Gender Equality

Gender inequality is persistent in our communities in Africa. As a result, women have less access to education and economic opportunities. In most areas, the literacy rates for women are much lower than those for men. While the literacy should not be the only measure of equality, it is an important indicator since literacy is a crucial step toward gaining access to economic oportunities and having a voice in contemporary African societies.

The origins of the current disparity between the sexes in African communities are rooted in the colonial period, when European colonialists and African elites thought of women as intellectually inferior and therefore excluded them from the formal education system. While girls are now encouraged for the most part to go to school, the attitudes and beliefs instilled during the colonial period still pervade to some degree. And, a large portion of women who were born during the colonial era cannot participate in the contemporary workplace because they do not read and write. This leads to male domination in most of our family institutions. Since the man is the wage-earner, he is the one that provides money for his family in most cases he dominates the family.

We believe that one way to alleviate gender inequality is to place monetary value on the unique skills of African women, such as handcrafting shea butter, and compensate them with fair values for their products and knowledge. This economic and moral boost will lead to more gender equality in the family institution, and hopefully help preserve our sustainable traditional technologies. Over the past two years, Agbanga Karite and Alaffia members in central Togo have seen a shift in family equality. Since Agbanga Karite members receive fair incomes, the women are able to bring money back home to assist both her children and her husband. In many cases, our members feel they have more voice and power in their families and communities. They also say the regular salary gives them more time, decreases their anxieties about providing for their children, and gives them a sense of freedom.