In Kenya, most of the culture is patriarchal. This means the men own key assets such as land, livestock and businesses (WorldBank2003). The woman may milk the cows and sell its milk, but since the man owns the cow a woman cannot sell it. In 2010, it became legal for a woman to have their name on a land deed but the men still control the access to the land (CEDAW2011). Now, women own 3 % of all the land. As you can see, in Kenya, gender equality is still a huge fight. Men are in control and women struggle to receive even half of the same rights. Many believe that women inherit land when they marry, but this is assuming all women get married. For a woman to inherit land in her birthplace means she will receive double the amount and that becomes unfair to her male siblings. I believe male dominance will continue for sometime.
One of the greatest differences in Kenya between men and women is the workload. Women work twice as many hours in a day as the men do completing tasks for the family. Women do 80% of the food production, 50% cash crop production, 80% food storage and transport from farm to home, 90% of weeding, and 60% of harvesting and marketing (AFDB 2007). Since women are also responsible for childcare, they are not allowed to work far from home, this means they are limited in variety of paid jobs. When the need for water increases, the rate of girls being educated drops. Many girls drop out of school because they are required to fetch water at certain times of the day for their families (CRS2010). Men complete most of the herding, hoeing, construction, and buying and selling of animals. Herding animals takes up almost 70% of a man’s time each day.
Women in Kenya are underrepresented in decision-making positions. The undiscovered potential of women and girls is gaining greater attention in Kenya. The country’s new Constitution, passed in 2010, provides a powerful guidance for addressing gender equality. It marks a new beginning for women’s rights in Kenya; seeking to cure the traditional exclusion of women and promote their full involvement in every aspect of growth and development. Women continue to be educated at an inferior rate to the men, increasing their reliance upon men. Illiteracy varies among counties but is highest and lowest in and around Nairobi. Some men still continue to believe it is a waste to educate girls. Around 30% of women in rural areas cannot read a simple sentence in their native language (DHS2010). “When Kenyan women have the freedom to reach their potential, all Kenyan families and communities will grow stronger (USAID)”. The Constitution requires that no more than two-thirds of elected or appointed public bodies consist of one gender (USAID). As Kenya works toward the promise of gender equality embodied in the Constitution, it is the country’s hope that enough women will be elected without having to create additional positions (USAID).
One out of every eight adults in rural Kenya and almost one out of every five adults in urban areas are infected with HIV. The infection rate in girls and young women is exponentially higher than in their male counterparts. Since, their husbands predominantly infect women, they are essentially left to die when their land, home, and assets are taken from them by their husband's family (FSD International). The cultural norm here affects the majority of women in Kenya; yet the government consistently fails to provide resources for the empowerment of women. In some cultures, there is a tradition of performing genital mutilation/cutting on girls. The practice can cause significant long-term damage and raises the risk of complications during childbirth. Millions of girls across Africa are still affected, though the practice is thankfully declining (DHS 2010).
As you can see Kenya is still a country not for gender equality. Although they passed new laws setting a foundation for more women’s rights, that will still take time. Being privileged enough to live in the United States has sheltered me and anyone from so much that many others may have dealt with on a daily basis. In America men and women are seen as equals for 99% of every job or task. Some may argue otherwise, but that’s another story. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be secluded to specific roles and to not have my own freedom to be myself. Many cultures just like in Kenya have experienced this type of inequality their entire lives, this is what they know and have been taught as they grew up. I am extremely privileged I chose Kenya for my research project, the research has taught me so much more than I ever knew and has really opened my eyes to how other countries and cultures are affected daily. Africa has always been special to me and I have always wanted to explore more about it. One day I hope that there will be gender equality for all men and women in the world. One should not be judged by they gender.
Gender Equity Issues in Kenya. (N.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.fsdinternational.org/country/kenya/weissues
Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Kenya. (N.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.usaid.gov/kenya/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment-kenya
DHS (2010). Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008
-‐09.Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and USAID
CRS (2010). GLCI Gender and Diversity Situational Analysis, Kenya Catholic Relief Services, Kenya Country Office
Kenya. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.afdb.org/en/countries/east-africa/kenya/
Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Development. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.gender.go.ke/index.php/downloads1/viewdownload/9 -‐ gender -‐ mainstreaming/7 -‐ cedaw -‐ 7th -‐ country -‐ report -‐ Kenya
The Kenyan Strategic Gender Assessment. (N.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTAFRREGTOPGENDER/Resources/KenyaSCGA.pdf
One of the greatest differences in Kenya between men and women is the workload. Women work twice as many hours in a day as the men do completing tasks for the family. Women do 80% of the food production, 50% cash crop production, 80% food storage and transport from farm to home, 90% of weeding, and 60% of harvesting and marketing (AFDB 2007). Since women are also responsible for childcare, they are not allowed to work far from home, this means they are limited in variety of paid jobs. When the need for water increases, the rate of girls being educated drops. Many girls drop out of school because they are required to fetch water at certain times of the day for their families (CRS2010). Men complete most of the herding, hoeing, construction, and buying and selling of animals. Herding animals takes up almost 70% of a man’s time each day.
Women in Kenya are underrepresented in decision-making positions. The undiscovered potential of women and girls is gaining greater attention in Kenya. The country’s new Constitution, passed in 2010, provides a powerful guidance for addressing gender equality. It marks a new beginning for women’s rights in Kenya; seeking to cure the traditional exclusion of women and promote their full involvement in every aspect of growth and development. Women continue to be educated at an inferior rate to the men, increasing their reliance upon men. Illiteracy varies among counties but is highest and lowest in and around Nairobi. Some men still continue to believe it is a waste to educate girls. Around 30% of women in rural areas cannot read a simple sentence in their native language (DHS2010). “When Kenyan women have the freedom to reach their potential, all Kenyan families and communities will grow stronger (USAID)”. The Constitution requires that no more than two-thirds of elected or appointed public bodies consist of one gender (USAID). As Kenya works toward the promise of gender equality embodied in the Constitution, it is the country’s hope that enough women will be elected without having to create additional positions (USAID).
One out of every eight adults in rural Kenya and almost one out of every five adults in urban areas are infected with HIV. The infection rate in girls and young women is exponentially higher than in their male counterparts. Since, their husbands predominantly infect women, they are essentially left to die when their land, home, and assets are taken from them by their husband's family (FSD International). The cultural norm here affects the majority of women in Kenya; yet the government consistently fails to provide resources for the empowerment of women. In some cultures, there is a tradition of performing genital mutilation/cutting on girls. The practice can cause significant long-term damage and raises the risk of complications during childbirth. Millions of girls across Africa are still affected, though the practice is thankfully declining (DHS 2010).
As you can see Kenya is still a country not for gender equality. Although they passed new laws setting a foundation for more women’s rights, that will still take time. Being privileged enough to live in the United States has sheltered me and anyone from so much that many others may have dealt with on a daily basis. In America men and women are seen as equals for 99% of every job or task. Some may argue otherwise, but that’s another story. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be secluded to specific roles and to not have my own freedom to be myself. Many cultures just like in Kenya have experienced this type of inequality their entire lives, this is what they know and have been taught as they grew up. I am extremely privileged I chose Kenya for my research project, the research has taught me so much more than I ever knew and has really opened my eyes to how other countries and cultures are affected daily. Africa has always been special to me and I have always wanted to explore more about it. One day I hope that there will be gender equality for all men and women in the world. One should not be judged by they gender.
Gender Equity Issues in Kenya. (N.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.fsdinternational.org/country/kenya/weissues
Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Kenya. (N.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.usaid.gov/kenya/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment-kenya
DHS (2010). Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008
-‐09.Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and USAID
CRS (2010). GLCI Gender and Diversity Situational Analysis, Kenya Catholic Relief Services, Kenya Country Office
Kenya. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.afdb.org/en/countries/east-africa/kenya/
Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Development. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.gender.go.ke/index.php/downloads1/viewdownload/9 -‐ gender -‐ mainstreaming/7 -‐ cedaw -‐ 7th -‐ country -‐ report -‐ Kenya
The Kenyan Strategic Gender Assessment. (N.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTAFRREGTOPGENDER/Resources/KenyaSCGA.pdf