CULTURAL & SOCIETAL INFLUENCE ON PRACTICES OF GENDER EQUALITY
It has become apparent that despite our efforts at achieving gender equality across the world, we are still far from achieving gender equality. It is said that to date, no country has achieved gender equality and it will take up to 135.6 years to close the gender gaps and inequalities around the world. In Africa, until recently, some professional roles like engineering were reserved for the male gender, girls also did not dare to venture into these professions as they were branded ‘for men’. Being a nurse was also seen as girls’ job. Despite efforts to redefine gender roles in the society and instill agency in girls, this regressive thinking has been ingrained in our minds and has become a norm in the way we view gender roles in the society.
Society plays a key role in shaping our norms and beliefs. A young boy or a girl will grow up seeing how women carry themselves and how they are treated by the men in the community and this shapes their view on gender roles. Societal definition of the identity of a girl or a boy explains why regressive practices such as FGM and GBV are still prevalent in marginalized communities all over Africa. It goes without saying that time has come for us to start teaching girls and boys the basic tenets of gender equality from a young age to enable them reconcile their societal and cultural beliefs with the concept of gender equality.
One of AMPLIFY GIRLS partner community organizations- DANDELION AFRICA is doing just that in Kenya across four counties – Kajiado, Nakuru, Baringo and Narok. In a program titled – Girls for Leaders, Boys for Change in communities that practice Female Genital Mutilation. Dandelion works with schools (primary and secondary) and community hubs/ centers to address cultural and societal challenges through girl’s education while educating the boys on the inequalities and processes that girls go through. This information leads to increased affirmative action thereby creating equal access to education for both boys and girls.
The program covers various topics such as, occurrences of teenage pregnancies, FGM, Menstruation, cultural practices, patriarchy and societal constructs. The program provides school boys and girls an explanation for societal norms. This program creates a safe space for honest questions and myth bursting by equipping the children with pertinent knowledge on sexual reproductive health.
The program currently has 50 schools enrolled for the program which is delivered as an after-classes program before the pupils and students go home. It has a set curriculum that was developed in collaboration with the ministry of education local offices and the teachers. The program is replicated across the institutions they visit. These children now understand the harmful practices practiced in their community and their role in changing the narrative in the society.
The program also realized a gap during the COVID-19 pandemic. Young adults just out of school needed guidance and a safe space to learn about SRHR, GBV & SGBV. To bridge this gap, Dandelion expanded the program to reach the youth through the back pack nurse program which the youth relied on to access HIV Testing, pregnancy tests, access to family planning and other SRHR services. The nurses were also accompanied by peer counsellors who educated the young adults on SRHR practices in an effort to dissuade them from preying on young school-going girls. This embodied holistic interventions towards girl’s re-entry during COVID.
Due to high demand and numbers of youth interested in youth friendly services and in an effort to create a sustainability model for the program, Dandelion is constructing a youth center that will accommodate over 100 youth. The youth center is also meant to prepare the girls for leaders’, boys for change beneficiaries for a career. This will go a long way in breaking down societal and cultural barriers for them in achieving Gender Equality
Social Inclusion should be at the heart of development programs, Dandelion Africa demonstrates this. While the society plays a big role in propagating regressive norms and practices among its members, it is also true that involving all members of the society is essential in creating a different narrative on gender roles and harmful practices. By also educating young adults, equipping the girls with information to develop their agency and educating the boys on the tenets of girls’ empowerment we ensure genuine progress in Gender Equality. Dandelion Africa is one of the community driven organizations in our network making real change at the grassroots level. They currently have more calls from head teachers to expand their network and enroll their schools. Do you want to adopt a school with Dandelion Africa? Reach them on info@dandelionafrica.org and let’s work together to KEEP girls in schools.