Gender Issues in Africa

Some people argue that race is more fundamental to identity than sex or gender and therefore, is the primary identifying characteristic and that may be so. Nevertheless, most people find it essential to determine immediately the gender of another person with whom they interact. On the rare occasion when sexual identity is ambiguous or, even worse, in a case of mistaken identity, we are uncomfortable and embarrassed (Nielsen 1978). Men in our society are perceived first as jobholders, second as husbands and fathers; women, no matter what their status as jobholder, will be perceived first as homemakers, second as workers. Many books and articles have been written, are being written, and will no doubt continue to be written about the problems faced by women struggle for equality and gender empowerment recognition.

Issues on gender such as biases, discrimination, and equality have always existed ever since the early ages. Although perhaps, the movement for gender equality gradually evolved in the late 19th century and was fuelled by women movements in the 20th century; the mild, moderate and radical feminist groups mustered their organizing influence to slowly inflict change in the society (Kimmel 2000). Sexual difference is not a matter of pre-existing categories with set contents, but is an interval or gap – a radical difference – between the sexes’ experiences and knowledge’s. It does not fit clearly into the dualism of nature and culture (Grosz 1994). Indeed, African women are the embodiment of Africa’s continental identity in the battle for equality and freedom. The richness of African history is vastly manifested in the struggle of its people for freedom and equal opportunity. Historically, the African region is mainly dominated by colonial superpowers. To this case, the women in African history are not actually given apparent opportunity. Thus, when the concept of women empowerment came into existence, several African women conquer the immovable barriers and in some ways became successful.

            African women are always distinct and remarkable. Mixed with the rich history and culture of the continent and served with the natural qualities inherent to all people, African women are part of Africa’s contemporary history and nation-building.

            With the lives and achievement of these three commendable women, it is indeed acceptable to claim that women are unique as men. Accordingly, females have always been widely believed to excel in verbal ability and verbal creativity, but recent studies suggest the differences are so small as to be meaningless (Hyde and Linn 1988). Also, very little difference has been found for abilities such as intelligence, creativity, or cognitive style. On personality characteristics such as love, sociability, nurturance, dependency, empathy, or emotionality, areas in which males and females are perceived to differ significantly, there is very little evidence that real differences exist (Maccoby & Jacklin 1974).

Meanwhile, the traditional characterizations of women are no longer up to the standards of current society and means of living. As likened to a fad, the old-fashioned descriptions towards women are obsolete and irrelevant especially to highly industrialized societies like the US and other western countries. The views about women during this generation are strongly influential and definitive to the concept of worldwide gender equality and eventual social acceptance. As recorded in the history, the ultimate battle of sexes – of the man over the woman, is already outdated and concluded. Such ancient views on women as the weaker sex and just bounded in the house as a wife and a mother per se are no longer propagated in several areas of human life. With this fact, the women like Winnie  Mandela, Portia Miller Simpson, and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, and other women in the society at present are more sophisticated and competitive as seen in different fields of expertise like in economics and business, politics and governance, the corporate management, lifestyle and fashion, sports and amusement, and other relative specializations.

References

Hyde, J & Linn, M 1988, ‘Gender differences in verbal ability: A metaanalysis’,

Psychological Bulletin, vol. 104, no. 1, 53-69.

Grosz, E 1994. Volatile Bodies: Toward a Corporeal Feminism, Allen and Unwin,

Sydney, AU, pp. 208-9.

Kimmel, M 2000, The Gendered Society, Oxford University Press, London, p.

324.

Maccoby, E & Jacklin, C 1974, the Psychology of Sex Differences, Stanford

University Press, Stanford, CA.

Nielsen, J 1978 Sex in Society, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.