Men, Women, Girls, Mirrors, and the Rear — The Great Gender Divide

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but checking and shaking the rear is apparently a full-time spiritual practice for women. I’ve watched my girls grow up, and one thing stands firm (quite literally): the rear is a big deal. I mean, women could be running late for an emergency, but if there’s a mirror nearby—everything pauses. A quick turn, a tiny shake, and that quiet confirmation whisper: “Still there.”

Now, I’ve never seen this ritual performed by any man. Never. My sons walk past mirrors like they’re walls. Not a glance, not a wiggle. But my girls? Oh, they can’t resist. Whether brushing their teeth or brushing off nonsense, there’s always that moment of “rear affirmation.” I suspect it’s encoded in the X chromosome.

During our last house move, the gender mystery unfolded again. I was knee-deep in boxes, yelling directions like a construction foreman when—boom—the girls stopped mid-lift, mid-chaos, mid-breath… to check their reflections. Not their faces. The rear. Then came the synchronized mini-shake, like a Luhya wedding dance in slow motion. Even the aunties joined in—checking, turning, smiling. Meanwhile, the moving-truck guys stood frozen, jaws slack, probably wondering if they’d walked into a music video shoot.

Me? I just sighed. I don’t have much of a back to shake—thirty years on ARVs gave me what I call the “flat-screen edition.” But I still participate for cultural solidarity. You know, give it a polite sway, just so no one says I’m losing touch with my people.

But here’s what’s funny—and profound. Maybe this checking isn’t just about vanity. Maybe it’s about assurance, confidence, and ownership. Women have carried the world—literally on their backs—so maybe we just like to check that the foundation is still holding strong.

So yes, men and women may both look in mirrors, but women add rhythm, purpose, and a bit of theology to it. Until gender equity arrives fully, let’s just agree—men can keep their serious “mission faces,” and we’ll keep our “rear reflections.” After all, behind every strong woman… is a strong behind.