingi had called for a meeting with the top management. He was then to meet the entire staff after this initial meeting. The management meeting was long and drawn-out, lasting the whole morning until noon while the staff waited outside.

 "What could they be talking about for so long?" asked Doram, anxious about the prolonged discussion.

 Ochieng had grown tired of marking exams. He had gone for a plate of "chapo and beans" and was back in his office. He also couldn't help worrying about that meeting. It reminded him of his time at Maranda High, when the boarding master and deputy principal would lock prefects in similarly long meetings. When the prefects came out of those meetings, they were like wasps that had sensed danger.

Ochieng hoped this would not be the case here.

 Precisely two minutes past noon, the entire staff settled into Lecture Room 8. Everyone seemed anxious. They all settled in the back row, leaving only Ochieng and Jane, the exams secretary, in the front row.

 Ochieng jokingly dared his colleagues to come occupy the front seats, but they vehemently opposed the idea. The room became uncomfortably quiet as the staff waited for the top management officers and the principal to arrive.

 When Jesse arrived and settled on a seat reserved for management, Ochieng felt his heart skip a beat. Jesse had often avoided such seats, opting to sit with the staff in most meetings. This change in position signified a possible change in heart.

 The principal then walked in, and the meeting began.

The Visitor

 

David woke up quite late this morning - 7:31 AM to be precise. The weather was cold, and he would have loved staying in bed. Unfortunately, life is life; one has to get up and face it.

 His love for physical exercise was one thing that often amazed others. He showed no greater commitment to anything in this world than his dedication to exercise. A few months ago, he had rejected a good opportunity that promised to double his earnings on the basis that he wouldn't have time for workouts. Nothing was more valuable to him than the work-life balance that Kisumu offered. At his age, he knew that only a substantial offer would lure him away from Kisumu.

 The only thing on his mind now was doing two hundred reverse lunges and coupling them with several other calisthenic techniques. He cleared space for the workout, removed his vest, and wore only his shorts. David walked confidently to the center of the space, placed his hands on his waist, and started doing reverse lunges. Gosh, this guy loved activities that made him sweat and breathe heavily. He believed that sweating was crucial to health, considering it an important way of removing waste from the body. Thus, he pitied those who passed their days without breaking a single drop of sweat.

 David loved his body and was proud of himself. The fact that he wasn't potbellied at his age was one of his greatest achievements. A few weeks ago, a girl he had met had guessed that he was twenty-eight. The thought of it flattered him so much that he stupidly grinned to himself. He was strong and lean, an amazing feat for an African man in his late thirties.

An hour and a half later, David finished his workout. He walked into the bathroom to take a shower. He loved water too; he bathed twice a day, a habit that made him the subject of ridicule from his brother Jacob, and Benedict, his colleague at work and his roommate a week ago during the CBET training.

Benedict had declared that he was too clean to be married. "Now, if you keep clean the way you do, what's the need for a woman in your life? You have to be untidy for a woman to find a place to fit in your life," Benedict had proclaimed.

 David responded meekly that he had reached a point in life where marriage was out of the question. It was a dream that eluded him.

 Water scarcity had hit Nairobi. Being aware of this fact and keen to maintain a good reputation as a visitor, David ensured he used the minimum possible amount of water. He didn't want his host begrudging him for wasting this resource that was increasingly becoming valuable all over the world.

He half-filled the basin with water and began to bathe, implementing the "dry" bathing skills he had learned in the water-deprived Maranda High School, where five cups of water were enough to wash the whole body. Even though soap irritated his eyes, he had to tolerate it until he scrubbed his whole body and then rinsed it off.

Twenty minutes later, he walked out of the bathroom feeling clean and fresh. He passed by his mattress and reached for a clean T-shirt on the simple African-style sofa. This T-shirt held cherished memories of his grandmother, Alfreda. The front side had a large mural of Alfreda printed on it. The back side had a verse printed on it, which he couldn't remember at the moment.

He had worn this T-shirt during his grandma's funeral. That day was fateful as he gave his last regards to one of the few people he had ever loved wholeheartedly. Now he was using this T-shirt to blot water from his well-toned body.

David put on a vest, short, pair of trousers, and a sweater, then sat on the sofa. It was a cold Monday morning, and this reality struck him. Willy, his cousin, had rushed out of the room to open his clothing business, and Donna had gone out to meet a client who needed her hair done.

David realized that his time as a guest was up. He had to move out the next morning and start facing life again.

 

Revisiting Gender Discussions: Embracing the Biological Perspective

 

The discussions surrounding gender should become increasingly complex since the focus on social constructions stifles conflicting perspectives and evolving ideologies. Despite neglecting conflicting perspectives, one prevailing issue emerges—role confusion.

Over the years, the feminist movement has championed the cause of gender equality, advocating for women's rights and dismantling archaic stereotypes. Yet, despite strides made in education, employment, and social recognition, a significant portion of women seems hesitant to embrace roles historically attributed to men. There remains a palpable reluctance among women to ascend to roles traditionally associated with men, particularly that of the provider or breadwinner.

This phenomenon raises profound questions about the prevailing social construction perspective on gender. It signals that there could be more to the explanation of this gender phenomenon. Probably, it is time to seriously consider the biological perspective of gender too.

Exploring the Predominance of Social Construction Over Biology:

At the heart of the gender discourse lies a fundamental oversight—the dismissal of biology's profound influence on human existence. The prevailing gender narrative often prioritizes social construction over biology, relegating the latter to a secondary role. However, such a perspective fails to acknowledge the significant association between biology and societal structures.

Firstly, all living entities, including human beings, originate from biology. Without biology, man, the basic unit and the very fabric of society would cease to exist. Additionally, human behavior, ingrained in biological influences like hormones, shapes the creation of societal norms and constructs. Thus, to prioritize social construction over biology is to overlook the very essence of existence itself.

Secondly, human behavior, meticulously crafted by millennia of evolutionary adaptation, is inherently geared towards survival. Biology serves as the guiding force behind our actions, orchestrating individual and collective endeavors aimed at ensuring survival and perpetuation. From primal instincts to complex social dynamics, biology permeates every facet of human existence, directing behavior and shaping societal paradigms.

Embracing Biological Realities:

Central to the discourse on gender are the observable disparities between male and female characteristics. These differences, rooted in biology, underscore distinct roles and functionalities within society. Just as different machines are meticulously designed for specific tasks, so too are human beings endowed with innate characteristics tailored to fulfill distinct roles. Dismissing these disparities as mere social constructs undermines biological realities that we can see.

Furthermore, the chromosomal disparities between males (XY) and females (XX) offer profound insights into the divergence of behavioral patterns and characteristics. The genetic information encoded within these different chromosomal pairs shapes not only different physical attributes but also behavioral tendencies. To disregard the significance of chromosomal disparities is to overlook a fundamental aspect of human diversity and functionality.

Understanding Gender Roles:

To delve deeper into the discussion of gender roles, it is essential to recognize the evolutionary basis behind the division of labor between males and females. Throughout human history, survival has been contingent upon cooperation and specialization. Males, equipped with physical prowess and spatial reasoning skills honed through evolution, often assumed roles involving hunting, gathering, and defense. Females, on the other hand, with their reproductive capabilities and nurturing instincts, gravitated towards roles centered on caregiving, child-rearing, and community cohesion.

While societal advancements have blurred the lines between traditional gender roles, the underlying biological predispositions continue to exert a profound influence on human behavior. Despite the strides made towards gender equality, studies indicate that innate biological differences persist, shaping occupational preferences, leadership styles, and interpersonal dynamics.

Navigating the Complexities of Gender Identity:

In recent years, discussions surrounding gender identity have expanded beyond the binary constructs of male and female, embracing a more nuanced understanding of gender diversity. The recognition of transgender, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals underscores the fluidity of gender expression and challenges rigid societal norms.

From a biological perspective, the diversity of gender identities can be attributed to a myriad of factors, including genetic, hormonal, and neurological variations. Recent research suggests that biological influences, such as prenatal hormone exposure and genetic predispositions, contribute to the development of gender identity. Moreover, neurobiological studies have revealed structural and functional differences in the brains of transgender individuals, further highlighting the complex interplay between biology and gender identity.

Championing a Holistic Perspective:

In conclusion, the prevailing narrative on gender must move beyond the social construction theory of gender. While acknowledging the pivotal role of societal constructs, it is imperative to recognize the profound influence of biology on human behavior and societal dynamics. The persistent reluctance among women to embrace roles traditionally associated with men underscores the inadequacies of perspectives that prioritize social constructs over biological realities.

As we navigate the difficult terrain of gender discourse, let us heed the call to embrace a holistic perspective—one that acknowledges the symbiotic relationship between social constructs and biological imperatives. Only by reconciling these seemingly divergent perspectives can we pave the way for a more nuanced understanding of gender dynamics and foster genuine progress towards gender equality.