BY ABEBE WOLDEGIORGIS
It has been over four decades since the outbreak of the Ethiopian revolution in 1974. The then newly established Derg government which pursued socialist ideology declared that “March 8” women international day to be celebrated annually.
Historically, women’s struggle internationally began in the second half of the 19th century in Europe and the United States of America. That time capitalism was flourishing in both continents. The advent of labor intensive industries such as textile, sugar and extended farming created job opportunities to women.
However, there were no labor laws which protect women rights. As a result, they had no rights to organize themselves and defend their professional rights. Women were less paid as compared to their male counterparts; they had no right to get permission such as maternal leave and no job security because whenever the capitalists face financial constraints, they would be laid off. Besides, they had been marginalized from their respective countries’ social and political affairs.
They had no rights to vote and to be elected. Getting better education was also hard to women so that they were coerced to engage in jobs that require hard labor. In the United States, for instance, women had no rights to vote in election let alone to be elected until the end of the Second World War. However, as time passed, women’s struggle for their rights bore some fruits both in Europe and USA. The struggle gave birth to women leadership considered as a step forward.
The renowned German women leader Clara Zetkin is remembered in this regard. In 1870, she could transform the struggle to the higher level and governments gave concession to women’s demand and most of their questions received responses. Legislative bodies enacted laws which recognized women rights and continued to be enforced.
Following the end of the Second World War, the establishment of the United Nations paved way to introduce conventions regarding respect to women rights that member countries were signatories. According to some sources, the UN member countries depending on their economic, political and social development have exerted efforts to implement the conventions which help women empowerment.
Countries that reached to the higher level of economic and political advancement, effectively executed laws introduced to protect women rights. On the other hand, poor countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America failed to enforce laws with regard to women rights due to their underdevelopment and inefficient institutions.
In addition to institutional and law enforcing capacity limitations, the deep rooted culture which marginalized women from the socio-political and economic affairs hampered women empowerment. According to the recent UN report, women in Southern and Central Asia regarded as creatures created only to serve males. In Afghanistan, for instance, the law introduced by Taliban regime has stipulated families not to send their daughters to school.
It is obvious that the uneducated women do not get access to job and their joblessness forced them to found themselves in poverty and males’ dependent. Women were allowed to get only religious education and attending secular education was forbidden. The law was strictly enforced and if women violate it, they would face death penalty. Watching movies also made women vulnerable to punishment be it physically or staying in jail.
Such cultural practices are common in the male dominated societies such as Pakistan. If a husband sees his wife wearing clothe which does not go along with their cultural norms, he can punish her without appealing to court. The culture allows him to bit and tight in rope and put in house for longer time without providing the necessary meal. Some even face death penalty. In cases her family appeal to the court that the culprits to face justice, she never get justice because culturally the society is male dominated.
Similar to other continents, in Africa women are still in the disadvantageous position. In the rural part of the continent, women are living in appalling poverty. They are engaged in works which require them hard labor like farming and harvesting crops. They fetch water which took them up to 8 hours a day. The whole household work is carried out by women. They spend much time searching for fire wood, carry it on their back and walk long way which in turn risks their health.
In their house, they prepare food, nurture their children and wash clothes and other utensils. During the harvest time, they take the harvested crop either by their own or on animals’ back to the market. Nevertheless, their contribution to the home’s economy never receives recognition from the husbands’ side.
In the rural part, females hardly go to school. Hence, they do not get chance to uplift their living status to the better position but forced to repeat their parents’ life. They also face abduction because the culture still allows male to do so and their parents tolerate the case handling only through agreement. Abduction critically imposes psychological trauma on the victim and is emotionally painful. Because of forceful sexual intercourse, females in some cases are exposed to fistula problem. In such situation, their future might be gloomy unless gets treatment.
As mentioned above in 1975 the Derg regime announced that, it accepted women rights and abided by the law which Ethiopia is signatory with regard to respecting women’s rights. Women’s association was established at the national level for the first time and branches of the association also were established in all administrative levels downward. In addition, women, not only by their gender, but also could organize by their professions.
During the imperial era, women were only regarded as supporters of family on the household affairs and to engage in rearing children. Lately, however, the expansion of Education in various parts of the country increased the number of women’s enrollment and the number of women employee in the civil service had been increased. Not only was this, the number of women graduated from higher education increased during the Derg regime. Equally with their male counterparts, female students above grade 10th up to the university level participated in the educational development ‘campaign’ took place in 1975.
Similar to Derg, recognition of women rights during the EPRDF regime was continued and some of the rights were also enshrined in the constitution. Additional supportive rules and regulations which advance women rights also introduced.
This time, empowering women also featured in various dimensions. For the first time Ministry of Women affairs led by women established. Departments that promote women rights also established in various government institutions. In some institutions children day care centers are established so that women workers can bring their children there instead of letting them to the house maids.
The expansion of educational institution in the last two decades all over the country also brought tremendous opportunities to women. Though there is remarkable amount of school dropouts yet, the number of female students’ enrollment is increasing and this again in one way or another has brought positive impact on women’s life.
The increasing of the involvement of the private sector in investing in higher education has also created better opportunities to women. Currently be it in the capital or in the regional towns, hundreds of colleges have been established and those who do not get chance to enroll in the public colleges could get enrolled and pursue their higher education. Better educated women have better chance to get employment and to live independently.
Currently, women can manage not only their family affairs but also play pivotal role in the country’s political, social and economic affairs. There are numerous women appointed in the Council of Ministers of Ethiopia. In every five years the country conducts election both at national and regional levels and looking women competing in the election both by representing opposition and ruling party is common.
By now, the number of women in the legislative branch of the government is higher in which the nation had ever experienced in its recent history. In the regional governments’ legislatives also their number is enhanced.
However, no one denies that still women are the vanguard victim of the political upheaval and conflict pervasive here and there. When conflict and war breakout, women with their children face eviction and will be forced to live in emergency camps. Women who previously survived by their own effort forced to look others help.
Not only these, in the pastoral areas, when they face severe crises due to extreme climate change, women face eviction and their livelihood also disrupted when they lose their cattle. The recent Borena and other areas incident can be mentioned as a case in point.
In the urban centers, according to the studies conducted by non-governmental institution recently, most female led families live below the poverty line. In case they face divorce, women suffer a great deal more than males. As males are a bread winner in most families, when a marriage breaks apart they suffer the brunt of poverty.
Due to desperate situation, thousands of women take migration as a way out and on their way they face various pains including rape and being killed by human traffickers. In sum, though progress is witnessed in empowering women in various fields, they are the first victims due to rampant poverty and political instability. Thus, in order to reverse the situation prioritizing the women issues is essential.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 19 APRIL 2023
