SDG Blog 10

 

 Rwanda ranks in the top 5 for gender equality yet roles of men and women are still complicated and just as prevalent as a country who is behind in gender equality. In comparison to the US which ranks number 45 we see how high Rwanda is on the scale. Even though Rwanda is one of the most "pro women" countries in the world "feminism is not seen as a good thing" (npr, p. 9). In a way Rwanda was forced to make drastic changes in gender equality in order for their economy to not suffer which is still not a real way of addressing the issue.  

Why is that?

The country of Rwanda face a genocied which followed 100 days of slaughter leaving the society in chaos, with a death toll between 800,000 and 1millions. This left the Rwandan society with more women than men meaning women had to step up in a huge way. "The call for equality was let not by thousands of women but by one man - President Paul Kagame"  (npr, p. 19). Kagame decided that the Rwandan society was so demolished and broken that it needed women and men's labor in order to rebuild. The country passed a new constitution in 2003 and decreed that "30 percent of parliamentary seats be reserved for women"  (npr, p. 19). The government also pledged to appoint leadership roles to women and encouraged the education of girl. These new policies were embraces so much that they went beyond the mandate and 64 percent of parliamentary seats went to women in the next election. 

Although all these new changes were great and the economy was progressing, socially women were still facing the same issues they always did. Women were still expected to cook, clean, care for children, perform "wifely duties" and stay in a woman's place. Even the husbands of women who were members of parliament were still expected to polish their husbands shoes, iron their clothes, and prepare their food.  Men still do not see women as equals even though they both work the same jobs, both provided for their families, and both bring home the "bread." Even the women who do work in government are not allowed to advance to high office because there is still that level of "women staying in their place" and only taking the little they are given.

In order to address this issue the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion of Solina Nyirahabimana "intends to prevent discrimination from being seeded starting with installing gender equality principles in children" (Ngm, p. ). Teenage boys and girl act out plays based on what they have learned about combating gender stereotypes in after school clubs. They are also teaching boys about women's rights and making them question discriminatory practices. I believe starting with children is a very impressive way of combating this issue because a lot of times adults are already stuck in their ways so it is easier to focus on the future generation. 

How does Climate Change affect Rwandan Women?

Skin erosion and degradation are the main challenges facing farmers throughout Rwanda and the Garden for Health International has begin teaching students how to avoid soil erosions. The women are learning strategies and figuring out different techniques to get around climate change. Farmers are "changing how and when certain certain types of produce are sown because of the changing climate" (On earth, p. 17). The women also go back and share their new skill with other women because the organization can only train 40 women at one time. 

Works Cited

Flag of Rwanda. (2020, November 11). Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Rwanda

Ngm. (2020, June 18). How women are stepping up to remake Rwanda. Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/10/how-women-are-remaking-rwanda-feature/

This farm outside Rwanda's capital teaches women farmers how to mitigate climate change. (n.d.). Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://www.oneearth.org/this-farm-outside-rwandas-capital-teaches-women-farmers-how-to-mitigate-climate-change/

Warner, G. (2018, January 10). Rwanda Ranks In The Top 5 For Gender Equity. Do Its Teen Girls Agree? Retrieved December 01, 2020, from https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/01/10/577018509/rwanda-ranks-in-the-top-5-for-gender-equity-do-its-teen-girls-agree