Passaris: Being called ‘shosh’ isn’t an insult but a symbol of strength

As the society continues to wrestle with stereotypes around ageing, Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has sparked conversation after saying that being called ‘shosh’ is not an insult.

‘Shosh’ is a colloquial term for grandmother, a term often used to mock older women.

Passaris said being called ‘shosh’ should be seen as a badge of honour and not mockery.

In a statement on X, Passaris, who is turning 61 years this month, said she embraces ageing with gratitude, confidence, and pride.

“Being called Shosh isn’t an insult. It means I’ve lived, loved, fought, and thrived through seasons many won’t reach,” she said.

Passaris contrasted the public perception of ageing between men and women, noting that men are often praised for growing older while women are mocked.

The legislator said she feels amazing at 61 and is thankful for every breath, describing old age as a blessing rather than a curse.

“Men get called Mzee and earn respect. Women get called shosh and get mocked. Let’s change that. Growing old is a blessing, not a curse. I turn 61 this month. I feel amazing, I look great, and I thank God for every breath. May you live long enough to say the same,” she added.

Passaris’s message adds to her long-standing advocacy for women’s empowerment, reminding society that ageing should be celebrated as a journey of wisdom, resilience, and grace.

Passaris ran for the women's representative for Nairobi County during the 2013 Kenyan general election and was also a candidate for the post of Mayor of Nairobi.

She is currently the Nairobi Women's Representative and has spoken about the community and human rights. She was re-elected in the 2022 general election.

In 2016, Passaris was awarded the influential women in business and government by CEO Global, South Africa, in 2009 UN-Habitat Business Awards by UN-Habitat and in 2008 she was awarded the Order of Grand Warrior (OGW) by former President Mwai Kibaki.

In August, Passaris revealed that she had to fight four types of mental health challenges during her childhood.

Passaris took to the floor of the House and narrated to her colleagues how she battled dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"I want to talk from a point of experience, being somebody who actually suffers many mental conditions. I'm not ashamed to say that when I was young, I suffered from some of these conditions," she said.

"I actually came to realise when I was much older as a parent that I was dyslexic, I had no idea until when my children were diagnosed with the condition, that's when I realised that I had it. First of all, my handwriting is bad, I can’t even read it," Passaris revealed.

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate with letters and words.

Passaris said she used to miss the conjugation - the variation of the form of a verb in an inflected language such as Latin, by which the voice, mood, tense, number and person are identified.