You are on page 1of 3

ABSTRACT

African women’s development has been hampered through social inequality and oppression
throughout history. The ancestral culture of learned oppression has been prevalent from the
beginning of time. The assigning of oppressive and domineering gender roles masked the social
inequalities that was made comfortable through generational instruction. These social issues
were further justified through the use of religion as well as cultural factors. This essay will
briefly examine inequalities that African women experienced and their ongoing efforts to
diminish the great divide between the genders in relation to social economics and political
changes.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bay, Edna G., Women in Africa: Studies in Social and Economic Change (June 1, 1976) p237

This book offers a collection of papers from the Women's Committee of the African
Studies Association with a goal to remedy two perceived problems associated with
women's issues--the relative paucity of literature on African women, and the difficulty
encountered by female scholars in having their work published.

Chamlou, Nadereh, Gender and Development in the Middle East and North Africa: Women in
the Public Sphere, (2004),

The author seeks to advance the gender equality discussion by framing issues of terms
of economy necessity. Analyzing the potential for women’s greater economic
contribution to new development and identifying key barriers for empowerment and
suggests a way onward in developing a an agenda for change.

Gunderson, Morley, Comparable Worth and Gender Discrimination: An International


Perspective, (1945)

This is an article on the output of the ILO Interdepartmental Project on Equality for
Women in Employment, highlights the advantages and importance of comparable worth
for evaluating jobs and setting fair pay differentials. Also, indicating the need for equal
opportunity policies, and legislation against discrimination in recruitment and
promotion, in order to reduce the gender pay.

Mitter, Swasti and Rowbotham, Sheila ‘Women encounter technology: Changing Patterns of
Employment in the Third World’ , (1995)

<http://unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu37we/uu37we0t.htm#overall status of
women in Africa>
This site gives a collection of edited essays that explores the effects of information
technology on women's employment and the nature of women's work in the third
world. Both Mitter and Rowbotham (editors) discuss the challenges faced by women,
along with their responses and organizing strategies, as they adjust to new technologies
in less affluent communities.

Naples, Nancy A. and Desai, Manisha, Women’s Activism and Globalization Linking Local
Struggles and Transnational Politics, (2002)

This book is a broad and comprehensive collection that shows how women activists
across the globe are responding to the forces of the "new world order" in their
communities. These essays examine women in urban, rural, and suburban locations
around the world to provide a rich understanding of the common themes as well as
significant divergences among women activists in different parts of the world.

Ojior, Omoh Tasatsaku, PHD., African Women and Political Development, (2002)

Dr. Ojior conducted a case study of research and analysis regarding Etsako African
women. He writes about African women as having a central role to the maintenance
and development of African society. Also, shed light on the similarities and differences
in the cultural of Africa and those of North America.

Suplico, Luz T. 2009 Do women favor globalization more than men? The Free Library (March, 1)

The author aims to compare globalization views of men and women in South Korea and
Vietnam. It focuses on graduate students as consumers. Not only can they become
potential consumers of existing and proposed global products but they can also be
entrepreneurs engaged in global business. Thus, their views towards globalization can
influence the acceptance of global products and promotion of foreign trade.

Thalif Deen, 'Africa’s Success Stories in Gender Empowerment', Inter Press Service, (2010)

This article examines the gaps in several areas: inheritance rights for women, higher
education and the elimination of cultural practices and barriers to women's
advancement. Africa is mostly left out of political reckoning - and wrongly so when it
comes to gender empowerment, some of the countries in Europe, Asia and Latin
America are invariably singled out for their success stories in politics, education, health
care or civil liberties.

http://www.medea.be/files/WB_Gender_EN.pdf
It also examines how individuals, households, organizations and social movements can change
the way in which gender relations are defined and experienced.

Labor markets are segmented and discriminate against women: most black African women are
concentrated in low-paid and vulnerable jobs, such as casual agricultural labour, domestic work
and informal sector activities.

- Rural women in particular have little spare time due to heavy workloads to take advantage of
livelihood opportunities.

- Household arrangements are diverse and complex. For example, high rates of female-headed
households prevail, particularly amongst black African women.

- Inequalities in resources and power exist within households, with women lacking secure
access and claims to resources such as land and income, as well as between households in a
community.

- Increasing levels of violence have increased women's fear and vulnerability, and made it
difficult for women to take up social and economic opportunities.

A widely available information base would be an important tool for formulating specific policies
and programmes. . . Specific future action should include:

You might also like