IWD: Distant echo for rural women
AS we commemorate Women’s Month, the Zimbabwe Independent this week invited a guest writer. While International Women's Day was celebrated with much extravagance in Zimbabwe last week, the experiences of many rural young women paint a different picture.
Their daily lives often lack the opportunities and advancements highlighted in speeches and press statements.
It is important to note that while the government and various organisations issued statements emphasising the need to eliminate discrimination against women and promote their rights, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
The prevalence of child marriages, gender-based violence, and limited access to education and healthcare for women and girls in rural areas show that there is still a long way to go in achieving gender equality in Zimbabwe.
In a 2018 statement to mark International Women’s Day, International Labour Organisation (ILO) director-general, Guy Ryder, said rural women must not be overlooked in policy decisions. Sadly, to date the situation has not changed.
“Rural women make up over one-fourth of the world’s population and between 41 and 60% of its agricultural workforce. They are farmers, wage earners and entrepreneurs,” his statement reads in part.
“Women from indigenous and tribal communities are often custodians of traditional knowledge that is key for communities’ livelihoods, resilience and culture, as well as for strong climate action.
“Yet, rural women are more likely to be informal, low-wage workers without any social protection, and many work without pay for a family enterprise — and that means their work is largely unrecognised and undervalued.
“They also shoulder a disproportionate amount of unpaid care and household work.
In addition, women’s presence in rural workers’ and employers’ organisations remain low, leaving them without voice and representation.
“They are at high risk of abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence,” his statement further states.
He said rural women must not be overlooked in policy decisions that can drive empowerment and improvement.
These include policies for productive employment with equal opportunities and treatment, policies to promote entrepreneurship and policies that support affordable child and eldercare.
Many rural young women may not have even heard of International Women's Day, let alone understand its significance.
The day may seem like just another event for the urban elites and policymakers, with little impact on the lives of those struggling to survive in remote villages.
For many rural young women in Zimbabwe, International Women's Day likely passed unnoticed.
Lofty speeches about gender equality and empowerment may feel like distant echoes when basic needs like food security and education for their children remain unmet.
Unless these press statements translate into concrete actions that dismantle the barriers women face, the ideals of International Women's Day will continue to ring hollow for those living in poverty and isolation.
It is crucial for policymakers and activists to consider the realities faced by rural young women in Zimbabwe when crafting initiatives to promote gender equality.
International Women's Day should not just be a day for empty and symbolic gestures, but a reminder of the urgent need for concrete actions to make a difference in the lives of all women and girls, regardless of their background or location.
Until then, the relevance of International Women's Day to rural young women in Zimbabwe will remain questionable at best. Gama is a woman human rights defender and a programmes officer at the Girls Table. She is passionate about the inclusion of girls and young women in spaces where decisions are made, especially in marginalised communities. Her work focuses on empowering girls and young women to be agents of change in their communities and advocating for their rights. Views shared in this article are her own and not The Girls Table’s or any other organisation she is affiliated with. — sandragama2105@gmail.com