Dear readers

Depending on who is using it, the word feminism has been given numerous meanings; for some, feminists are women who have waged war against men, for others, they are men haters, and for extremists, they are so anti- men, that their sexuality is suspicious.

In Rwanda, feminists are mostly women who come together to pursue common objectives or solve common challenges without necessarily involving men.

In this week’s edition of Women Today, we try to find out the extent of feminism in Rwanda, its course and whether or not it has had an impact in the search for gender equality. 

Do you get painful sores every time you shave? If so, in our health column, Dr Rachna explains the causes of irritation after shaving and gives a few tips on how to curb the problem.

Do you have a pair of shoes that you do not fancy as much anymore but feel they still have some energy in them? Or perhaps you have a pair you bought just weeks ago but feel the need to get creative with them? We have a solution – the Kitenge shoe. Even though it is not actually called that, it is a trend that has been spotted all over, from the streets of Kigali to the feet of superstars like Beyonce. Our fashion page this week has tips on how you can turn those plain flats that have been abandoned in your closet into fashion hits – and all you need is some Kitenge material, a pair of scissors and some glue!

Flip through for more interesting stories and feel free to send us comments or any questions you may have.

Have a great weekend.