3.Gender Equality is Really an Issue

Women in America make an average of 0.76 cents for every dollar that men make in the same position or rank. Gender inequality is not a new concept for anyone, but it is especially prevalent in Uganda. Women are given jobs that require them to serve men; waitressing and cleaning are popular female jobs. Men also will not perform tasks that are seen as a woman's job, such as cooking, cleaning, sewing, child care, and shopping.

You would almost never see a man doing this

In 2008, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa released a progress report document entitled, "Action: On Gender Equality, Women's Empowerment and Ending Violence Against Women in Africa." In the Economic Participation section of the report it states, "Women in Africa experience greater challenges in accessing decent jobs than men. Women's share of employment in the formal sector is still lower relative to men and their pay is on average lower than man's pay for the same work." The same issues of gender inequality in the work place that we experience here in America, are happening in Africa, though a major difference is that women in America have more of a voice against it than women in Africa.

Our partner Emanuel felt moderately uncomfortable sitting next to me on a level field but it was okay because I am white.

The UNECA report gives a reason why women have such a hard time finding work in Africa. The "lack of education, inadequate access to training, discrimination and cultural attitudes about (women) in the work place" all contribute to their lack of employment. Women are typically "overrepresented in low-income, less secure employment" and "amongst the unemployed." There is a lack of focus on the necessity to educate and train women because of the social inclination against women in the workforce.

As a female in American society, I am appalled by the social stigmatization of working women in Africa and America. The gender roles that we all submit to have been around for generations and so has the gender discrimination that comes with it.

In the UNECA report, they state a definition of gender equality: "women having equal access to social, economic, political and cultural opportunities as men. It does not mean that women and men are the same, but rather that their similarities and differences are recognized and equally valued." It seems that at times people want to say that creating gender equality would blur the line between the genders, but as this definition states, equality means equally valued not necessarily the same.

Our favorite lady at the Patron Hotel, a common lunch spot.

If you take a moment to look throughout history, some of the most influential and inspirational people are women. Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mother Theresa. It is because they had the courage and gumption to stand up for themselves and the rest of the female population. So why is this still happening?

Yes, you can argue that it's Africa. The inherent cultural differences between Uganda and America explain the continuing gender discrimination in Uganda (and all of Africa). But then, what is there to explain the fact that women in America receive the same disrespect?

To read the full UNECA report, visit the website below.

http://www.uneca.org/adfvi/documents/ADFVI_Progress_Report_ENG.pdf