Our UN Women Gender Equality Study reveals more about the barriers and beliefs that are holding women back and inhibiting progress towards the mission of the Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls).
The data shows that women in both countries believe they have less control over their lives when it comes to education, employment, social standing and personal finances. Hence it is difficult, if not sometimes impossible, for them to aspire to hold positions of strength in society, particularly in owning or buying property, running for elected office, or rising to powerful roles in business.
Financial independence is something they might dream of, but few have full confidence it can be attained, not only because of the laws that inhibit gender equality but also because of societal behaviours and systems that discourage it.
Too many decisions within the household are controlled by men and women do not have equal say or power. The role of the woman is driven by a belief that her place is in the home, and any work outside the home means the children will suffer more than if men work outside the home.
This attitude is compounded by the societal acceptance that women should not earn the same pay as men, even if doing the same tasks and women do not have the same ability to own property or position themselves as head of household by contributing more financially. If men remain fearful of women’s success, and women themselves do not advocate for it, it is unsurprising that progress towards gender equality is slow.
54% of Nigerians and 42% of Kenyans believe that the media contributes to gender bias by only portraying men in certain powerful roles and women in traditional, familial roles. 55% of Nigerians believe that by doing so, society limits its expectations of women to staying within traditional roles and not extending beyond them.
39% of Kenyans would also agree. Yet three-quarters of citizens from both countries (74% of Nigerians and 77% of Kenyans) believe it is essential for society, as a whole, to treat women as equal.
Regulations will be critical to overcome the societal barriers and cultural beliefs holding women back
The evidence suggests that progress towards gender equality in these countries will not be easy. Nigeria is behind the curve on women’s political representation and lacks any mandate to address this.
Without regulations to prevent discrimination against women in employment, or to ensure equal pay for equal work, progress may come only through pressure from within Nigeria and the voices of current political leaders and citizens demanding change.
Indeed, there is a citizen appetite for change. When asked how important it is to balance the rights of women in Nigeria, almost 7 in 10 agreed it was important when it comes to women’s rights in education (76%), business (69%), healthcare (84%), financial equality (71%).
Kenya also has a long road ahead to achieve gender equality. The Kenyan National Bureau of Statistics reports that women make up only one-third of the employed workforce, yet they provide 80% of the farm labour market.
And despite their majority in the farm labour market, women own only 1% of the land, often through inheritance or where the head of the household is deceased.
Those women who do work in the formal sector earn 32% less than men which further embeds their vulnerability in society and makes it harder for them to get a high-quality education (36%), get hired as a skilled worker (25%), run for elected office (18%), own property (28%) and manage and control their finances (40%).
The role of policy interventions and media representation in the journey to gender equality
So, for change to happen in African countries, there are multiple structural and attitudinal barriers that must be addressed.
Women need the same access as men to a formal third level education, they need more access to family planning services, and more control over their lives and decisions within and beyond the household, including the right to participate in the labour market, gain experience and skills and climb the career ladder, with equal pay for equal work, if they so choose.
They need the skills and expertise to manage their finances and access to financial systems that give them equal rights related to land, property and running a business.
Alongside these structural changes and policy interventions, it may well be that the media can also play a powerful role in shifting entrenched attitudes and moving the dial towards greater gender equality.
The recently appointed, highly successful and influential women in seats of power across Africa and beyond, can be role models and also powerful advocates if they use their expertise, strengths and skills to push for gender equality and bring every country across the African continent closer to the 2030 SGD Goal 5 on achieving gender equality.