[ad_1]
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been criticized for remarks about female footballers having “flat chests” and suggesting that they would not be attractive candidates for marriage.
Hassan made the comments at a ceremony Sunday to celebrate the victory of a men’s national team in a regional football championship, where, ironically, she also called for better funding for women’s sport.
“For those with flat chests, you might think they are men and not women,” she said at Sunday’s event.
“And if you look at their faces, you might wonder… because if you want to get married, you want someone who is attractive, a woman who has the qualities that you want.”
She added that for footballers “these qualities have disappeared”.
Hassan, who took office in March after the sudden death of her predecessor John Magafuli, is the only female current sitting head of state in Africa alongside Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, whose role is mainly ceremonial.
“Today they make us proud as a nation when they bring trophies to the country, but if you look at their life in the future, when the legs are tired from playing, when they don’t have health to play, what life are they living? ” she said.
“The life of marriage is like a dream to them. Because even if one of you here brings them home as a wife, your mother will ask if it is a woman or a other man. “
Hassan’s comments have been widely derided online.
“President @SuluhuSamia’s comment on female footballers is a humiliation for all women,” said Catherine Ruge, leader of the women’s wing of the Chadema opposition party and former MP.
“All women deserve respect.”
Maria Sarungi, founder of civil society group Change Tanzania, echoed this view.
“So everyone who applauds a woman [email protected] disparages female soccer players for having “flat chests” and thus lacking the attractive features necessary for marriage. You must be proud @AWLNetwork, ”she tweeted, referring to the African Women Leaders Network.
Source link
