Why Are Women Still Laid Back In Sierra Leone
Women’s issues according to many gender activists, are cross national issues which are normally related to gender and gender equality. Gender which means the state of being a male or a female and equality as the name implies means equal opportunities given to both men and women in every aspect regardless of sex including economic participation, decision making, and the state of valuing different behavior.
From a broader perspective and a wide range of understanding, the term laidback in this context refers to as a situation where women are disproportionately left out of gains, lagged behind or discriminated as a result of their gender.
The earliest 19th century witnessed a popular movement of gender equality, following the remarkably great achievement in the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment throughout the world and Sierra Leone in particular. The world experienced a flourishing movement of feminism after the World War II, and shortly after that there has been series of efforts being made by the United Nations and other international organizations to put women first as the focus of development in all developmental objectives. The 21st century women are celebrated because of their increased access to education around the world
Over the years, many treaties and laws of which Sierra Leone is a signatory to have been ratified in order to eradicate discrimination against women. At the international level, Sierra Leone ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1988, the International Convention on civil and Political Rights (ICCR) in 2000, African Charter on Human and People’s Right of Women in Africa and the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa.
Despite the fact that the world has seen tremendous improvement over the years in job opportunities, politics, health care, yet there are still not enough women who can integrate the workforce. Women are disproportionately left out of the gains and there are various reasons for this abnormality. The United Nation’s has reported that women continue to perform more unpaid labor than men in most developing countries and according to the Executive Director 0f 50/ 50 group Sierra Leone is at the heart of this, Dr. Fatou Taqi said.
There is no gainsaying that lot of strategies have been put in place to see women climb the radar in most development landscapes, but however, this does not reflect the entire population of aspiring women throughout the country. People seemingly believe that too many women are missing the tool, sponsors, or the knowhow needed to be successful from universities or other training colleges into politics or other career building.
Sierra Leone like many other African countries is male dominated in terms of job opportunities and empowerment and to a greater extent Patrilineal. Relatively few women have been given the opportunity to take part in decision making, and higher percentage of women has fewer legal rights.In as much as bulk of progress has been made by some Sierra Leonean women my question is, how does this reflect the general population of women? Most organization working with women believe lagging behind does not equal to being laid back especially when you consider the series of steps taken by frontline gender organizations seeking gender parity across the country.
As the lead women organization in the country, 50/ 50 group have been faced with challenges on funding albeit series of measures to improve that area of the work. It is significantly proven that most women leaders worldwide expect the change they want to see, but hardly have a workable strategy to achieve this, a national women’s report in 2016. I will say there are still not enough to write about this. Reasons for this assertion could be based on the fact that despite the stocks of progress made by sierra Leonean women they still continue to face widespread of discrimination, intimidation and poverty countrywide. In a women’s discussion forum with UN Women in Sierra Leone, the Head of Womens Forum- an organization working with women said,“until gender parity is achieved women will still be at the back trying to move forward” this sends a clear signal that even after series of ambitious strides gender parity still remains a greater problem in Sierra Leone and until these issues are solved women will still have their place at the back.
Sierra Leone is a sovereign independent state governed by constitutional and customary laws, entrenched in the laws of the land are provisions which they by themselves discriminates against women e.g. section 47 and 48 of the employers and employed ordinance act state that “no girl or woman at any age should be employed in mines or at night” this provision depicts that women by themselves are not worthy to work at risk. It also indicates that except you are actually a man you cannot work under hard conditions or earn more.
Furthermore like every other society, Sierra Leone is structured by our gender expiations. Anything that is bound to happen and that which is happening now has already been in existence, Different roles are expected from different gender. The earliest century Sierra Leonean women were known for child bearing, domestication, care givers etc. This became a traditional phenomenon and little or no change has been made over the years. In this regards, it is obvious that we take into consideration societal expectations more than what ought to be done. Girls have been raised to labor for men. Basically, this is how the sierra Leonean traditional homes are structured it doesn’t matter if you are the eldest. In contrary, boys have been groomed to be hard and strong as society admires or demands and as protectors of women. This has become a serious challenge and thus rendered the future generation of women dormant, gender passive, and dependent on men.
Women constitute 52 percent of the country’s population according the 2015 census report and yet they account for the highest illiteracy rate in the country. Although government has initiated core values in the area of education, Sierra Leone is yet to achieve parity level even at primary school level and further researches by the African Development Bank Group; Sierra Leone Country profile in October 2011 indicates that except for COMAHS, Fourah Bay College and IPAM still has relatively little percentage of women who are enrolled. Education amongst other careers is believed to be the prerequisite for human resource development, wealth and psychosocial development. If a considerable number of the country’s population which is women tends to miss a greater part of this opportunity then there will be greater number who will shy away from responsibilities which requires education.
The political landscape of Sierra Leone from pre Colonial history till present gave account of few women leaders both political and traditional heads, examples includes Constance Cumming John (1938), Adelaide Casely Hayford (1915) Ella Koblo Gulama (1957), Madam Yoko (1878), Queen Yamacouba (1787), Doc Khadi Sesay (2012),etc.to name but a few. From critical analysis, present day Sierra Leone’s political landscape has not got much to say about women representatives in politics.Nonetheless women’s issues are still not taking into greater consideration because the pervading atmosphere prevents women from attaining greater representation. There are not enough women to advocate for other women in parliament and other important sectors. The creep of women is still low into major political positions. For comparison, the percentage of women to men in parliament profiled by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) as cited in the 6th CEDAW country report in 2002 and 2009 are14.5/ 85.5 and 13.7/86.3 respectively. Secondly, the percentage of women as presidential candidates was 0% in 2009. From a feminist perspective, this would have been on the increase if there were establishment of new structures and mechanisms that will expand women’s participation in decision making. Nevertheless the nature of the national political structure in Sierra Leone restricted the political participation of women in certain part of the country as the Northern area of Sierra Leone recently banned women from becoming paramount chiefs.
Most significantly, the income of women are relatively low all over the world of which Sierra Leone Is not an exception.The world Bank Development Report which was updated in November 2011 states that women represent 40% of the world’s labor force but holds just 1% of the world’s wealth. This statement is evident enough to prove that women are generally poor with relatively low income and therefore highly dependent on men and numerous problems arise when they want to become decisive. Women lack the independent wealth to run effective constituencies and to compete with already able and stronger men and hence the financial mandates of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone and Political Parties already restrict women’s chances of getting elected into political offices.
The 30% quota which was set up by the United Nations is one of the most efficient means of increasing women’s participation in politics and decision making but invariably so, this has not been adopted despite series of lobbying made by several women groups in the country.
Given that women organizations are yearning and clamoring for equality, yet certain attributes that are keeping women off the radar are still glaring. This has invariably militated seriously in galvanizing the necessary support in women’s participation especially in national politics and other public offices. Until a robust strategy is put in place by gender activists, we will continue to witness a laidback approach by women as we move in the 21st century.
From a broader perspective and a wide range of understanding, the term laidback in this context refers to as a situation where women are disproportionately left out of gains, lagged behind or discriminated as a result of their gender.
The earliest 19th century witnessed a popular movement of gender equality, following the remarkably great achievement in the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment throughout the world and Sierra Leone in particular. The world experienced a flourishing movement of feminism after the World War II, and shortly after that there has been series of efforts being made by the United Nations and other international organizations to put women first as the focus of development in all developmental objectives. The 21st century women are celebrated because of their increased access to education around the world
Over the years, many treaties and laws of which Sierra Leone is a signatory to have been ratified in order to eradicate discrimination against women. At the international level, Sierra Leone ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1988, the International Convention on civil and Political Rights (ICCR) in 2000, African Charter on Human and People’s Right of Women in Africa and the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa.
Despite the fact that the world has seen tremendous improvement over the years in job opportunities, politics, health care, yet there are still not enough women who can integrate the workforce. Women are disproportionately left out of the gains and there are various reasons for this abnormality. The United Nation’s has reported that women continue to perform more unpaid labor than men in most developing countries and according to the Executive Director 0f 50/ 50 group Sierra Leone is at the heart of this, Dr. Fatou Taqi said.
There is no gainsaying that lot of strategies have been put in place to see women climb the radar in most development landscapes, but however, this does not reflect the entire population of aspiring women throughout the country. People seemingly believe that too many women are missing the tool, sponsors, or the knowhow needed to be successful from universities or other training colleges into politics or other career building.
Sierra Leone like many other African countries is male dominated in terms of job opportunities and empowerment and to a greater extent Patrilineal. Relatively few women have been given the opportunity to take part in decision making, and higher percentage of women has fewer legal rights.In as much as bulk of progress has been made by some Sierra Leonean women my question is, how does this reflect the general population of women? Most organization working with women believe lagging behind does not equal to being laid back especially when you consider the series of steps taken by frontline gender organizations seeking gender parity across the country.
As the lead women organization in the country, 50/ 50 group have been faced with challenges on funding albeit series of measures to improve that area of the work. It is significantly proven that most women leaders worldwide expect the change they want to see, but hardly have a workable strategy to achieve this, a national women’s report in 2016. I will say there are still not enough to write about this. Reasons for this assertion could be based on the fact that despite the stocks of progress made by sierra Leonean women they still continue to face widespread of discrimination, intimidation and poverty countrywide. In a women’s discussion forum with UN Women in Sierra Leone, the Head of Womens Forum- an organization working with women said,“until gender parity is achieved women will still be at the back trying to move forward” this sends a clear signal that even after series of ambitious strides gender parity still remains a greater problem in Sierra Leone and until these issues are solved women will still have their place at the back.
Sierra Leone is a sovereign independent state governed by constitutional and customary laws, entrenched in the laws of the land are provisions which they by themselves discriminates against women e.g. section 47 and 48 of the employers and employed ordinance act state that “no girl or woman at any age should be employed in mines or at night” this provision depicts that women by themselves are not worthy to work at risk. It also indicates that except you are actually a man you cannot work under hard conditions or earn more.
Furthermore like every other society, Sierra Leone is structured by our gender expiations. Anything that is bound to happen and that which is happening now has already been in existence, Different roles are expected from different gender. The earliest century Sierra Leonean women were known for child bearing, domestication, care givers etc. This became a traditional phenomenon and little or no change has been made over the years. In this regards, it is obvious that we take into consideration societal expectations more than what ought to be done. Girls have been raised to labor for men. Basically, this is how the sierra Leonean traditional homes are structured it doesn’t matter if you are the eldest. In contrary, boys have been groomed to be hard and strong as society admires or demands and as protectors of women. This has become a serious challenge and thus rendered the future generation of women dormant, gender passive, and dependent on men.
Women constitute 52 percent of the country’s population according the 2015 census report and yet they account for the highest illiteracy rate in the country. Although government has initiated core values in the area of education, Sierra Leone is yet to achieve parity level even at primary school level and further researches by the African Development Bank Group; Sierra Leone Country profile in October 2011 indicates that except for COMAHS, Fourah Bay College and IPAM still has relatively little percentage of women who are enrolled. Education amongst other careers is believed to be the prerequisite for human resource development, wealth and psychosocial development. If a considerable number of the country’s population which is women tends to miss a greater part of this opportunity then there will be greater number who will shy away from responsibilities which requires education.
The political landscape of Sierra Leone from pre Colonial history till present gave account of few women leaders both political and traditional heads, examples includes Constance Cumming John (1938), Adelaide Casely Hayford (1915) Ella Koblo Gulama (1957), Madam Yoko (1878), Queen Yamacouba (1787), Doc Khadi Sesay (2012),etc.to name but a few. From critical analysis, present day Sierra Leone’s political landscape has not got much to say about women representatives in politics.Nonetheless women’s issues are still not taking into greater consideration because the pervading atmosphere prevents women from attaining greater representation. There are not enough women to advocate for other women in parliament and other important sectors. The creep of women is still low into major political positions. For comparison, the percentage of women to men in parliament profiled by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) as cited in the 6th CEDAW country report in 2002 and 2009 are14.5/ 85.5 and 13.7/86.3 respectively. Secondly, the percentage of women as presidential candidates was 0% in 2009. From a feminist perspective, this would have been on the increase if there were establishment of new structures and mechanisms that will expand women’s participation in decision making. Nevertheless the nature of the national political structure in Sierra Leone restricted the political participation of women in certain part of the country as the Northern area of Sierra Leone recently banned women from becoming paramount chiefs.
Most significantly, the income of women are relatively low all over the world of which Sierra Leone Is not an exception.The world Bank Development Report which was updated in November 2011 states that women represent 40% of the world’s labor force but holds just 1% of the world’s wealth. This statement is evident enough to prove that women are generally poor with relatively low income and therefore highly dependent on men and numerous problems arise when they want to become decisive. Women lack the independent wealth to run effective constituencies and to compete with already able and stronger men and hence the financial mandates of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone and Political Parties already restrict women’s chances of getting elected into political offices.
The 30% quota which was set up by the United Nations is one of the most efficient means of increasing women’s participation in politics and decision making but invariably so, this has not been adopted despite series of lobbying made by several women groups in the country.
Given that women organizations are yearning and clamoring for equality, yet certain attributes that are keeping women off the radar are still glaring. This has invariably militated seriously in galvanizing the necessary support in women’s participation especially in national politics and other public offices. Until a robust strategy is put in place by gender activists, we will continue to witness a laidback approach by women as we move in the 21st century.