 |
| Search |
|
|
 |
|
In the old days, a woman was seen as a breeding machine, which a man would get when he decides to have babies and secure his continuity. The infamous Adolf Hitler once described a woman’s duty as nothing but kids, kitchen, and church.
The activities of a woman in rearing children and taking care of the kitchen were not viewed with respect not to mention that her role outside the house was not thought to be useful. Women’s status in society was not thought to be useful. Woman’s status in society was thus influenced by this view.
According to Inter - Press Service, women cultivate more than half of all the food that is grown. In sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean, they produce up to 80 percent of basic foodstuff. Yet women often get little recognition for that. In fact, many go unpaid. And basically, women are increasingly the ones who suffer the most poverty.
And the reality of women is that “They do two-thirds of the world’s work, receive 10 percent of the world’s income and own one percent of the means of production.” As Amnesty International also points out, “Governments are not living up to their promises under the Women’s Convention to protect women from discrimination and violence such as rape and female genital mutilation.” There are many governments who have also not ratified the Convention, including the U.S.
The “feminization of poverty” is a phenomenon that is unfortunately on the increase. Basically, two out of every three poor adults are women. But at the same time, women produce 75 to 90 percent of food crops in the world. This irony is the result of the stereotyped perception of society on the role of women. Household chores are most of the time not taken into consideration, and accordingly given little recognition. The woman was also given almost no opportunity to explore her capabilities outside the kitchen and participate in the making of the modern world.
Reflecting at ourselves, Eritrea had ratified the Women’s Convention, and protected the full legal rights of women under its law. The role of Eritrean women during the independence struggle could be set as an example in this light. The Eritrean liberation struggle was the spearhead in realizing the equality of women legally, politically and socially. It provided us with great role models that we look up to for inspiration. It paved the road to freedom of our country and equality.
Men and women alike fought the 30 years struggle of Eritrean independence. It was not a matter of questioning whether the person next to you is a man or a woman. The Priority was freedom. The Eritrean freedom fighter was asked to do things that sometimes were beyond his/ her capacity. Duties were asked of women similar to their male compatriots. The result became the realization of the Eritrean independence.
But, we are just on the beginners line in the track of women’s equality. Minds are yet to be changed; women are yet to be liberated, equal opportunity of education and social services are yet to be exploited by both sexes, various forms of abuse on women are yet to be reduced if not stopped. Nevertheless, we enjoy the full legal and moral support of the law, in pursuing those things, which makes our commitment to the cause the only spice that is left to add to make the food of human equity taste right. And this task is every Eritrean’s call, because gender equality is not only morally right, it is pivotal to human progress and sustainable development.
© Copyright 2001-2007 Shaebia.org
Top of Page
|
|
|
Contributed Articles
Recent Additions
|
|
