Opinion: Gender equality is extremely challenging in rural areas in Africa

Women have come a long way in the struggle for gender equality across various sectors. For a very long time they have been looked down on due to culturally-bred stereotypes against the female gender. Women are expected to perform ‘lighter duties’ while the highly involving tasks are reserved for men.

As the war in Ukraine raged on, someone asked me “where are the feminists who always say what a man can do a woman can do better? Why are they not complaining that women and children have been left to find safety as men are told to go out and fight?”

This kept me thinking, I am hesitant to entrust a man with my baby, not because men cannot uprightly and safely care for children but due to how we have been socialized to believe that men are expected to provide and not to babysit or perform the various house chores.

What has education changed about gender equality perspectives? 

Exposure and education have taught me that we are all capable of managing a house or home, doing any kind of household chores and equally providing for the family irrespective of gender differences. This has nothing to do with coming out as a feminist but it is all about being a humane person towards the other. If there is one thing that life teaches us without prejudice, it is helping each other grow as a family no matter the gender with which we identify.

Gender equality in rural areas in Africa

Things are so different in the rural areas of Kenya and by extension in many African rural settings. I will focus on the  Orus community in Tiaty East, Baringo County, where I have had a one-on-one engagement with both men and women.

Amongst the people of Orus, women have the responsibility to ensure there is adequate firewood, water and food for the entire family. This happens even when a woman is heavily pregnant. They are expected to carry on with all the chores and tasks prescribed to them by the society without complaining.

Men hardly take part in any of the domestic chores as this is against the community’s traditions. The main role of the men is to oversee the safety of the livestock and their families.

A businesswoman in the Orus area expressed frustration running her food business due to cultural barriers. She has suspiciously been questioned where she got the capital to start her business as a woman. Although her husband allowed her to run the business, she has to close before 4:00PM to assume her wifely duties at home.

As we celebrate the International Women’s Day this year (2022), the main theme  is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,” but my question is, what aspect of gender equality are we looking at yet in some areas some women are still not allowed to sit at the same table with men or give their opinions about things without the support of a man?

MAMA is now working with the people of Tiaty East to empower men and women and educate them  to work together for a better community and a better society. Quality maternal and child health cannot be achieved if either gender is not involved in caring for pregnancies and children.

Opinion by Wendy Cheptoo

Wendy is a Media Communications specialist working with MAMA and a counseling psychologist in practice.