On Wednesday, popular sex and relationships blogger Dami Olonisakin (known as Oloni) launched a Twitter thread revealing womens’ horror stories of instances when they have carried or hidden weapons for partners and love interests. Much of the discourse around knife crime has had a targeted focus on young men and boys and despite the more than 20 women who were victims of London knife crime this year, the trend of treating gang violence as a masculine issue is showing no signs of disappearing. In a statement to VoL Oloni said: ” I received nearly 50 stories and although i know it doesn’t completely represent how women get involved in gang culture, i felt as though it showed how some women enter into the wrong relationships and land themselves into jail. I felt extremely worried that these women had made such scary decisions, but was also glad that it brought awareness and that they were able to get themselves out of those positions.”
Oloni’s thread has prompted a much-needed conversation on protecting women from the perils of gang culture and there’s even talk of a possible documentary based on the hashtag, #WomenandGangs.
***Currently in talks with a platform who are interested in making a short doc on #WomenAndGangs – If you have a story or remember a time where a friend of yours was involved in a similar scenario in this thread, please DM or email me for more info simplyoloni@gmail.com RT RT ***
— Oloni (@Oloni) October 17, 2018
Check out snippets of the thread below.
When the topic of knife/gun crime has come up in the past, there’s a huge focus on how gang culture and crime affects men & highlighting the consequences they face when they get involved. But not enough is ever said about young women who are affected & get roped into it.
— Oloni (@Oloni) October 16, 2018
Now, there are various reasons it’s done. I’m not completely sure, but through the research I did I noticed there was a trend which was tied with love interests.
— Oloni (@Oloni) October 16, 2018
WOMEN have you ever regretted being involved in something like this, such as hiding a knife or drugs for a guy you were dating?
Why did you do it? Did you KNOW what you were hiding?
MY DM’s are open and each story shared will be 100% ANONYMOUS by default!
— Oloni (@Oloni) October 16, 2018
3. ‘If you love me, you’ll do it.’ #WomenAndGangs pic.twitter.com/WREYJC5bVZ
— Oloni (@Oloni) October 16, 2018
5. #WomenAndGangs – This goes beyond ruining your own life, but the people who need you MOST.
Your child. pic.twitter.com/ojKEZe3wOX
— Oloni (@Oloni) October 16, 2018
10. #WomenAndGangs Never fall for this. A guy who loves you, won’t risk YOUR life. It’s not love, it’s madness and him taking advantage of the emotions you have for him. pic.twitter.com/oDyp4tucBP
— Oloni (@Oloni) October 16, 2018
14. #WomenAndGangs Notice how he tried to make out like his own ‘friends’ couldn’t be trusted. Smh pic.twitter.com/YZj8aAvo7Y
— Oloni (@Oloni) October 17, 2018
To read the rest of the thread and keep up with Oloni’s other content follow @Oloni on Twitter or visit her blog https://simplyoloni.com/
Words by Memuna Konteh | Subbing by Maria Campuzano
Photograph by Sofia Sforza on Unsplash