» There should be enhancement for women in technology and inclusion in the digital space .
» Women and girls should have equal rights to economic resources , including land and property ownership .
» Strengthening policies and legislation that promote gender equality and women ’ s empowerment .
How can this be achieved in a patriarchal African set-up ?
In a patriarchal society where the rule of the male has been defined as the ‘ correct ’ leadership , the SDG 5 on women empowerment can be a daunting process .
This is a complex issue which requires a lot of concerted intervention from Government , civil society , private sector and individuals . What policies can be set around this and in what areas ? There are many steps towards the empowerment of women as enumerated here-under :
Education
This means that the education policies around girls growing into women ensures access to quality education . This is fundamental in instilling knowledge , skills and confidence in women enabling them make informed decisions , understand and pursue the career terrain and actively empower other women as their success stories are followed through .
My personal story is based on being empowered through education . I was born in a village called Marua in the Central part of Kenya . My education started in a rural primary school where we learnt English in my local mother tongue . This was my first key towards opening my opportunities out of the local village to communicating on a global stage . If I had no education , I ’ d only be leveraging on the local language which I am proud of but has a minimal reach . I would also be harnessing village innovations to make change within my locality with a small audience . Education gave me as a woman , wings to fly and to explore the world with new lenses .
Economic Empowerment
Women deserve to be included in all economic opportunities . They should be given skills commensurate with their capabilities not just the roles that men deem to befit them . I have often heard senior leaders intimating that if you want to marry a ‘ good wife ’ you should choose one from certain careers e . g . teaching and nursing . These biases thwart the growth of women who prefer to be compliant and lead ‘ normal lives ’.
It is critical that women get equal pay for equal work and more so , should be allowed to thrive in career without fear of being senior leaders in global organizations . Economic empowerment for women should be viewed as a positive source of income for the family , instead of a menacing threat to the patriarchal biases that we so often hear … “ My woman should not earn more than me ”…. Until we change this mindset , and us women understand that we are contributors to the GDP too , then our freedom to grow will always be curtailed under the limitations of other gender biases about our ability . I am a strong believer that we need to be fully empowered to help our men pay school fees etc . and improve the quality of life for the household .
Health and Well-being
Your health is your wealth . An empowered woman must have access to good medical care not only holistically but also ensuring that she is not only safe to reproduce but also to have the freedom to make a choice when to get her children . In rural areas , this freedom is unrealized as she may not be able to access the best contraceptives nor does she have the right to the number of children she can comfortably raise . This is a crisis and most women die due to sexually transmitted diseases , the reproduction process e . g . childbirth etc . violence due to conjugal rights etc .
It is my believe that women should be educated enough on their health and well-being . The Government should ensure minimum health care for women who are not economically capable of accessing these facilities . Education of men on the same to safeguard women ’ s health is also key e . g . showing the value of using condoms to reduce the risks of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies which stress the resources within the homestead would go a long way in women empowerment . This would mean Improved quality of life and healthy women would also fully engage in other economic activities promoting development .
Legal and Political Rights
Women empowerment is grounded on the ability to protect women ; by advocating for their equal legal rights and protections . This should be enshrined strongly in the legal clauses protecting women against violence , discrimination e . g . you ’ ll often hear statements like , ‘ we can only give that board position to a man because women are controversial ’, representation , participation and decision making be it in private or Government matters .
Women should be protected mostly in politics and sexual humiliation should be a crime . Why is it that every woman who rises in Africa has to be branded …’ Leave that one alone , a woman who ventures in politics is a prostitute ’ or you ’ ll hear about her sexual escapades displayed in a lewd manner in the corporate circles . ‘ That one rose horizontally ’.
Women empowerment is about creating an enabling environment for the woman to rise and make change using her brain and not the biases that are applied without any basis . Discriminatory laws are also hindering women empowerment and they should be reviewed periodically to facilitate progress and inclusion . Here the first thing should be participation of women in matters affecting them .
Changing Society Norms
There are many stereotypes and norms which affect the process that enhances women empowerment . In most African communities , women should be seen not heard . In some communities women are counted with the children because they do not have any tangible contributions yet they till the land , plant the crops , build houses , feed the children etc . This then forms a very rough journey for a woman who seeks the goals of being empowered . How do you access education where girls are supposed to be in the kitchen ? Promoting gender equality in families is a good starting point .
Communities need to be sensitized that gender empowerment is not about women taking over or what has been branded as the Beijing Conference reawakening of women . It ’ s not about not cooking for husbands but it ’ s about making sure that a woman also has a voice to be heard in the world for the sake of development and mutual production of both partners .
8 MAL57 / 23 ISSUE