Free Women: Africa's Resource

Published on 7th March 2011

Born within the socialist movement in March 1911, the International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on 8th March has become a global reminder of women’s achievements and fight for women’s equality all over the world.

Over the last few decades, there has been a significant change in both women’s and society’s attitude about equality and emancipation. Women have taken up important positions in a variety of work fields. We now have, for example, female astronauts and prime ministers. Girls are pursuing education to higher levels. The upbringing of children is not only the duty of women anymore.

Although, due to traditional roles, women in sub-Sahara Africa won elections and political rights much later than in other parts of the world, recently, African women have made significant electoral gains at all levels of decision-making. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as President of Liberia is, perhaps, the most significant milestone for women at the highest levels of politics in Africa. Actually, although Sub-Sahara Africa is one of the world’s poorest regions, women’s representation in sub-Saharan countries’ legislatures is higher than that of many wealthier countries. This is still rising.

However, this movement towards more equality should not obscure the fact that women and men are still treated differently in certain fields. Women, for example, do not receive the same payment as men in certain fields. Globally, there is a worrying difference between women’s and men’s education, health and violence. 

Looking at education, some African countries still face many gender and regional disparities. For example in North Eastern Province of Kenya, only 29% of girls enroll for school although nationwide, 68% are enrolled. Due to some cultural norms, girls are still seen as homemakers and are not allowed to attend school.

According to the latest WHO and UNAIDS global estimates, in Sub-Sahara Africa 60% of the people living with HIV are women. The number of women in Sub-Sahara Africa being infected has been increasing in the last 10 years. Nowadays about one in four teenage girls lives with HIV, compared to one in 25 teenage boys.

All forms of  gender inequalities such as violence against women, gender-related barriers to education and health services, lack of economic security among others ought to be discarded. There is need to work against gender inequalities to delimit the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is still a major threat for girls and women in Africa. For instance in Tanzania, FGM is still practiced by specific ethnic groups although it has been prohibited by the government through the Sexual Offences Special Provision Act from 1998. Within the districts where FGM is practiced there is a particularly high rate. According to a 2002 survey conducted by Tanzania's Legal and Human Rights Center, it is openly and defiantly practiced in Tarime, a Tanzanian district, with a prevalence rate of about 85%.

Although globally a huge step has been made, there are still parts of the world and areas of life treating women unequally. By denying women education or not fighting against women’s health risks equally, societies are wasting a very important resource. Improving equality is a necessary step on the path of development.

Ideas, views, skills and labor force, among others, are essential contributions women should make to their countries development. Governments ought to create a legal framework that leads to equal positions of men and women within the society around the globe. Equality and free woman’s mind are a great resource!

By Dorothea E. Müller

The author is a student of  Political Science and Sociology at the University of Heidelberg, Germany.


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