A Day’s Journey

Kenya — August 2022

There can be no equality without women’s equality. I’m inspired to write this by my guide the past month- Mama Pesh- the only GAdventures female East African tour guide. Not only is she pushing boundaries for women, but is also inspiring her own daughter, females in her community, and woman on her travels.

UNICEF released a women’s empowerment index (WEI), which was a milestone in evidenced based policy making. In 2015, analysis showed that only 29% of women in Kenya aged 15-49 identified as “empowered,” with most residing in urban areas.

Historically, the women’s empowerment movement in Africa began in the 1970s with the “United Nations Decade for Women.” In 1976, countries were called on to include greater women participation in political, economic, social ,and cultural spheres. In 2003, the Maputo Protocol was introduced in Africa, which continues to enforce the above and also includes women’s autonomy over their reproductive health and female genital mutilation. In Kenya, the constitution was amended in 2010 to safeguard women’s empowerment. However, it is often not enforced and women report having to go to the police and pay bribes to have the laws enforced. After 2010, Kenya was divided into 47 counties to be headed by elected governors. It was not until 2017, that three women took governors seats. In the most recent election (I was there), seven females won governor seats.

Globally, Kenya ranks 109/153 in the 2020 Global Gender Gap rankings by the World Economic Forum, and 137/189 in the Gender Inequality Index by the United Nations. Although Kenyan women represent about 50% of the population, they are more likely to be impoverished, undereducated, and obtain less formal employment than their male counterparts. The health and wellbeing of Kenyan women is also impacted by other factors. Sexual and gender based violence was reported by 45% of women aged 15-49 in 2014. Female genital mutilation and child marriageable are reported by 11% of women aged 15-19 (adolescents). These numbers are drastically decreasing though due to new legislation protecting women.

It is frustrating to travel and see women and girls still spending time collecting water and firewood and performing household chores that prevent school attendance or formal work options. Even though over 70% of the agricultural workforce is female, they cannot own the land. Even widows are not entitled to inherit any of their former husbands estates or assets, leaving them further impoverished and homeless. A World Bank publication found that improvement in women’s land rights would actually grow the agriculture sector, thereby increasing child schooling and nutritional intake. Female genital mutilation represses female sexuality and introduces new sexual health problems that often aren’t addressed properly. Despite the negatives seen and felt, Kenya has introduced the Sustainable Development Agenda with the vision of a sustainable future and “leaving nobody behind” by the year 2030. Closing the gender gap is one of their chief goals to achieve this vision. Not perfect, but at least being acknowledged and worked on.

In today’s world, there is the schema called, “the strong black woman,” which scholars define as an archetype for how black woman should act in society, such as having emotional restraint, independence, and caretaking. While the schema includes some admirable traits, it stems from a history of slavery and has unrealistic expectations. This can impact black women’s health as a result. For example, I remember learning about racism in healthcare during PT school and how patients of different color are treated differently. The danger in believing in this inaccurate stereotype can lead to them seeking care less or receiving insufficient care, or black women reporting higher levels of stress/anxiety and working in jobs with less flexibility. Studies have also shown doctors are more likely to underestimate a black person’s pain. Also most medical standards are based off how the white person reacts to diagnosis and treatment.

Malcolm X once said, “The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” Just highlighting that this is not just a Kenya, not just an African, but a global issue. Women’s empowerment is health, and that includes all women.