Gender Equality

OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUE

Overview

of the Issue

Although stereotypical gender roles that apply in America also apply in Africa. Women are expected to do the strenuous job of looking after the children, cleaning, and feeding every member of the household. Men being held to the standards of making enough money to financially support their families, while being expected to leave their families for hours at a time missing out on momentous occasions with their growing family.

I know for a fact that when I think of Africa I think about how different it would probably be, as a woman, to live there, immersed in the culture. I would’ve imagined it as rather unpleasant, unbearable even. But, now having studied the subject I have learned that it is possibly much worse.

What is happening

Health care necescities cancer screenings, mammograms, prenatal vitamins, or even contraceptives. Due to the culture around how women are seen in Africa, it is typical for them to not have enough money to see proper medical care, or because they have other priorities such as looking after their children or parents, not giving them enough time to access vital medical screenings.

The ssp, also known as the Stop Stockout Project has shed light on the problem of medication shortages, giving us a look into why and how it has become hard for women to receive necessary healthcare. Using a survey that was led in a community-led-monitoring project, it showed that although the problem has significantly reduced, around 7% of patients report stockouts on a multitude of medications. 40% of these medications are contraceptives. Although these are not the only medications that are constantly unavailable, they are certainly the most common and most used.

Members of the Pan-African-Parliament, also known as MPs, have been observed to be almost exclusively men. Out of a total of 275 members, 235 of these members have been men. In Africa’s sub region, the Economic Community of West African states, having only 115 representatives, only 20 were female. MPs for Kentu South, Ho West and Kenya Constituencies, shed light on the inequality. Madam Gomashie, the parliament representative for Kentu South, brought up the ingrained cultural limitations, lack of general resources, astigmatisms, correct education and adversarial nature of politics. She went on to identify many cultural and political setbacks each woman would face. Stating, “Women are not their own enemies.” The quote alone shows how she views gender inequality.

What is happening

LET'S FIX IT!

What is happening?

33 out of the 69 countries in Africa have criminalized same sex relationships. Due to the extremely high numbers of physical and phycological violence against the LGBTQ community, despite the rising governmental progress, the Centre for Human Rights and the Centre for Sexualities, as the most notable, have begun a “Pretoria-Marburg Queer Conversations’ monthly from April-September.