NADIA PORTILLO

CARNIVAL IS Woman: A Her-story. The idea came to me as I listened to an interview with author Annabelle Hirsch on her book titled A History of Women in 101 Objects, the newest addition to the history-through-things genre. I imagined how cool it would be if a Trini Carnival anthology listed the objects that make and shape the female experience. What things would make the list? My mind went to a BarbieWorld-esque 8K coloured daydream filled with glittery, jewel-toned wonderfulness.

When I snapped out of it, it occurred to me that for all its potential to offer an escape from reality, Carnival can take a turn for the worst real fast. What would be the sources of the darker Carnival artefacts? If curated from news stories via analytics, the main things might reflect the media’s focus on violent crimes and road traffic accidents around this time.

While these are very serious issues to be addressed, less frequent stories point to other “more mundane” risks women face throughout the Carnival season, with Accident & Emergency units having the data: sunburns, including severe scalp and back burns, foot and toe injuries, falls, cuts, bruises, and other traumas to the body.

I am no historian nor writer, so I will leave the Carnival coffee table book to someone else. As the mother of a GenZ Trini woman, however, I’d like to share some tips women young and young-at-heart can use to keep themselves safe (these last few days of Carnival).

Here’s my Carnival-safety-tips-through-things list:

Everyday carry (EDC) bag

To take part in Carnival is no small feat; likewise, day-to-day living in Trinidad isn’t a walk in the park either. With studies showing commuters spend hundreds of hours annually in traffic, it is wise for people to carefully consider their needs and that of those in their care, once they leave the house.

For women, EDC items typically are smartphone, purse with cash and cards, water bottle, umbrella, hand sanitiser, and a personal alarm device. Around Carnival time, it can be even more important to plan ahead, not only for a “rainy day” but also for a “sunny day.” What does that mean?

A sunny day is a good opportunity that presents itself unexpectedly. It could be a friend who calls you up during lunch at work and announces complimentary tickets to an after-work fete. It could be winning a Carnival costume in a raffle. Whatever the situation, whether good or not so good, an EDC bag stocked specifically for Carnival needs can make or break how the year starts for you.

One may want to consider having female urination devices which make it possible to stand while relieving oneself. There are reusable silicone ones and single-use disposable paper or plastic versions. EDC bags are highly personal, and individuals may customise their bags based on their specific requirements and lifestyle (single, mother/caregiver, physical and medical needs).

A simple search engine query will return with many checklist articles by so-called carnivalist bloggers and festival veterans. Additionally