Let’s not cover up social problems with tokenism

Mugambi Nandi (@MugambiNandi)

Kenya: The dictionary defines “tokenism” as the practice of making only a perfunctory or symbolic gesture towards the accomplishment of a goal.

Tokenism happens around us all the time. Even the best amongst us will, at one time or another, have engaged in some form of tokenism. Tokenism gives a heart-warming and gratifying feeling, the “feel good” factor, to both the givers and the recipients of it.

One might even say that it soothes the soul. Who among us has not made that enormous contribution towards the fight against HIV and Aids by adorning a red ribbon? Or against cancer, by wearing a pink one? The argument about awareness and solidarity is sound, but what is the true value of token sympathy for a cause, shown once a year on the relevant “world day”?

Think of countries that create appearances of racial integration, gender parity, and minority representation and protection and you are thinking of tokenism.

Through tokenism, America and Europe would have us believe that racism is long dead and buried. On the continent — even though many South Africans claim never to have been to Africa ­— the black economic empowerment policy has proved to be nothing more than tokenism. In real terms, the policy has benefited only a few privileged black persons.

The privileged few give menial jobs and handouts to their not-so-lucky brothers and sisters, creating an illusion of how well the policy is working. Meanwhile, poverty bites hard, its pangs hidden from the world by good old tokenism.

Closer home, think of how domestic workers in many households are treated like slaves throughout the year. On Christmas Day they are allowed a token bite of the turkey and other delicacies otherwise reserved for the family. I know a man who pays his employees poorly but houses, feeds and clothes them. The poor souls are beholden to him without realising that they are the worse for it. This tokenism makes them fail to see that other opportunities exist outside their comfort zone.

On the political arena, think of yourself as the Member for Parliament — for argument’s sake — for Mwingi North. The place is semi-arid and requires interventions such as water supply and irrigation projects. Instead of working towards such projects, you epitomise magnanimity, benevolence and compassion, all giftwrapped together, through annual relief food supplies to your beloved constituents.

For more than a quarter of a century you feed a man instead of teaching him how to catch the fish. That, sir, is tokenism. (Disclaimer: Any resemblance of this story to acts of any living person is purely coincidental.)

Then there is the token patriotism that flows freely through the veins of the political class. For instance, we have all heard voluble arguments against the commercial branding (but not the monetary sponsorship) of national stadia. Words like “national heritage”, “historical monuments” and “national pride” have been bandied around by the same folk who milk the country dry without batting an eyelid. Of course we have not forgotten the now muffled noises from the National Assembly about the need to abolish the Senate in order to contain the public wage bill.

How thoughtful and considerate! What more patriotism can we ask for?  Yet we must not deceive ourselves that only the political class and governments engage in tokenism. The corporate world too has use for it. Look no farther than the token appointment of women to male-dominated corporate boards where they, in many cases, are not allowed to do anything more than add colour and a tender voice to the proceedings. Perhaps tokenism helps numb our collective conscience so that we can live happily ever after, but let us not cover up social problems with it. Above all, let us not be blinded by it.

The writer is a lawyer