By Mabinty Kamara
Women in governance in the modern era are underrepresented in most countries worldwide as compared to their male counterparts.
In Africa, out of 54 countries only Liberia has a female president. This shows that equal representation of the sexes in governance is still an evolving concept in Africa and some parts of the world.
Even the United States, the bastion of democratic governance in contemporary societies, lacks an enviable record of equal representation in governance. Though the United States has 50.8 % of women out of it total population and most are educated with 52% of all professional jobs, according to the US-based Center for American Progress; yet they substantially lag behind men when it comes to representation in leadership positions.
This huge underrepresentation of women in governance is a direct result of many factors ranging from the unwillingness of women to participate in governance, high rate of illiteracy, tradition, religion and the domineering tendencies of men, some of whom tend to subscribe to the notion that women should take the back seat on issues of national importance.
Many women, even the educated, lack the courage to participate in governance for fear that they might be ridiculed or not supported during election; this is compounded by the feeling that the upkeep and welfare of the home rests squarely on their shoulders.
African tradition, which largely disagrees with the concept of gender equality, has also played a great part in relegating women to inferior positions. This situation has compelled women to play second fiddle to men, hence spelling an aura of unproductivity of women in national life.
Religion has also placed barriers on the realisation of women empowerment; especially in countries run by the Islamic law, whose precepts do not resonate well with the concept of gender equality. As such a greater percentage of the Muslim women in such countries cannot go beyond voting during elections.
Again, communities cannot lose sight of the domineering tendencies of men who always want to be at the helm of affairs at the expense of women’s participation. The disparity of participation of the sexes is clearly manifested by the jobs occupied by men and women both in the public and private sectors.
Sierra Lone is one of those nations that are exploring measures to improve on women’s participation in governance. But what is presented on paper is a far cry from the reality on the ground. The trend in the current political dispensation reveals that the Minister of Local Government, Diana Konomanyi, is the only substantive female minister in the Ernest Bai Koroma-led administration. Out of 28 ministries, only six have female ministers and five of which are deputies.
In the parliament, only 14 women out of 109 members with the exception of four vacant seats occupy parliamentary seats.
Political analysts have argued that such numbers are still a drop in the ocean, and this frustrates the effort of those fighting for gender equality.
As the road to women’s empowerment gets bumpy, a number of women advocacy organizations are generating consciousness among their fellow women through coalition building, public education and sensitisation through the media.
These organisations are of the firm conviction that education is the main tool for women’s empowerment. This conviction agrees with the penetrating statement made by the former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan:
“There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women,” he said.
The 50-50 Group founded in 1997 advocates the empowerment of women through their inclusion in the national governance structures. The organization bears it in mind that although peace had returned to the country through great sacrifices of women, the ideal platform where women can exhibit their talents is yet to be created.
Forum for African Women Educationalists is another organisation in Sierra Leone working on women’s empowerment through education. Theresa Nyallay, project coordinator, told Politico that women can participate equally with their male counterparts in governance only when they are educated.
Madam Nyallay therefore appealed to parents to send their girl children to school so that no academic inequality would characterise them when it is time to take positions of national trust and responsibility.
Businessman Dr Adonis Abboud has once described women as “an important instrument of social change in society if giving the chance to display their talents.” He said the transformation of any society can be guaranteed only if women were given their rightful places to contribute to national development.
“Women should refrain from being spectators and come to the fore to participate in national development,” he cautioned.
Augusta James Thelma, Chairperson of the National Democratic Alliance Party, is an embodiment of the struggle of women for a place on the national table, as it were.
Thelma is also head of the All Political Parties Association. She believes that position of trust should be allocated on the basis of merit. She said although working with men was difficult, she enjoyed working with them.
“As long as a woman is competent to attain a particular height especially in politics, some men and even women will try to discourage you, but at the end of the day, they will be left with no option but to support you,” she said.
The bottom line, she said, is for women to stand out and believe in themselves. She said if women were willing to go into politics, good governance could be assured.
Sounding rather biblical, she noted that women were created with the heart of a mother, and that by putting them in positions of trust, national needs such as ensuring good health facilities, social welfare, water and sanitation and other areas like corruption that have been a challenge for successive governments can be addressed. She argued that women do not have as much needs as men when they assume positions of trust.
“I can’t have more than two boyfriends, for whom I will have to provide economic and social needs, and buy fancy cars and many houses all to myself,” she said.
In spite of the frantic effort made by all these organisations in the name of women’s empowerment, there is unfortunately not much to be desired in reality.
While we work towards this, we must have at the back of our minds the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report which recommended a 30% quota for women in the distribution of governance of positions.
(C) Politico 25/02/16
