INSULTS AND DEFAMATORY LANGUAGE TROUBLE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS.

 

By Nusra Shaaban

AT Mkokotoni Market in North  “A” Unguja, Zanzibar, daily life is shaped by the constant movement of buyers and sellers, the calls of traders, and the strong smell of fresh fish arriving from the sea.

Within this busy coastal economy, women play a vital role in sustaining local livelihoods by buying, selling, and distributing fish to surrounding communities.

Yet behind this active marketplace lies a less visible reality, one where some women traders face verbal abuse, insults, and attitudes that undermine their dignity and question their ability to succeed in business.

Among them is Khadija Muhammed Haji, a fish trader at Mkokotoni Market, whose experience reflects these ongoing challenges.

Khadija said  that in her daily business activities, she has often been forced to endure disrespectful remarks and insults from people who underestimate women’s ability to engage in business and achieve financial independence.

She added that despite the significant contribution women make to economic growth through small-scale trade, many still face challenges that go beyond financial constraints and market competition.

Khadija recalls one incident that deeply hurt her while she was selling fish, when a customer humiliated her by claiming that her fish were “bewitched” a statement that embarrassed her in front of other customers.

“On one occasion, a customer told me that my fish were bewitched and said I am a bad person and a curse to business. I felt very hurt by those words because they still linger in my mind,” said Khadija

According to World Bank international statistics (2022), women account for about one-third (33%) of business owners globally, yet they continue to face various social and economic challenges, including verbal abuse, defamation, and degrading language in their workplaces.

A report by UN Women (2004)  shows that  women account for more than 40 percent of small and medium enterprises worldwide, but many of them operate in unsafe environments that weaken them economically and socially.

According to a study conducted by Equality for Growth (EfG), about 31.6 percent of women traders in various markets in Tanzania reported experiencing insults, mockery, and degrading language while carrying out their business activities.

The study shows that 92.7 percent of women who experienced such incidents said the occurrences were repeated, while 97.9 percent said they had never reported the incidents to authorities due to fear, discouragement, or lack of trust in receiving help.

In Tanzania, women continue to be an important pillar in the small business sector, especially in markets for food, fish, fruits, and other daily consumer goods.

However, despite their contribution to family and national economic growth, they still face challenges of verbal abuse and defamation that affect them psychologically and reduce their motivation to do business.

In Zanzibar, especially in rural areas, many women engaged in business in various markets, including Mkokotoni fish market, Kinyasini market, and Mkwajuni market, have been complaining about increasing insults, mockery, and disrespectful language from some customers, fellow traders, and people around their working environments.

Speaking to the  Journalist of this feature, a fish trader at Mkokotoni market in North Unguja, Khadija Muhammed Haji, said she has often been forced to endure disrespectful remarks and insults from people who underestimate women’s ability to do business and achieve financial independence.

She added that despite the significant contribution of women to economic growth through business activities, many of them still face challenges that go beyond financial limitations and market competition.

Khadija recounted that while selling fish at the market, she once faced humiliation from a customer who claimed her fish were “bewitched,” a statement that deeply hurt and embarrassed her in front of other customers.

“On one occasion, a customer told me that my fish were bewitched and said I am a bad person and a curse to business. I felt very hurt by those words because they still linger in my mind,” said Khadija.

This situation not only affect their psychological well- being but also impact their business performance and reduces their motivation to continue striving to earn income for their families.

Every day, women are at the forefront of market trading activities, many waking up early to start their businesses in order to earn income to support their families.

However, behind these efforts, they still face various challenges such as abusive language, mockery, and accusations aimed at discouraging them or undermining their dignity in public.

Sabina Misala John, a banana trader at Kinyasini market, said she has often encountered insulting remarks from people who believe that a woman cannot succeed in business without relying on someone else.

According to Sabina, insults and defamation affect them mentally and even reduce their efficiency in business.

“When you start to succeed even a little, some people begin spreading false rumors about your life. Others insult you in front of customers, and that affects business,” said Sabina.

She added that She added that she often hears people say, “This woman is arrogant because her business is doing well,” remarks that hurt her deeply.

Hafsa Iddi Hashim, a spice trader at Mkwajuni market, said many people have become so accustomed to

abusive language that they consider it normal, especially in markets or crowded areas.

She said many assume it is just harmless jokes, “market behavior,” but in reality, these are words that harm women psychological.

She recounted that one day she argued with a customer over price, and the customer loudly told her, “That is why you are not married; how can any man marries you while you are a hooligan in the market?

She said the comment led people around to laugh at her.

She said such language lowers dignity of a woman market vendor can lead to lack of confedence and

hating herself. It also affect morals of children and young people who hear it repeatedly.

“As insults are increasingly treated as normal, society continues to lose the culture of respectful

communication,” said Hafsa.

She said society must understand that kind of words have great power to build or destroy a person, and

using respectful language helps create a better social environment even at the market places.

The head of Mkwajuni market, Abdallah Suleiman Makame, said the use of insult languages in the market is not directed at women only but affects different groups, including traders, customers, youth, and elders.

However, he said the major challenge is that the behavior has become normal to the point of being considered a part of the market environment.

“Many people believe it is just ‘market language’ and therefore do not give it the seriousness it deserves. This attitude allow insults to continue unchecked, despite the fact that they can affect dignity, damage

relationships, and create an unfriendly environment for traders and customers,” said Abdallah.

He added that although insults may be directed at anyone, it is not right to justify them as part of market culture.

Abdallah emphasized that women form the largest group of small-scale traders in these areas, and therefore they need a safe and respectful environment to conduct their businesses effectively.

He said the government has introduced various strategies to empower citizens economically through loans and special group support.

He explained that 10 percent of local government revenue is set aside for loans provided to women, youth, and people with disabilities to help them access capital and develop their businesses.

However, he noted that despite these empowerment efforts, women entrepreneurs still face challenges of insults and degrading language in markets, which can weaken their confidence and affect economic

progress.

He stressed the importance of eradicating such behavior  in the society and ensuring that markets

become safe and, respectful, place for all traders and customers regadless gender or age.

The Coordinator of VICOBA in Unguja, Catherine Marco Ifanda, said VICOBA groups have brought significant success to members, especially women, through solidarity and cooperation.

She said this unity has enabled members to educate their children, build houses, and become economically independent.

Relating this to the challenge of insults and defamation faced by women traders, Catherine said VICOBA groups have become an important source of psychological and social strength for women.

She explained that through education and solidarity built within these groups, women gain confidence to face insults, rumors, and discouraging remarks in their economic activities.

She emphasized that women’s economic empowerment must go hand in hand with efforts to eliminate stigma and abusive language so that they can fully participate in community and economic development.

Zanzibar Female Lawyers Association (ZAFELA) have been providing training on women’s rights and

advocating against all forms of gender- based violence, including verbal abuse occurring in workplaces and business environments.

Acting Director of the organization, Advocate Salma Omary Zenny, said verbal abuse inbusiness areas is one of the challenges that hinder women because it affects dignity, self- confidence, and their ability to fully participate in economic activities.

She said more efforts are needed to ensure that markets become safe spaces for every woman.

“Community education, enforcement of laws, and promoting respectful language are among the steps that can help reduce this problem,” said Salma.

She called on society to work together to end such behaviorand create a safe and respectful environment for women entrepreneurs.

Foum Haji Khatibu, the Economic and Entrepreneurship Officer of the North “A” Unguja Municipal Council, said the government is committed to empowering women in business through various support programs such as training and access to capital.

He noted that women continue to face challenges in markets, including verbal abuse, and urged the community to maintain respect and create a better environment for all people who engage themselves in the market activities.

“The challenge of insults and defamatory language against women entrepreneurs remains a major obstacle in their journey toward economic empowerment.” he said

He added that despite government and stakeholder efforts to support women economically, society must also change its attitudes and abandon practices of insults and verbal abuse that discourage them.

In summary insults and degrading language against women entrepreneurs remain a serious challenge that affects their confidence, mental well-being, and business performance.

Despite ongoing efforts by the government and various stakeholders to empower women economically through training and access to finance, these efforts can only be fully effective if society also changes its

attitudes.

Creating respectful, safe, and supportive market environments is essential for women to thrive in business and contribute fully to economic and national development.

THE END.