April 28, 2016
The African Youth Corner (AYC) had a Twitter Chat in March 2016 to address Gender Inequality. Our distinguish guests on the chat; Ndifreke Andrew-Essien (Mandela Washington Fellow and Executive Director of FAEcare Foundation) and Daberechi Okedurum (Sidney Parnes Global Fellow) were present to explicitly deal with the matter. The chat was quite interesting, educating and a whole lot enlightening as we were joined by passionate young Africans.
We examined gender inequality from different view point, factors that influence gender inequality in our societies, how much advocacy had been carried out to spread the message of gender equality, and tools that can help amplify the voice of advocacy and ensure a society void of gender disparity.
Excerpts from the conversation:
- Gender Equality is a process that includes ALL irrespective of gender.
- Gender Equality is not feminism, it is finally realizing that empowering a woman does not disenfranchise you.
- Gender Equity is fairness between sexes in access to society’s resources, including socially valued goods, rewards and opportunities.
- Gender inequality affects both men and women.
- It is neither a man’s or woman’s world, it is ‘or’ world. Let us make it work.
- Some of the issues that center deep seated gender inequality are deeply rooted in culture.
- The home is the best place to start the sensitization for gender equality.
- Cooperate organizations can consciously develop policy guides and action guides to empower staff and stakeholders.
- Gender inequality gaps and disparities between men and women in relation to power, resources and opportunities.
- Gender inequality has grown to be a norm given our cultural background, however we can start from there to address cases
- Gender based violence is oppression and suppression and should be criminalized
- First instance on gender based violence is knowledge of what abuse is. Some women do not even know where tough love stops and where abuse begins.
- Social media discussions and interactions are dynamic advocacy tools.
- Sensitization should be driven to giving positions based on merit and not gender.
- To achieve equal outcomes measures, recognize disadvantages that prevent women and men from sharing a level playing field.
- Teaching women their rights is also essential in accessing protection and in the fight against GBV.
- GBV can be curbed if the government reverses marriage laws that are institutionally biased against women.
- In the cause that is gender, do not forget the girl/woman living with disability. She is also a woman and deserves EQUALITY.
- Laws passed by the government to address GBV should be implemented without bias.
- Gender inequality is a mentality and can be corrected with everyone’s contribution.
We then created a form (http://goo.gl/forms/cjvczDpVN7) to check gender inequality in other parts of the world. Feel free to fill it, it will take only 2 minutes of your time.
African Youth Corner 