Even though Africa is taking on many of the same modern practices and technologies of the Western World, some parts of the continent maintain antiquated ideas about women’s rights. Here are 12 tragic truths about gender inequality in Africa.
Female enrollment is dropping
In sub-Saharan Africa, between 1999 and 2010, female enrollment in school at the secondary level dropped from 83 to 82 for every 100 boys, and at the tertiary level from 67 to 63. In Chad and the Central African Republic there are under 70 girls enrolled in school for every 100 boys. In some rural areas there are as little as 41 girls enrolled for every 100 boys.
In some oversimplifications, it’s been stated that only 15% of agricultural landholdings in Africa belong to women. Further studies into what defines landholdings or ownership have shown that number not to be exactly accurate. However, the truth doesn’t fall far from that. For the most part, that number only rose slightly because it was found some men “shared” their ownership with their spouses.
Female farmers don’t have equal access to resources
Research has found that female farmers produce less than male farmers and that is in part due to the fact that they do not always have the same access to resources as male farmers do.
Recently in Morocco, a 16-year-old girl committed suicide after the court ordered her to marry her rapist. This command was following a policy that if a woman marries her rapist, the rape charges are dropped.
In some areas of Africa, if a woman is found to be HIV-positive, she can be kicked out of her village. This even goes if the woman was raped, and she has to raise the child on her own.
Women do not hold the majority of powerful positions
Though in some areas of Africa like South Africa, you’ll find women in government positions, you’ll find very few in positions of high power or in the private sector where they could influence political or economic change.
Many teenage girls who become pregnant are forced to keep the child, or have no access to medical facilities to receive an abortion. This makes it very difficult for them to continue school and get a job.