Gender Inequality: Striking a Balance
I could not leave Africa without addressing the important role women play in society. The topic of the impact of gender inequality and health care is a topic I could write about all day. Women are the care takers, the home base, the back bone of family life, much like in the U.S. -- and they are responsible for getting health care for the kids.
Unfortunately, the gender inequality that persists in the culture in Tanzania and other African countries still reflects a devaluation of women that is far greater than in the U.S. I had heard about how women are the last to get medicine in the household since the man is the breadwinner; that they can be thrown out of their homes if they admit they have HIV because stigma is so strong both in Tanzania and Zanzibar; have fewer sexual rights within a relationship; and are often overlooked in terms of getting an education -- a decision made by a man, their father. While here, I thought it was important to find out first hand from the women who live this life.
I asked Ritha, a WHO malaria professional and part of our team, about her experience as a woman growing up in Tanzania. We talked while in transit to a village in Arusha. She says her tribe was more progressive than some others. Her father always thought it was important for her to get an education and saw to that happening. She adds that she and her husband share decision making in her home as well. While there are a number of women like Ritha, particularly in the city, sadly, I would guess she's the exception. Again, most Tanzanians live in the rural parts of the country, where access to everything is just scarcer and mindsets less progressive. Ritha does say that the government is trying intervene and things are slowly changing regarding elevating the girl child more and emphasizing giving her more rights.
After our visit to the clinic, where we saw the malaria ward in Arusha, the female NABJ fellows discussed a situation that baffled us. One of the women explained to us through our translator that she had to beg and beg her husband for the money to go get treatment. Finally the woman said she won him over with her 'womanly' ways.
Men control the money and make the final decisions generally. Gender inequality plays a major role as to why women are so left behind in terms of health care. Much of it boils down to lack of education and therefore lack of empowerment and control over their destinies. When I've asked women here if they feel oppressed (by American standards), I don't think many of them have the knowledge or exposure to even understand what that means. They don't realize what is out there in the greater world. I've asked the question in many ways and have received the same responses.
Louis weighs in on this issue, saying tackling ignorance is a way of empowering people. "The only way we're going to see a massive change is through education. And formalizing education and perhaps making it required for families to send their girls to school," he explains. Then we discuss some girls we met in Arusha. They explained that they didn't have $.50 USD to get to school (what they needed for one year) because their father didn't think it was a priority or didn't have the money.
"I think the problem is finding financial resources to make this happen and making this a high priority," Louis adds. Compound this with throughout Africa, most of the decisions made within countries are made by men. Women rarely a part of the political process at high levels.
This lack of empowerment is also one reason that women are the highest risk group for HIV in Africa, just as black women are in America. Louis explains that some of the customs and practices culturally completely "victimize" women so empowerment is important dealing with the HIV crisis in Africa.
As noted in my entry Reconciling With Reality, women are the last to get antiretroviral drugs, carry the strongest stigma and have the most to lose if they are diagnosed with AIDS and reveal their status, and have fewer means to be self-sufficient. Women often contract the disease from their husbands who are frequently away for months at a time working. During this time they may have affairs with prostitutes without condoms and then transmit HIV to their wives. In rural areas, often times access to condoms is scarce even if a man or woman knows to use them, Louis says.
Stigma is a very big issue with women. Particularly in Muslim countries, such as Zanzibar, it is even more difficult for women to come forward. In addition to more funding, access, and education, cultural attitudes play a major part in combating HIV. It seems the same systematic problems that need fixing for AIDS will also be needed to bring malaria to its knees. As Americans, we are no stranger to the impact of stigma.
Related Topics: AIDS Taking On a Female Face, WebMD Women's Health Center
Technorati Tags: AIDS, HIV, women's health, Africa, Tanzania
Unfortunately, the gender inequality that persists in the culture in Tanzania and other African countries still reflects a devaluation of women that is far greater than in the U.S. I had heard about how women are the last to get medicine in the household since the man is the breadwinner; that they can be thrown out of their homes if they admit they have HIV because stigma is so strong both in Tanzania and Zanzibar; have fewer sexual rights within a relationship; and are often overlooked in terms of getting an education -- a decision made by a man, their father. While here, I thought it was important to find out first hand from the women who live this life.I asked Ritha, a WHO malaria professional and part of our team, about her experience as a woman growing up in Tanzania. We talked while in transit to a village in Arusha. She says her tribe was more progressive than some others. Her father always thought it was important for her to get an education and saw to that happening. She adds that she and her husband share decision making in her home as well. While there are a number of women like Ritha, particularly in the city, sadly, I would guess she's the exception. Again, most Tanzanians live in the rural parts of the country, where access to everything is just scarcer and mindsets less progressive. Ritha does say that the government is trying intervene and things are slowly changing regarding elevating the girl child more and emphasizing giving her more rights.
After our visit to the clinic, where we saw the malaria ward in Arusha, the female NABJ fellows discussed a situation that baffled us. One of the women explained to us through our translator that she had to beg and beg her husband for the money to go get treatment. Finally the woman said she won him over with her 'womanly' ways.
Men control the money and make the final decisions generally. Gender inequality plays a major role as to why women are so left behind in terms of health care. Much of it boils down to lack of education and therefore lack of empowerment and control over their destinies. When I've asked women here if they feel oppressed (by American standards), I don't think many of them have the knowledge or exposure to even understand what that means. They don't realize what is out there in the greater world. I've asked the question in many ways and have received the same responses.
Louis weighs in on this issue, saying tackling ignorance is a way of empowering people. "The only way we're going to see a massive change is through education. And formalizing education and perhaps making it required for families to send their girls to school," he explains. Then we discuss some girls we met in Arusha. They explained that they didn't have $.50 USD to get to school (what they needed for one year) because their father didn't think it was a priority or didn't have the money.
"I think the problem is finding financial resources to make this happen and making this a high priority," Louis adds. Compound this with throughout Africa, most of the decisions made within countries are made by men. Women rarely a part of the political process at high levels.
This lack of empowerment is also one reason that women are the highest risk group for HIV in Africa, just as black women are in America. Louis explains that some of the customs and practices culturally completely "victimize" women so empowerment is important dealing with the HIV crisis in Africa.
As noted in my entry Reconciling With Reality, women are the last to get antiretroviral drugs, carry the strongest stigma and have the most to lose if they are diagnosed with AIDS and reveal their status, and have fewer means to be self-sufficient. Women often contract the disease from their husbands who are frequently away for months at a time working. During this time they may have affairs with prostitutes without condoms and then transmit HIV to their wives. In rural areas, often times access to condoms is scarce even if a man or woman knows to use them, Louis says.
Stigma is a very big issue with women. Particularly in Muslim countries, such as Zanzibar, it is even more difficult for women to come forward. In addition to more funding, access, and education, cultural attitudes play a major part in combating HIV. It seems the same systematic problems that need fixing for AIDS will also be needed to bring malaria to its knees. As Americans, we are no stranger to the impact of stigma.
Related Topics: AIDS Taking On a Female Face, WebMD Women's Health Center
Technorati Tags: AIDS, HIV, women's health, Africa, Tanzania
1 Comments:
I worked in Mali, West Africa for 2 years. I will never forget when my French teacher (male) said his wife had a stillborn child because she got malaria while pregnant. He said he couldn't afford the drugs. Yet, he could afford petrol for his motorscooter and hanging out with his friends.
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