Gender inequality shackles African economies

 Fikre Debela

9/19/08

 Who knew that by one African woman having a job could create a positive ripple effect among her family, friends, and her countries' economy. Studies have been shown that a countries' economic system is much better when women's participation in the work force is higher. Well that seems simple enough, but in many countries African women make up maybe 1% of the whole workforce. Because of gender inequality women have been subjected down and out of the workforce. However, that's not the case for some, like an African women name Amina. She borrowed a loan from an organization that has helped her create a successful business in selling cooked rice at a school. This is great not only for her but to encourage women all around to do the same. Gender inequality cannot prevail any longer. 

Africa has been left behind in many ways by globalization. The world has modernized and in many parts of Africa they are still trying to catch up. However, some ways are harder than other to advance. Gender inequality is a social conflict and does not just take a quick fix to get rid of. Many women in Africa are suffering from this conflict, not only emotionally but also economically. In terms of wages only 10% of them go to African women even through its been shown that they work 10 to 15 more hours weekly then men do. In order to solve this several things have to be set up. Women can be trained to set up there own business, governments need to ensure rights between men and women, supply women with access to more things like public transportation and more. If Africa can ensure things like this for women, underdevelopment will surely vanish into a more modernized society with no gender inequality. 

I believe this is a fantastic point of view to look from. When people think of underdevelopment in countries they don't usually think of social problems that could be one of the underlying causes of it. Gender discrimination is one of these social problem that if gotten rid of can help the economies of several countries. It is supposedly the traditional role of the women to stay home and not to work. And if they do try and work its looked down on in some places. Well, enough said while they are looking down on these women the economies are going in the slumps because of this gender inequality. 

http://www.businessday.co/za/articles/topstories.aspz?ID=BD4A843581