Gender Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, despite the historical contribution of women to the economy of the Sub-Saharan African region during the pre-colonial era; today, women face formidable social and economic barriers, which exploit them. The paper points out the history, effects and possible solutions to gender inequality in politics and economics in this region. The paper also discusses the need for agricultural education for women to increase productivity and a constitutionally defined quota system to boost female participation. The paper concludes that gender inequality in politics and economics in Sub-Saharan Africa is an obstacle to the development of the region.

From the Paper:

"The second strategy suggested is to act immediately to increase the productivity of subsistence producers. Immediate gains could be realized by increasing women's access to land credit, tools and appropriate technologies. The third strategy suggested is to change the definitions and assumptions made by conventional development policies in order to collect information that creates a realistic picture of subsistence economies. Personally, I believe they are other steps that could be taken by governments in Sub-Saharan Africa that could improve women's political and economical participation."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "AFRICAN WOMEN AND THE WTO: WHAT IS AT STAKE." Make Poverty History. To CanadaaE(TM)s coalition to end global poverty. 5 Dec. 2008 <http://http://www.ccic.ca/e/docs/004_news_african_women_and_the_wto.pdf>.
• Alphern, Stanley B. Amazons of Black Sparta : The Women Warriors of Dahomey. NewYork, NY: NYU P, 1998. 1-280.
• Neal, Christopher, and Nazanine Atabaki. "Equity Enhances The Power Of Growth To Reduce Poverty: World Development Report 2006." 20 Sept. 2005. The World Bank. 5 Dec. 2008 <http://http://web.worldbank.org/wbsite/external/news/0,,contentmdk:20653001~menupk:34463~pagepk:34370~pipk:34424~thesitepk:4607,00.html>.
• "NOTABLE WOMEN OF NIGERIA." July-Aug. 2007. 10 Dec. 2008 <http://http://www.motherlandnigeria.com/women.html#amina>.
• Potter, Mitch. "CongoaE(TM)s Female Victims of Violence Benefit from micro-farming assistance." Weblog post. Women farmers creating sustainable economy in Africa; Congo victims benefit. 27 July 2008. 5 Dec. 2008 <http://http://yuyajoe.wordpress.com/2008/07/27/women-farmers-creating-sustainable-economy-in-africa-congo-victims-benefit/>.

More papers on Gender Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa:

• Term Paper # 149933 : "Millennium Development Goals for Sub-Saharan Africa"
• Comparison Essay # 63850 : "Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa"

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