What would become of our Generation without Women’s Contribution?
By Arol Dut Jok, Nairobi, Kenya
November 30, 2015 (SSB) — Women in most developing countries have been the source of wealth, happiness and good life for many men in other communities. Their contribution is fundamental in alleviating general poverty whether they earn a monetary income or contribute to home through unremunerated labour.
Indeed this contribution becomes a reproductive tax permitting savings on health costs, childcare and care for older persons in other families. These contributions by women to wellbeing become the source of disadvantages they suffer when they seek to join labour force in an effort to gain economic independence.
In the context of south Sudan, most development plans and policies at the national and state levels have been a little gender-conscious if not totally gender-blind since comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) and after our independence. In brief, a handful of government plans and policies have not been gender responsive by recognizing existing gender imbalances in South Sudan.
Women have therefore been constrained in participating effectively in the development processes because their subordinate position in various communities is ignored in development planning and policy making. These planning and policy making processes in the country have equally failed to appreciate the fact that both women and men had played significant roles during our liberation struggle.
Furthermore, when it comes specifically to educational policies, their ability to fully utilize their intellectual energies in management of their domains is limited. Very few women have access to institutions of higher learning. Generally in South Sudan, women constitute less than 18% of the total university population. Under-representation of women in higher education partly explains the marginalization of women in main stream of development planning, a factor which limits their contribution to nation building. This means that very few women are now able to contribute to the management of their communities as managers, intellectuals and politicians as epitomized by the share of 25% at the national and state parliaments.
Inasmuch as the above title is concerned, one is left to worry as to whether South Sudan as a developing nation can ever achieve success without women’s contribution. However, the present state of women in South Sudan is not free from some cultural aspects that have played a major role in women isolation.
Howbeit, some people have used culture to justify their subordinate position in the households, a factor which excludes women from property ownership. It has also been used to justify the existing unequal division of labour. As some cultural norms concerning age of marriage and marriage rights have limited women participation in formal schooling, women themselves have to create an alternative culture that challenges the one endorsed by several communities. This is the context in which women initiatives have to be realized.
How then, can we give chance to women in our communities to engage in decision making and planning processes at the government, civil and private sectors? In my personal view, it is a living truth that without women contribution, any society is likely to be considered a failure in all aspects wanting to register it as a success. Women, in every society, are a fundamental core forming the strength of their traditions, beliefs and practices, some being understandable at individual, group and social levels.
As such, it narrates the famous story that behind every successful man, there is a woman. In most obvious cases, it is these successful men who are seen as initiators of our traditions, beliefs, cultures and norms. Thus it is clear, hence, that women participation, though not appreciated by many African traditional beliefs, works behind the scenes in shaping individual as well as group behavior. Considering this unremunerated effort by women to shape the livelihoods of many people, one is left without an idea but a question as to whether such contribution has ever been seen and appreciated here in South Sudan.
Yes, it has been seen, though not appreciated in many a good times. In the current government, the statistics relating to female representation in the parliament and in executive as I stated earlier point to the challenge that our political elites must address in order to improve gender balance in the public service. This will definitely allow women to fully participate in various fields at which they may be able to change some challenges such as the current political situation in the country.
Given the fact that our country got its independence barely four years ago, I have seen many good ambitions and heard several speeches from government bureaucrats as well as some political analysts and academicians arguing that in order for South Sudan to reach the most desired level of progress, we must all together start from where the world is.
Notwithstanding, starting all together from where the world is needs us to change some number of aspects of political culture which cause discriminatory biases against South Sudan women. These include some government structural forms that are engendered by primitive traditions which are unfavorable to women progress, unequal influence to social networks and unfair use of time which constrains women to focus on reproductive tasks.
The days when women stayed at home and only cared for the children are largely vanished in other African countries where traditions have once been more dominant and influential. This should also be a desire of our diverse communities.
Per contra, it should not be construed by some South Sudanese women to mean taking to undermining the significant roles in making household decisions. As a powerful decision-making force, women are often well acquainted with harder and tiring responsibilities of their community and may be in good position to analyze and decide how best to improve that community.
While considering this fact, increasing the role of women in community development plans can lead to a more cooperative approach that aims at improving the lives of all citizens. Therefore in order for us to prosper as a state, it is our collective responsibility to welcome South Sudanese women in public service and give them total participation in decision making processes in the country.
In conclusion, it should be noted that these article is by an author who seeks to promote genuine gender equality within the framework of its effort to reduce inequality in economic, social and political life in South Sudan.
The writer is a student and can be reached via email; fergusonarol@gmail.com
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