GENDER SURVIVAL AND CULTURAL SETBACKS IN AFRICA.

For generations, culture created a platform for a group of people to become innovative and expressive of their collective identity, however these expressions in forms of practices have caused society to be comfortable with repression. Discussions concerning the drawbacks that culture brings to its people and society as a whole is one that is often not challenged and most times overlooked, so as to avoid direct confrontation, and to neither disrespect nor upset the feelings of the creators. Majority of these traditional laws sometimes lack factual evidence for the reason of its existence, however it still remains implemented and active in society. Culture emerged as an excuse for men to justify the subordinate roles of women and to demonstrate forms of oppression against the female sex. On numerous occasions, the basic human rights are abused by these traditional practices and these effects encompass both genders and cultural discrimination in the workplace.

Cultural stereotypes have hindered and shortened the recruitment of people from a background or tribe in some industries. Most times when positions are given to these individuals, they are paid less. The idea or concept that one has created on how to identify and relate with a person from a specific tribe has reduced the value and the full potential of a human being, thereby limiting creativity and chances of innovations. This notion has become more apparent and active in the workforce area whereby a person is declined or refused a job due to their limited understanding of him or her as an individual rather than a tribe. Thus, communication barriers are risen and the chances for dialogue for personal understanding declines, due to a perception that may have been created by a person who experienced one negative interaction with the another human being. Condemning a whole tribe for the effects of one individual is immoral.

Women are underrepresented in some industries. In politics, research shows that men are more likely to get elected or appointed than women. The hiring of women in some workplaces is also seen as a taboo due to the belief that a woman’s place is only at home. For instance, positions in the military and engineering sectors are typically withheld from females despite the obvious success remarked by them. Education is often inaccessible to females and the conclusion of females being less smart than males is made. Culture has laid upon men unrealistic social expectations. Males are taught to act tough and hide weakness, whether emotionally or physically, and this has led to fragile egos when females shows signs of strength and leadership.

Culture has strengthened patriarchy structures in which the male gender is usually more favoured and often times, subordinates the female socially, morally and politically. Acts such as female genital mutilation (FGM), domestic abuse, child marriage and forced marriages, traditional birth practices that has encouraged the preference of a son, early pregnancy and female infanticide are as a result of traditional laws. Misogynists often declare that the suffering of a woman is what pushes forward womanhood.

Each year in African countries, about 3 million girls are subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) and it is practiced in at least 26 out of 43 African countries. Difficulties have been found in reporting sexual abuse cases such as child marriage, forced marriages and rape which also includes marital rape, mainly because of the taboo that hinders discussions about sexuality. Majority of women who experience these forms of abuse are usually not in a position where they can exercise their basic human rights, one major reason being their location – often in rural areas, which is highly run by traditional or custom laws. Despite the presence of education amongst some individuals, these laws still remain unchallenged to a great force that could lead to its eradication. Medical benefits have not been attributed to the act of female genital mutilation and it is unarguably a strong violation of humans’ right. It is often seen as a sign of womanhood when a girl undergoes this act of harm that has proven to inflict several difficulties with some being psychological, menstrual, birth problems and in many cases, death. 

Evidently, the case of child marriage has been prevalent in Africa. Despite the clarity that putting a girl under the age of 18 up for marriage being abuse, it’s activeness in society still remains established. Its existence still relies due to poverty, upholding to social norms and customary laws, and that it is often seen as a yardstick to measure a family’s success, however the setbacks are often times not highlighted enough. Drawbacks include early pregnancy, a halt to education, career and work limitations, social anxiety and isolation, mental instability and domestic abuse. The inadequate provision of active legislative frameworks has made the issue of child marriage linger on.

Domestic abuse is perpetuated due to several reasons, particularly culture. Tradition reassures the constant iteration about the inferiority of a woman and demeaning roles of females in a society. It has become socially acceptable to hit one’s spouse to show forms of discipline. Often times, violence against a stranger is a crime, however harm towards one’s partner is standard. Statistics show that 1 in every 5 women have been raped while 1 in every 71 men have experienced any form of sexual violence. Importantly, more than 51.1% of women have reported being raped by their partners. Culture marks it a taboo for an abused woman to want to leave her marriage because of the deep rooted belief that suffering, endurance and tolerance are all part of a woman’s genetic code. Minds have also been programmed not to discuss about family matters to outside sources, however this has led to overlooked distress.

The mentality of having a male child has also been the traditional yardstick to measure “success” within a family, whereby a female child is underappreciated, neglected and killed in some cases. Commonly, males earn higher than females financially and also continue the family name, however, this has stricken the rise in preference for a son. This leads back to culture determining that men deserve better treatment in all areas of life than women. This state of reasoning has led to complicated health cases for women, increased infanticide and premature mortality rate. Connections to this practice has been linked to spiritual beliefs whereby female babies’ ritual killings struck as an effect because they are seen as evil and unsolicited.

Maintaining power balance should not be to the detriment of the other sex. Men claim to have natural dominance, however that relies on the participation of women having to constantly suppress their freedom rights and leadership abilities in order to please the man. The “natural” form of dominance that man claims to have should not be threatened or intimidated by merely a woman who decides to live better for the benefit of herself. Becoming a progressive society has become more tough and problematic due to the challenges faced in trying to change and eradicate laws in the dual legal system; comprises of both constitutional and traditional laws. An approach that seeks equal opportunities for both genders to create, amend and discard practices is important, so as to ensure culture and all human rights satisfaction. This involves providing an active role for women to contribute on how they view, feel and experience traditional laws and practices on a daily basis. Culture should encourage dialogue that ought to simplify the development of embracing all humans’ right.