BREAKING BOUNDARIES: ADVANCING AFRICAN WOMEN BEYOND GENDER
Gender stereotypes and social norms are contributory elements in shaping societal expectations and interactions. In Nigeria and across Africa, women often find themselves fighting deeply established stereotypes that impact various facets of their lives. Gender stereotypes can lead to the reinforcement of traditional roles, limiting individuals’ opportunities. For example, women may face expectations related to nurturing and caregiving, while men might encounter pressure to conform to assertive and stoic behavior. Social norms on the other hand are unwritten rules governing acceptable behavior within a community. It influences individuals by shaping their behavior and determining what is considered acceptable within a society and can perpetuate gender stereotypes, hence contributing to the maintenance of traditional gender roles. Gender stereotypes often lead to restriction of opportunities as gender expectations can influence educational and career choices. This has led to impacting human life ranging from the self- esteem and mental well-being of individuals especially women as they navigate societal expectations that may conflict with their actual personalities.
Gender-related economic disparities, underrepresentation, harmful practices like hurting women physically or mentally, such as female genital mutilation or domestic abuse, show strong gender differences that are deeply rooted in society. These practices support unfair beliefs and need to be addressed through legal measures, education, and cultural shifts. This research work delves into the challenges faced by women in Nigeria and Africa, explores the profound impact of gender stereotypes and suggests possible solutions for fostering gender equality.
Data revealing challenges faced by women in Nigeria and in Africa by extension include:
1. Educational Barriers:
- According to UNESCO, in sub –Saharan Africa, 9 million girls between the ages of 6 and 11 will never attend school.1
- Cultural norms often prioritize male education, leading to a gender gap in literacy rates. In Nigeria, for example, the literacy rate for females is 59.4% compared to 69.1% for males.2
2. Workplace Discrimination:
- The world Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report (2023) ranks Nigeria 128 th out of 153 countries in terms of gender equality in the workplace.3
- A study by the International Labor Organization (ILO) found that the gender pay gap in Africa is estimated at 30%, meaning that women earn on an average, 70 cents for every dollar earned by a men.4
3. Violence Against Women:
- According to UN Women, 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical and /or sexual intimate partner violence or non -partner sexual violence.5
- In Nigeria, domestic violence is alarmingly prevalent, with the National Demographic Health Survey reporting that 28% of women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.6
4. Limited Access to Healthcare:
- According to World Health Organization (WHO), maternal mortality rates in sub- Saharan Africa remains high, with an estimated 533 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.7
- Limited access to productive healthcare is a significant concern, as evidenced by low contraceptive prevalence rates in many African countries, contributing to unintended pregnancies and limited family planning choices.8
Impact of Gender Stereotypes and Social Norms:
1. Economic Disparities:
- The World Bank reports that achieving gender equality could add $29 trillion to the global GDP by 2025.9
- However, gender disparities in economic opportunities and access to resources hinder the full economic potential of women in Africa, impacting not only women but also hindering overall economic development.
2. Underrepresentation in Decision Making:
- The Inter-Parliamentary Union reports that globally, women make up only 25.5% of national parliamentarians.10
- In Africa, Women’s political representation varies, with Rwanda leading the continent in terms of women’s participation in parliament (61.3%), while other countries lag behind.
3. Mental Health Challenges:
- A study published in the Lancet Psychiatry found that globally, women are almost twice as likely as men to experience depression.11
- The stigma associated with mental health issues in many African societies’ compounds the challenges faced by women, preventing them from seeking and receiving adequate support.
4. Reinforcement of Harmful Practices:
- According to UNICEF, child marriage is prevalent in many African countries, with 17% of girls married before the age of 18 in sub-Saharan Africa.12
- Harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, continue to persist in some communities, despite efforts to eradicate them.
Possible Solutions:
1. Educational Reforms :
- Increase investment in girl’s education, ensuring equitable access to quality education for all.
- Implement curricula that challenge gender stereotypes and promote inclusivity.
2. Workplace Policies and Advocacy:
- Advocate for and enforce equal pay policies to bridge the gender pay gap.
- Implement affirmative action measures to promote women’s representation in leadership roles.
3. Legal Reforms:
- Strengthen and enforce laws addressing gender-based violence, ensuring perpetrators are held accountable.
- Introduce and enforce legislation promoting women’s rights, including property and inheritance rights.
4. Healthcare Access:
- Invest in healthcare infrastructure to reduce maternal mortality rates.
- Promote comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and services to empower women and enable family planning.
5. Community Engagement and Awareness:
- Invest in healthcare infrastructure to reduce maternal mortality rates.
- Promote comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and services to empower women and enable family planning.
By addressing gender stereotypes and social norms through evidence-based solutions, societies in Nigeria and Africa can break free from the shackles of inequality. The challenges women face, as outlined by the facts and figures, demand urgent and comprehensive action. Through education, legal reforms and community engagement, a brighter and more equitable future can be forged for women across the continent.
2 UIS. (2018). Education Data. Retrieved from http://data.uis.unesco.org/
3 World Economic Forum. (2020). Global Gender Gap Report 2020. Retrieved from https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2020.pdf
4 ILO. (n.d.). Gender pay gap: new ILO global estimates. Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/wages/minimum_wages/WCMS_650553/lang–en/index.htm
5 UN Women.(n.d.). Violence against women prevalence estimates, 2018. Retrieved from https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we- do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures
6 National Population Commission (NPC) [Nigeria] and ICF. (2019). Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018. Retrieved from https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR359/FR359.pdf
7 World Health Organization. (2020). Maternity mortality. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact- sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
8 Guttmacher Institute. (2021). Contraceptive Use in Africa. Retrieved from https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/contraceptive- use-africa
9 World Bank. (2018).World Development Report 2018: Learning to realize Education’s Promise. Retrieved from
10 Inter-Parliamentary Union. (n.d.). Women in national parliaments. Retrieved from https://data.ipu.org/women- mps?month=12&year=2022
11 The Lancet Psychiatry. (2013). Gender and women’s mental health. Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(13)70212-0/fulltext
12 UNICEF.(2018). Child marriage around the world: Nigeria. Retrieved from https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child- marriage/