Week Four: Strategies to achieve gender equality at home and in the workplace

Gender
#3

As individuals, we can play an important to make a positive impact on gender equality in our different spheres. As the adage goes, be the change that you want to see. It begins with us. If we really commit to be the drivers of social change we can bring about positive change in our respective communities.

Personally I can make a positive impact by first acknowledging that all humans are equal. We may differ on race, ethnicity, religion etc but the fact still remains the same: we are equal before the eyes of our Creator and the sooner we understand that the better. In my radio programme I strive to make sure that the voices in the programme are all inclusive. I make sure it is balanced. There should be a diversity of views in the programming. I also make sure that I don’t undermine certain groups, particularly those who are vulnerable. I do the same for all the activities outside broadcasting like focus group discussions, talks shows, community meetings etc. Above all, it is important to make all participants feel comfortable in all the activities that are undertaken.

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#4

We need to be agents of change by encouraging people in our homes and work places to know that every person irrespective of gender matters and are equally important. There is need therefore to question those in authority at work places to have in place all the mechanisms that promote gender equality such as being entrusted with responsibilities to head departments, assignments and training opportunities without being gender biased.
But also as media personalities we should not forget our oversight role, we need to design programs and deliver messages that promote gender equality not only once in a while but regularly to have it become a household topic for everyone.
Most radio stations now have programs that address gender issues but they need to be strengthened though, and both men and women should be compelled to watch out for them to pick a leaf on how gender can be promoted in homes.
There needs to be community engagements like in my country we have the whole ministry of gender with community development officers at the district level; but they need to desist from working in offices only, their work must be community based to help families.
The police child and family protection unit in my country does a tremendous job in resettling family disputes but the cases find them in offices. They should develop community outreaches to prevent conflicts than just wait to restore what could have gone wrong already.
By putting this in practice there will harmony in homes, places of work, families and the community as whole.
The time wasted in resolving conflicts will instead be turned into meaningful production for overall development.
Once both gender is equally recognized for different opportunities there will be advanced skills development because of exhibition of different talents.
Should the views of every woman however rural they may be, all problems that non knew exited will have practical solutions that will spur effective planning for all.

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#5

@Busi_Ngcebetsha

Dear friends,

As we ponder over the various ways to promote gender equality in our homes and at our workplaces, I thought it would be good to first of all revisit some of the key problems women face at home and at work. In the private domain or household level, women and girls are required to cater for children and elders while also doing other household chores such as cooking, errands, cleaning, etc. This work is often undervalued, invisible, and unpaid by society. This needs to change; women’s reproductive work must be regarded as productive work, and men must be willing to share the household responsibilities.

In most cultures around the world, the sexual division maintains gender inequalities. Women and girls have long been excluded or overexploited in economic productivity. For instance female farmers are not valued as much as their work deserves and many women still fight for the right to work in all the job fields because most of the good job positions are held by men. This must change: the enormous productive contribution of women must be acknowledged and valued, and no women should be stopped from doing a work they desire to do simply because of their gender.

Unfair sexual division ensures that women’s work remains invisible. Women and girls have been long confined to secondary roles and excluded from decision-making, and for a very long time, their voices have been absent in collective and membership organizations for a long time. Again, women’s productive work must be acknowledged, they should be fairly represented in every decision-making process.

I look forward to reading from you all.

Thank you.

Somed.

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#6

We can make positive impact by keeping these discussions on and by popularising them more people will share their views, experience and proffer suggestion among others. We need to stop describing the men as stronger and female weaker. For example, in my country Sierra Leone, they describe strong women as “she’s a woman in a man’s clothing, she behaves like a man, she’s having a strong heart like a man etc” I have personally experience it and my response is always “Stop these words, I am a woman please respect I behave just like I should”

We should make time to mentor women, build the confidence they need and encourage them to se themselves as equal to men. Yes we know biologically men and women are different but that doesn’t mean difference in other aspects of life.

In the home, we can encourage gender equality by been examples to our children. I personally come from an ethnic group wherein the woman no matter your status , you need to do all house work. No help from the man. If the man does help, he will be called all sorts of names and people will tend to move away from the woman. So if children see this, they will also develop the same mentality and in future behave in the same way. We also need to treat children equally (boy/girls)

In the work place, we should give equal access to opportunities to both male/females, stop sexual harassment, mentor employees and if their is need each and every staff must take the Sexual Exploitation Course and get a certificate.

#7

We can encourage gender equality in our homes as families. We can begin from small and basic things at home like allocating children daily chores without discrimination. I’m however aware that the societies that we come from might be those that see things as either black or white, no grey colour. For example, it is always difficult to give girls the role of herding cattle at home while the boys are given the role of weeding in the fields or fetching firewood or water for the family. Such a move could be viewed as absurd. Be as it may, we could encourage children to do work without considering sex. I have realised that most books that are used in primary schools have cover pictures that are discriminatory in nature. They would show boys usually making wire lorries while girls are always shown playing with their dolls. I personally think girls should also be shown maybe fixing cars and boys cooking or weeding the fields.

As families we can encourage gender equality at home if we show the little ones that they can do all household chores. We can also be examples if as adults give ourselves time to do things at home and never associating them with a particular sex.

#8

I agree with you because I also belong to a community where there used to be defined roles for girls and boys in the family like cooking, sweeping the compound and washing the utensils was specifically for girls while boys went about a few tasks like fetching water and going to play.
I remember for example people would always question my mum why I was washing plates when girls were around. But having been a teacher she would scorn them and today I realize what she was preparing us to be. Time comes when you are on your own without girls around, what do you do? It made me to know that it is not good to discriminate chores based on gender.
Not long ago, there are jobs that were dominated by men on the basis that women would not manage. We never used to see women serving in the military or even employed as drivers but has picked up.
To this point women riding bicycles is still being seen as unfit in many communities here in Uganda. Wearing trousers in the rural areas by women is negatively perceived, they think it is a signal for prostitution.
So as we strive to achieve gender equality the issue of mindset needs to be addressed. Families need to play a big role on this because it is at home where charity begins; let parents train children who should be ready to cause change in society by pointing out such weaknesses.

#9

Hello everyone,

With just a few days left before the end of the discussions, let us share ideas on strategies to ensure gender equality at our homes and workplaces. Here are a few highlights from WhatsApp:

Emmanuel Asamoah: We are four, two guys and two ladies. My father never discriminated but gave us equal opportunity. I cook and wash as a male child and same to my sisters.

The one after me has her Masters and teaching in a secondary school. The last born who is a lady is doing degree in public health.

I have two kids thus Barbara and Michelle. Very intelligent and lovely. Doing my best to give them the best of care and education.

My point is, I personally come from a background where we give the female the chance, respect and an equal opportunity and even more support therefore, that culture is a part of me.

As a programs manager I personally ensured the recruitment of five ladies in my office of which four run programs.

I ensured that the sport department run with a lady who is just not a team member but has a daily slot.

I also for the first time made a lady to host our Agric show.

I have had to come in and ensure that guys who disrespect the ladies stop. I have received several reports from the male colleges that the ladies do not respect but when ever I look into the matter, I see no breach of company rules but all I hear is they don’t respect.

I have always given them my support and to say, used the company same rules to defend and protect them to have a safe mind to operate.

Sometimes, I see the dominance of the male at play when you place a lady above them and they try to call for respect and will not regard the fact that the lady is just playing her role per company mandate.

Busi N: Thank you for sharing Emmanuel, hopefully we will get more people sharing ideas of ensuring gender equality at home and at work. Indeed it starts with us giving equal opportunities to all

Somed: Thank you @Emmanuel Asamoah Radio 1 for sharing these wonderful gender equality initiatives you have championed at your radio station. In fact I have listened to one of your programs while in Tamale and I must say you’re a great broadcaster. To add to the points you and, @Busi N raised, there are a few other ways we can change our radio programming to reflect the ideals of gender equality and increase women’s participation in our programs. They include but not limited to observing the the following:

Using a separate phone-in line for women callers.

Producers and hosts going out to meet women farmers.

Producers seek out women who are comfortable speaking on air

Interviews with women should be done in groups.

Providing a mobile phone to women in remote areas.

Use women’s farming words and terminologies.

Allowing a woman to speak anonymously in special situations.

Change how you interview male experts and male farmers.

Joshua Baba Madaki: This is a critical aspect of ensuring gender equality at home and in the work place.
When parents give premium to only male children and prioritising their importance as heir apparents other than women alike, it sure breeds disparity, creates inferiority complex and deepens stereotyping.
There is a family I know that gave birth to 5 daughters only, he openly declared that what these daughters are to him is same as the male children God has given him. He declares that he afford them adequate education to compete favourably with their male counterparts.

I grew up in a family of nine 6 boys 3 girls where all home chores were abrogated to all of us irrespective of gender: we wash dishes, sweep the compound, make beds, go to farm, take the animals (goats) out, cooking - above all our parents mandated education and skills/trade to balance our understanding in livelihood.
Parents should avoid discriminatory attitudes to their male or female children.
In the place of work, I want to bring this example of the Nigerian Army that deployed 300 female soldiers last month to boost the security on Kaduna Abuja road in Nigeria - these female soldiers were seen on Hilux Vans with female drivers, and those manning the weapons on the vehicles. It drew the attention of many who unfortunately having the stereotypical mindset of why should the female soldiers be sent on a kidnapping zone, that what their male counterparts couldn’t achieve would they be able to contend with the challenge of kidnapping and banditary on that road?
I think the message of gender equality is gradually driving home in Nigeria, we have women as captains of industries, CEOs in various organizations and levels.

In broadcasting, it is imperative to engage male and female both as producers, presenters, reporters, engineers/technicians etc. Engaging all gender in carrying out the above will ensure balance in a program where either interviews, features, talks, etc will reflect the very best listenership for the audience.

I have over time deploy the use of “gifts” of airtime (recharge card) to first female caller on any program to create a competition and to spur their interest in participation in our station.

I strongly believe going forward the issue of gender equality will be wearing a new look.

Yeah, women participation is a great idea via speaking on air as guests and interviews.

Dedicating a particular phone line to women is also a panacea for gender equality in order to avoid male dominance.

Although, the issue of buying phones to women in remote areas is a nice idea but whose responsibility is it to buy the phone, recharge for them? Community Radio Station like ours is battling with fueling the daily broadcast, and the volunteers have not been paid a dime since 2017 how much more of buying phones for women?

Blessing: Hi Busi,hi everyone. I really want to appreciate Busi for driving this great discussion around gender equality. Apologies please🙏 I have been quite busy with planning on activities,though I have been following but not able to contribute.

I think that majorly,our mentality towards gender discussion is very important to shaping our reality. How we think and whatwe think about, actually controls how we view reality which in turn affects how we behave towards the other gender. It starts with all of us who are here irrespective of culture,race or religion. If we think that God created everyone equal,black or white,male or female,it shapes the way we see and behave towards others, from our families to the work place to the larger society.So each one,tell one
With time,it goes round. Thank you.

#10

One way of encouraging the children do work without considering sex would be to have them work jointly. At home I remember we would go to dig together, go to fetch water together and we would wash utensils in turns irrespective of who, others washing in the morning and some after lunch. Sometimes the girls would prefer to go to graze cows with us though they drop along the way and go back home, but that was better than none at all.
However they needed to be encouraged more because today there are so many women doing livestock farming and it has become an alternative source of employment and livelihood. What good does it then serve to hear that women have a hysteria for cows because at home they are told it is only boys to go near them or feed them.
So parents should encourage their children to work collectively but of course girls can be helped by boys where they can’t perform best since girls are weaker, for example lifting heavy luggage and heavy jerricans of water, that can be undertaken by boys when they are besides them.

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#11

Hello all.

We certainly need to do some changes in our various work places in order to ensure gender equality is achieved. Be it a radio station or any other work place. First we need distance ourselves from behaviour that makes women lesser humans like always expecting women to sweep offices and prepare food. We can do all the chores regardless of being male or female. Also we can encourage women in workplaces to do those things that are traditionally deemed to be men work like fixing a bulb or electrical fault.

On radio stations, our programmes should be tailor made to suit all people. We should desist from using sexist language in our radio programmes. We can also try and promote women participation by having programmes for women and by women. But that should not be the case all the time because there is a risk of overstating the case in the end because when we talk about gender equality we are not talking about women but equal opportunities to all the people of different sexes.

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#12

Hello everyone

Thank you to all who have been making sure they participate in the discussion. We are left with two days before the end. This week is important because it is about practical strategies we can use to ensure gender equality at our homes and workplaces. The same strategies can help someone who doesn’t know where to start and can give broadcasters some ideas on programs tackling gender equality.

Please remember you can still go back to the weekly discussions you have missed and contribute in order to receive your certificate of participation.

In Week 1 it was all about introductions and your understanding of gender equality In Week 2 we discussed challenges women face with regards gender equality In Week 3 we discussed gender equality and radio programming In Week 4 (our current week), we are discussing strategies to achieve gender equality at home and in the workplace

We are waiting for your say…we will also hear more from our resource person @somedshahadu

Here are some insights from WhatsApp:

Ronald Magado: Gender is about equity and equality of whatever we do in the families and work place for both men/boys and women depending on the social-economic, political and cultural background. Let me share my experience: I’m married to one wife and we have six children( 5 girls and 1 boy). We have trained our children to do work together. For example cooking is done in turns for both girls and boy. Even other activities in the family such as farming, collecting firewood etc are done collectively. Education is for all and I do not have challenges with my family. Gender as a subject should be educated everywher- homes, schools, prisons among other for mindset change. Thanks. Magado Ronald

Nafty Bae: Everything about gender equality starts from home, parents must ensure that both male and female children do the house chores equally and also ensures that all of them have the right to inherit parents properties.
Speaking from experience, my dad always says we the females have no right over his properties and is his male children thAt will decides for us, this always makes we the female children feel that we are not needed in the family, frankly speaking it’s hurt a lot.
In our schools, teachers should teach the female child the importance of taking the lead in everything, like aspiring for position such as senior prefect, SRC president and others. Girls getting high positions in schools will inspire and prepare them for better future, this will also makes the girls and equal in the society.

Steven Magomu: Good morning saints, am very sorry that I haven’t taken part in this discussion. Notwithstanding, let me make a small contribution on the same topic. Am sorry if am drugging us backwards, but my thinking is that if we are going to talk about gender equity, it should be premised on two pillars, first being culture and the later being faith or religion. I believe gender equality is not someone’s idea for us to adopt to, gender equality has been and always will part of us. My observation is that when take western world’s perspective on this issue is where we get it wrong. In the African setting or rather culture, we have had our women take a centre stage in the development and peace of our nations. Our women have been hard working, not anywhere have I seen the African mothers sit back and let the fathers go work alone. In my culture, men married more wives for purposes of wealth creation, these women could accompany their husbands to the gardens when it was time to cultivate the lands and the same when time came for the harvest. The mothers took a centre stage in the raising and cultural upbringing of the children. We can tell the nature of a mother by how her children behave, our culture taught us to respect the women, since they are the backbone of stability and development of the community. The more the family was cultured and practiced a satain faith or religion the more outstanding that family stood out. Therefore, as we do our deliberations on this topic, it’s my humble prayer that we don’t overlook the fundamental principle of these two pillars of gender equality, rather we should look at how best can we strengthen these pillars to foster the gender equality in our societies. I thank you all. Blessings Steven

#13

@Wandeba and @Busi_Ngcebetsha I agree with your suggestion that families encourage boys to share household chores and responsibility equally with girls in the family or household. It is always important to keep in mind that the limitations on what jobs women or men can do or cannot do are articifical barriers imposed by society based on myths and false assumption of female weakness or inferiority. These artificial barriers or glass ceilings can be broken if gender equality is made part of the upbringing of both boys and girls.

#14

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Again @Denis, you’re right about the need to ensure balance in our persuit of gender equality by engaging both male and female. There have been genuine concerns that gender eqaulity initiatives are leaving men and boys behind. This is in spite of the fact that not all men and boys are entitled to or actually partake in the patriarchal dividends (also not all women subscribe to neoliberal or radical feminism) which often constitute the basis of rejecting equal attention to both men and women in contemporary gender equality programs. @Busi_Ngcebetsha this is an important point.

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#15

Hello everyone

Today is the last day of our discussion on gender equality. We started by sharing our understanding of gender equality, moved on to sharing challenges women face with regards gender equality, then gender equality and radio programming and lastly strategies we can use to ensure gender equality at home and in the workplace.

We have learned among other things that the term gender refers to the economic, social and cultural attributes and opportunities associated with being male or female. Gender differs from sex in that it is social and cultural in nature rather than biological. The fact that gender attributes are socially constructed means that they are also amenable to change in ways that can make a society more just and equitable.

Gender equality requires equal enjoyment by women and men of socially-valued goods, opportunities, resources and rewards. Where gender inequality exists, it is generally women who are excluded or disadvantaged in relation to decision-making and access to economic and social resources. Therefore a critical aspect of promoting gender equality is the empowerment of women, with a focus on identifying and redressing power imbalances and giving women more autonomy to manage their own lives. Gender equality does not mean that men and women become the same; only that access to opportunities and life changes is neither dependent on, nor constrained by, their sex. Achieving gender equality requires women’s empowerment to ensure that decision-making at private and public levels, and access to resources are no longer weighted in men’s favour, so that both women and men can fully participate as equal partners in productive and reproductive life.

The achievement of gender equality implies changes for both men and women. More equitable relationships will need to be based on a redefinition of the rights and responsibilities of women and men in all spheres of life, including the family, the workplace and the society at large. It is therefore crucial not to overlook gender as an aspect of men’s social identity. This fact is, indeed, often overlooked, because the tendency is to consider male characteristics and attributes as the norm, and those of women as a variation of the norm.

I would like to share these resources for your perusal:

116-Backgrounder-Rights-of-rural-women-in-Senegal.docx (57.1 KB)

115-Backgrounder-rural-womens-rights-Burkina-Faso.docx (70.0 KB)

113-02-Backgrounder-Rights-of-rural-women-in-Mali.docx (42.6 KB)

112-Backgrounder-Gender-inequalities-in-land-rights-in-Africa.docx (64.9 KB)

You can still share your ideas on how to ensure gender equality at home and in the workplace. If you would like to receive a certificate of participation, go back to previous weeks and make your contribution.

Cheers

#16

Allow me to share some more contributions from our WhatsApp group:

Sungumo: Good morning everyone, in order to achieve gender equality in our homes, parents are to make sure work in the house should not be divided based on gender as it is used to be done in those days.I remember when we were kids,our duty was to take care of animals,go to Farm and my sisters were in charge of sweeping the compound, fetching water.Today it has affected me because I can’t even cook, and I will not doing some to my children.
In our work places we should not create programs for men and different one for woman we should have in our minds that any program that can be hosted my man can equally be hosted by woman.we should give them equal opportunity and I think it will go a long way to solve our problems in the society.

Lovemore: I’m Lovemore Khomo, work for Ufulu FM, Malawi. I would like to contribute something to this discussion.

Understanding gender equality, it is about giving and providing opportunities to people of opposite sex. I might be male and have a friend who is female, treating each other unbiasedly is what gender equality means. Though African culture has been underestimating the opposite sex (women) and, that has ended in making bad history. In the past, Women have suffered because of cultural issues. For example, job opportunities first given to men, abuse in offices/homes, property ownerships.

Now, when we come to challenges, indeed women still face problems on gender issues. Women still face all sorts of abuse at work places, whether it’s sex, and psychological. Without mention, at home women meet so many problems. A woman might be physically tortured(beat) at home just because she did left home without cooking. It’s true, it’s happening. That man forgets that he can also cook for himself. This is just because of societal values and culture. But he can cook.

On gender radio programming; I have produced and published online articles on women participation on agriculture. This is because in Malawi, over 70℅ of smallholder farmers are women. Now, if we sideline women on radio programming, then means retards development of the country and world as a whole. There is no need to leave women behind since they also contribute over 50℅ of the population. If we leave a large population behind, no development.

Some of the strategies that could be followed to achieve gender equality in work places and homes are;
1.)organizing awareness and sensitization campaigns
2.) Lobby for laws that could strengthen gender issues(Nationally) and put some guidelines in work places and homes that could ensure that gender equality exists and practised.
Great, we are getting more contributions! Have you contributed in all the weekly topics? Do not miss a chance of getting a certificate of participation. You can still make it!

Alex Malambo: It is interesting to learn from others how they look at gender equality. As an individual, I believe we can all make a difference by appreciating talent around us. I always have respect for any one regardless of gender. We can all make positive impact if we come to know the reason why God created man and woman. He thought wise to create two gender on all animals in order to be complimenting each other and not belittling one another. No gender is superior than the other.

Somed: @Joshua Baba Madaki Nenzit FM you are right about the challenge of affordability for cell phones for women even though finance shouldn’t be a huge problem because there are organizations who will be willing to support if you put in a good proposal to explain the concept

Alex Malambo: The evidence of gender equality are too many to mention on this platform. Traditionally, It is common for women to be taught on how they should present and respect menfolk including running of their homes but men are not. Men are told be stronger since they are the head of house. This is the beginning of gender inequality in our communities. Is it fair enough to train one gender and ignore the other.

Busi N: That is true @Somed Gender Expert the radio station can negotiate with a cellphone company for cellphones for womens groups in exchange for airtime.

Joshua Baba Madaki: Truly I’ll love to have a link to some of these organizations, so as to put the proposal.

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I’ve been working with women and or widows about a thousand of them in 17 communities since 2011, which has afforded me the privilege to understand their plights: shelter, welfare, health-care, education, agriculture and culture. Most of them have now found solace in the encouragement they are receiving from NGO to a certain extent. Their challenges are enormous, when you asked them on whether they are listening to radio they’ll openly tell you they’re battling with food, education and their health talk less of having radio sets, buying batteries on a continuous basis.

Alex Malambo: Gender equality at our homes can be successfully encouraged if we as parents transform ourselves first before anyone else. If I can not help out to do some house work at home then my efforts on gender equality are worsted. Try to treat the children as equal, be it education, opportunities and some basic needs. No child should feel important than the other because all what they need from us is support and unconditional love.

BobbyQ: Simple:

Do unto others how you want others to do unto you…treat others the same way you want to be treated.

Nafty Bae: Good morning everyone
I will like to share my thoughts on the strategies on gender equality at the workplace. Not all workplaces provides equal opportunity for men and women but all should try. Here are some tips employers can follow to level the workplace for both men and women.
1 . Make sure all employees have same opportunities. If only men have the opportunity to meet big client, they will be the only people suet for promotion and others but of both men and women have the opportunities to get to higher positions or meet big client, both men and women will be suet for promotions in the company.
2 . Evaluation should be fair. Employees should be judged by their behavior not personality, evaluation should measure substance and results not style and methods.
3. Last but not the least, employers need to stop harassment. Many women are subject to sexual harassment at the workplace. All managers has the a role to prevent sexual harassment at the workplaces, It’s should be within the bounds of the rule and regulations govern the company.

Thank you.

#17

Reference to questions in your write up:

Home - we are two boys and two girls and we were all given equal opportunities in education and as I write, my kid sister is having her masters and teaching in a secondary school and the last born who is also a lady, is doing degree in public health.

I have two kids, Barbra and Michelle. very lovely and smart kids. These are indication of how high I respect the opposite sex.

Personal and Work - The way I want my sisters and kids to be respected, that is the same way I treat other ladies at my work place. I give the ladies the same respect and opportunity I give to the men and I go ahead to protect them.
I have had the occasion of rejecting a gentleman’s issues with another lady in the office and the man’s point is that the lady does not respect men but when you look at the issues between the, the lady was just doing her job but the men’s point is that she is expected to be doing her job with respect to her opposite sex.

I think men in authority in our various institutions should make it part of their plans to give equal opportunities but also try and protect the opposite sex at the office so that they are not intimidated by their male colleagues.

I had opportunity to give employment to five ladies under the programs department and I make it a duty to ensure that they are fairly treated.
I don’t believe in sex but competence and capability.

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#18

Hello everyone

I am sharing more contributions from our WhatsApp group:

Joshua Baba Madaki: As the discussion is going on on gender equality, I feel it important to share with the house challenges women are facing in some cultures in Nigeria - particularly on inheritance. Read the story below.

NEWS

Igbo Woman Challenges Tradition, Narrates How Her Brothers Took All Inheritance When Their Father Died
Igwe said her father died two years ago, and since then, life has become difficult for her even though her father was a relatively wealthy man, who left behind houses, land and money in the bank.

BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK FEB 05, 2021

A Nigerian woman, Onyinye Igwe, has challenged the tradition of giving parents’ inheritance to only male children in parts of southeastern Nigeria, after her brothers took all the property their father left for them.

In her interview with BBC, Igwe said her father died two years ago, and since then, life has become difficult for her even though her father was a relatively wealthy man, who left behind houses, land and money in the bank.

Igwe said her father died without writing a will, so the duty of sharing out his estate went to his children.

Despite being the first child, Igwe said she and her five sisters were not given any part of the inheritance.

According to her, everything went to the three men in the family as is the custom among the Igbo people.
She said, “The men [her brothers] claimed all that our father had.

“They told us [women] that we are going to get married into another person’s home so we don’t have anything from our father. Because that’s the tradition, we didn’t fight with them."

Igwe said she could no longer afford to pursue her university education and now runs a small business selling cooked noodles in Abagana town in southeastern Anambra.

Another woman, Evelyn Onyenokwalu, the first child in a family of four said her only brother, though the last born, inherited the father’s entire estate, including the family house.

She said people had to help beg her brother before he gave her a single room in the family house with an order that she must always leave the door of the room open

Busi N: As we get closer to the end of day, I would like to draw your attention to our self guided module on gender equality and your farmer program. If you have taken any of our online courses you should still have access. I am enrolling you to the module. To login go to farmradiotraining.org the username is your email address and password is Farmradio8! If you are experiencing any challenges getting access please get in touch.

Alex Malambo: Gender equality at places work can be enhanced by respecting the office being occupied without considering the gender occupying it. Employees should be appointment or elevated on merit and not because of gender.

One can agree with me that women are more oppressed than men at work places. But sometimes, women themselves are to blame in that they don’t like to fight hard battles that faces the company. For example, if the company is not doing well financially, women easily tender their resignation letters.

Somed: It has been a great discussion on the various ways to promote gender equality at home and at work. This week’s discussion revisited some of the key problems women face at home and at work. ie women and girls are required to cater for children and elders while also doing other household chores such as cooking, errands, cleaning, etc. This work is often undervalued, invisible, and unpaid by society. We also discussed how most cultures around the world maintain the sexual division and gender inequalitied where women and girls have long been excluded or overexploited in economic productivity.
We read a wonder note from @Emmanuel Asamoah Radio 1 with practical examples on how he has mainstreamed gender equality into his programs.

@Joshua Baba Madaki Nenzit FM brought up a good suggestion that parents should inculcate the habit of sharing household chores and responsibilities equally for both boys and girls to ensure that they grow grow into gender sensitive adults.

There was also a discussion about going out to engage with female farmers and interview with them as a group which mostly encourages them to talk.

There was a point of acquisition of cell phones for women in rural areas but then, a good question was raised by @Joshua Baba Madaki Nenzit FM about how to get funding for such initiatives. @Busi N and I suggested to journalists to take interest in reaching out to telecom companies and civil society organizations who may share the vision and values of gender equality.
@Busi N also shared some FRI gender equality files which contain very useful information that can help to enhance our understanding of gender equality.

In all, I have to say it was great meeting you all virtually on this platform and many thanks again for your insightful comments on the subject. I hope we’ll continue the discussion both on this and other online meetings in the future so that we may continue to brainstorm and share ideas on how to use radio to promote gender equality and the role of broadcast journalists.

Many thanks again.

Joshua Baba Madaki: Yes, I think a lot needs to be done, the media will do it’s bit but more hands needs to be on deck; NGOs and special programs with an insentive to make the women speak up on the stereotypes that is affecting them generally - like rape, sexual harassment, male dominance in terms of language instead of inclusiveness.

#19

Thank you all for your contributions on this e-discussion. I believe we have learned a thing or two concerning gender equality. As mentioned before, there is a self guided module on gender equality. please make time to go through it. Someone in this group gender equality should start with us, meaning it is our duty to make sure gender equality is achieved in our homes and workplaces. What better way then to start than to learn as much as we can about gender equality? What can we do to make sure there is gender equality at home? A lot has been shared already and I would like to add a few more: Ask yourself if there is an equal division of labor in your home. The work of caring for children is still done mainly by women in much of the world while it is supposed to be a duty of every adult in the household, do not make comments that ridicule, demean or humiliate women instead encourage women to stand up for themselves and gain confidence, if they are able to do this at home, they will have enough confidence out there and may perform better on jobs assigned to them.

The discussion is officially closed but people can still come back and reflect or share more ideas on our online platform and ion our WhatsApp group. Before you disappear, please take some time to reflect on the four weeks discussion on gender we just had. We understand that there are people that could not participate for one reason or the other, we also ask you to give us feedback so we may understand the challenge you faced that made you not to participate.

Please fill in this survey, it will help us improve upcoming discussions. https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/s8CNc1

Thank you!

#20

The best place that visible attempts have been made in streamlining gender in the scheme of things has been in the organized labour environment. We have seen efforts by some governments in Africa to develop and implement Gender Policy. We have heard of the Benjing Affirmative Action and the 35 percent of women in appointment into civil service as a matter of Policy in some countries. Therefore, if there are genuine and sincere intentions from the African Governments, there should be enforcement of the gender policy in the majority of countries. We only find tokenisms and lip service among the government people. Massive reform is needed for men to change their behavior towards women to give them voice at homes.

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#21

The issue of practising gender equality at home is essential. In my community, women were taken as propertiies to share along the husband’s properties and are not considered to be considered. Female children too are not considered when a man’s properties are to be shared. It is only the male that are considered. When a man is alive unless he is very wealthy or educated girl child education is almost neglected. But thanks to God that is a forgoten issue nowadays. Since a few practised it and saw the beauty in it. Women are given the chance to come from there husband’s family nowadays to take a share of there father’s properties. Some are even called from there husband’s family to come and take chieftaincy titles in there father’s family. There lot of women in exalted positions in government politics and so on nowadays. Girl child education are given the same priorities as the boy child. It has also become a competition for parents to showcase there girl child education . People now brag about it in our society

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#22

How can we make a positive impact on gender equality as individuals?

  1. Being more aware and keeping abreast with issues to do with gender equality.
  2. Push the gender equality agendas when opportunity arises.
  3. Practice what we preach about gender equality in our communities.
  4. Stand up for issues of gender equality and demand for it where its lacking.

What would be the evidence of gender equality in our daily lives?

  1. Satisfaction with having single sex children.
  2. Involving women in decision making at home, community or other levels.
  3. Giving both boys and girls equal opportunities to grow, learn, and thrive in life.
  4. Protecting and upholding the rights of all people irrespective of their gender.
  5. In agriculture, according females rights to land, property and inheritance like their male counterparts.
  6. In seeking justice availing the space for both genders to be heard and judgement dispersed with out hinging on one’s gender.
  7. In the work environment, evaluation, promotions and remuneration being done in accordance to input and performance not one’s gender.

How can we encourage gender equality at our homes?

  1. Encouraging the mothers to participate in home decision making.
  2. Doing away with assigning gender roles to children e.g girls learning to cook and boys learning to do carpentry…train both boy and girl children to take up which ever role captures their attention.
  3. Offer protection against harm and violations to both males and females in a home e.g Males too can be molested yet in most cases females get most protection.
  4. Support either sex to take up courses in their education path and later careers irrespective of being male or female.
  5. Ensuring property inheritance and rights are fairly accorded to males and females in a home.
  6. Income generation and home sustainability be a responsibility of all and not limited to one gender.

What changes can we put in place at our work places to ensure gender equality is achieved?

  1. Put in place policies that support gender equality at work places.
  2. Offer equal employment opportunities to males and females.
  3. Promotion and remuneration should be based on input and performance not gender bias.
  4. Protect either gender from sexual or other harassment.
  5. Opportunities to advance in education be offered on merit.
  6. Encourage and create opportunities for more women to take up positions on the Board of Directors and Management team.
  7. Engage experts from both genders in work place dealings - radio programs.
  8. Aim at fair and balanced presentation of gender issues in all programs.
  9. In case of any disciplinary action, let it be based on workplace regulations not either gender.