Source: Our Africa
Status of women
Women have fought to achieve equal rights in many parts of Africa. But as in other regions of the globe, a woman’s status varies by country and region.
In some countries, women are still not equal in law. Even where they are legally equal to men, it is common for decisions to be taken by male heads of households or male local chiefs and leaders.
It is often the case that traditionally women have fewer, if any, rights of inheritance. This leads to difficulties accessing land or finance. But there are exceptions, such as in northern regions of Mozambique, where certain groups are matrilineal – see Mozambique People & Culture.
Traditional responsibilities
In some places, women are regarded as being the equals of men, but their roles are nevertheless different. So, women traditionally look after the homestead, while men find jobs outside the home.
Women frequently have a high amount of work, such as gathering firewood or tending family fields. Household chores can be a huge burden, limiting a woman’s ability to take on paid employment.
The care of children, the sick or the elderly is generally viewed as the responsibility of women. With poor access to childcare facilities or health and support services in many regions, caring for family members can take up a lot of a woman’s time.
Educating girls
Though many governments are committed to providing equal education for girls, in practice girls are more likely to drop out of school than boys.
The reasons for girls’ lower enrolment in primary and secondary schooling include:
- the tendency of poor families to spend available money (needed for school fees or the costs of books and uniforms) on the education of boys, because males are viewed as the future breadwinners
- the expectation that girls will carry out domestic and household work
- the pressure in some cultures for girls to marry young, particularly where they are seen as an economic burden on families
- the lack of separate toilet facilities for girls in many schools.
But providing girls with a good education is vital for a country’s development. When women are equipped with learning and share decisions about families and livelihoods, the productivity of a society rises.
The health of a nation also improves with the education of girls. When women are aware about good nutrition and diet, the benefits of breastfeeding and the importance of hygiene, the risks of disease and illness in families is much lower.
Health Challenges
However, women are sometimes affected by health issues which are harder for them control. In some cultures, there is a tradition of performing genital mutilation/cutting on girls. The practice can cause significant long-term damage and raises the risk of complications during childbirth. Millions of girls across Africa are still affected, though the practice is thankfully declining.
Women are also more likely to face difficulties in childbirth when they marry at a young age. The bodies of young teenagers are not as mature to cope with pregnancy, increasing the risk of complications.
The risk of death is even higher where girls do not have access to trained medical assistance, as is often the case in Africa. Many countries have a severe shortage of doctors/midwives and fewer than half of all births in Sub-Saharan Africa are attended by a skilled birth attendant.
Women in Power
Thanks to a greater awareness about such life and death issues, women are taking charge of public health campaigns in many nations, at both local and national levels.
The increasing number of women in government positions is also of significant benefit in effecting change on vital issues. Some nations – such as Rwanda and Tanzania – have created a constitutional requirement for the government to include a certain number of women.
Even where there are no quotas, African governments are beginning to include more female politicians. In Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, became the first woman to be President of a modern African nation. In 2012, Joyce Banda (pictured below) became Malawi's first female President.
This shows societies are changing. African women are increasingly able to choose their own course in life. It is no longer uncommon to find women running successful businesses in Africa alongside having a family. These women are happy to embrace a new set of challenges brought by such freedom.