Women in Benin

Last updated

Women in Benin have gained more rights since the restoration of democracy and the ratification of the Constitution, and the passage of the Personal and Family Code in 2004. These both overrode various traditional customs that systematically treated women unequally. Still, inequality and discrimination persist. "Girls from the age of five or so are actively involved in housekeeping, sibling care, and agriculture." [1] Society could think about of a woman's role are a housemaid, caretaker, or babysitter. A woman's role is to be a housemaker and nothing at all, but women have much potential to be more than a housemaker. With laws taking charge of what a woman can be as a career of how they are being useful more in the house than in a men's job position. Moreover, these rules apply to women by their gender that has not changed for a while. And there has been inequality based on being the opposite gender which these rules should immediately change if the society wants to get better to have equality for the female race.

Contents

Women in Benin
Benin baptism3.jpg
A woman in Benin
General Statistics
Maternal mortality  (per 100,000)350 (2010)
Women in parliament 8.4% (2013)
Women over 25 with secondary education 11.2% (2012)
Women in labour force67.5% (2012)
Gender Inequality Index [2]
Value0.602(2021)
Rank152nd out of 191
Global Gender Gap Index [3]
Value0.612 (2022)
Rank138th out of 146
Women on motorcycle Ageless Equity.jpg
Women on motorcycle

Human Rights Issues

Female genital mutilation has been described as “the worst substantial human rights violation in Benin.” [4] About 13 percent of women and girls have been subjected to it (over 70 percent in some regions and tribes), but the law against it is rarely enforced. Prostitution, especially child prostitution, is also common, with the clients often being sex tourists. Sexual harassment is also common, with many female students being abused by their teachers." This is the sacrosanct rule of the strong sex over the weak sex. [5] " Society wants to keep the gender roles traditional as men are dominant in their relationship. Since the society wants to keep the social hierarchy of men being at the top of the hierarchy while the women are stuck at the bottom which they want it to keep it that way as long the hierarchy stays the same without changes. These discriminations against women are lowering their confidence to be nothing else than a weak gender of the hierarchy while the male are staying at a superior gender. Women and girls from Benin are struggling to find an opportunity to be an individual and not being a non existing human being. And, one of the disadvantages of being a woman in Benin is lack of individualism which being themselves is against their cultural traditions based on the gender roles they have set up as how women should appropriately behave around in their society.

Although it is a criminal offense punishable by up to two years in prison, enforcement is slack. Local customs which are unfavorable to women no longer have the force of law in Benin, where women enjoy equal rights under the constitution, including in matters related to marriage and inheritance. Still, they experience a great deal of social and employment discrimination owing to traditional attitudes about sex roles, [6] and have a much harder time obtaining credit and when widowed do not have the right to manage their own property. [7] Women in rural areas play subordinate roles and do a great deal of hard labor. [6] These women has been through challenges of being neglected and insulted by their country based on the rules that are created by men. There are still men are continuing to keep having negative comments over women. "Men, in turn, know that they enjoy many advantages which they consider perfectly normal." [8]

Women who have experienced discrimination or abuse which they are keeping their own thoughts in silent until someone can start a change to see how women can be something more than a weak gender but, an opportunity to create a change for them and for the next generation for women empowerment. Women can seek assistance from Women in Law and Development-Benin, the Female Jurists Association of Benin (AFJB), and the Women's Justice and Empowerment Initiative through Care International's Empower Project. [6] A 2012 U.S. report commended Benin for establishing the National Council for the Promotion of Gender Equity and Equality. [9]

Experiencing Discrimination and Abuse

Women who have experienced discrimination or abuse keep their own thoughts silent until someone starts a change. They then see how women can be more than a weak gender but, an opportunity to create a change for them and for the next generation for women empowerment. Women can seek assistance from Women in Law and Development-Benin, the Female Jurists Association of Benin (AFJB), and the Women's Justice and Empowerment Initiative through Care International's Empower Project. [10] A 2012 U.S. report commended Benin for establishing the National Council for the Promotion of Gender Equity and Equality. [11]

Education & Intimate Partner Violence

Education can improve women’s lives in many ways, including decreasing tolerance to abuse. Being educated can actually lower their chances of IPV (intimate partner violence) because it improves their decision making, even in choosing a spouse or partner. Women who experience intimate partner violence can have many affects from it. Statistics show that women who have experienced this are more likely to have an abortion. [12] Vicentia Boco, who served as president of the Institut national pour la promotion de la femme between 2009 and 2021, called on the government to enhance education of women as a result. [13]

Health Issues

Anaemia is a health issue that largely affects women across Benin. However, there are many aspects that go into anaemia. A study “ found that incomplete immunization, stunted growth, recent infection, absence of a bednet, low household living standard, low maternal education and low community development index increased the risk of anaemia.” [14]

Women in the Workplace

In Benin, many women work in the service industry. [15] They tend to occupy lower positions that have less power. They tend to choose work that is less of a time commitment as many have to tend to the home and their children as well. Many of them make money through the open markets selling vegetables and other items. [16] Many feel as though working helps them in different ways, even outside of the economic benefit. Some aspects of life that it helps are gaining respect, being able to raise a family comfortably, and achieving their own goals for themselves. [17] However, on the other side of this, women do experience violence and sexual harassment in the workplace. There are many organizations that can assist in aiding these women.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexism</span> Prejudice or discrimination based on a persons sex or gender

Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on one's sex or gender. Sexism can affect anyone, but it primarily affects women and girls. It has been linked to gender roles and stereotypes, and may include the belief that one sex or gender is intrinsically superior to another. Extreme sexism may foster sexual harassment, rape, and other forms of sexual violence. Discrimination in this context is defined as discrimination toward people based on their gender identity or their gender or sex differences. An example of this is workplace inequality. Sexism may arise from social or cultural customs and norms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's rights</span> Rights claimed for women and girls worldwide

Women's rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st centuries. In some countries, these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behavior, whereas in others, they are ignored and suppressed. They differ from broader notions of human rights through claims of an inherent historical and traditional bias against the exercise of rights by women and girls, in favor of men and boys.

Gender equality, also known as sexual equality or equality of the sexes, is the state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision-making; and the state of valuing different behaviors, aspirations and needs equally, regardless of gender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feminism in India</span> History of the feminist movement in India

Feminism in India is a set of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and opportunities for women in India. It is the pursuit of women's rights within the society of India. Like their feminist counterparts all over the world, feminists in India seek gender equality: the right to work for equal wages, the right to equal access to health and education, and equal political rights. Indian feminists also have fought against culture-specific issues within India's patriarchal society, such as inheritance laws.

Feminist sexology is an offshoot of traditional studies of sexology that focuses on the intersectionality of sex and gender in relation to the sexual lives of women. Sexology has a basis in psychoanalysis, specifically Freudian theory, which played a big role in early sexology. This reactionary field of feminist sexology seeks to be inclusive of experiences of sexuality and break down the problematic ideas that have been expressed by sexology in the past. Feminist sexology shares many principles with the overarching field of sexology; in particular, it does not try to prescribe a certain path or "normality" for women's sexuality, but only observe and note the different and varied ways in which women express their sexuality. It is a young field, but one that is growing rapidly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Ghana</span> Overview of the status of women in Ghana

The status of women in Ghana and their roles in Ghanaian society has changed over the past few decades. There has been a slow increase in the political participation of Ghanaian women throughout history. Women are given equal rights under the Constitution of Ghana, yet disparities in education, employment, and health for women remain prevalent. Additionally, women have much less access to resources than men in Ghana do. Ghanaian women in rural and urban areas face slightly different challenges. Throughout Ghana, female-headed households are increasing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Nepal</span> Overview of the status of women in Nepal

The status of women in Nepal has varied throughout history. In the early 1990s, like in some other Asian countries, women in Nepal were generally subordinate to men in virtually every aspect of life. Historically, Nepal has been a predominantly patriarchal society where women are generally subordinate to men. Men were considered to be the leader of the family and superior to women. Also, social norms and values were biased in favor of men. This strong bias in favor of sons in society meant that daughters were discriminated against from birth and did not have equal opportunities to achieve all aspects of development. Daughters were deprived of many privileges, including rights, education, healthcare, parental property rights, social status, last rites of dead parents, and were thought to be other's property and liabilities. In the past century, there has been a dramatic positive change in the role and status of women in Nepal, reducing gender inequality. While the 1990 Constitution guaranteed fundamental rights to all citizens without discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, caste, religion, or sex, the modernization of society, along with increased education of the general population, have also played an important role in promoting gender equality. The roles of women have changed in various ways in the modern Nepalese society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Chile</span> Overview of the status of women in Chile

The lives, roles, and rights of women in Chile have gone through many changes over time. Chilean women's societal roles have historically been impacted by traditional gender roles and a patriarchal culture, but throughout the twentieth century, women increasingly involved themselves in politics and protest, resulting in provisions to the constitution to uphold equality between men and women and prohibit sex discrimination.

Gender inequality in India refers to health, education, economic and political inequalities between men and women in India. Various international gender inequality indices rank India differently on each of these factors, as well as on a composite basis, and these indices are controversial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Benin</span>

The human-rights situation in Benin is considered to be generally above average for sub-Saharan Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gender inequality in El Salvador</span>

Gender inequality can be found in various areas of Salvadoran life such as employment, health, education, political participation, and family life. Although women in El Salvador enjoy equal protection under the law, they are often at a disadvantage relative to their male counterparts. In the area of politics, women have the same rights as men, but the percentage of women in office compared to men is low. Though much progress has been made since the Salvadoran Civil War ended in 1992, women in El Salvador still face gender inequality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gender inequality in Honduras</span>

Gender inequality in Honduras has seen improvements in some areas regarding gender inequality, while others have regressed towards further inequality since in 1980s. Comparing numbers from the 2011 and 2019 United Nations Human Development Reports helps to understand how gender inequality has been trending in Honduras. In the 2011 Human Development Report rankings for the Gender Inequality Index, Honduras ranked 121st out of 187 countries. In the 2019 Human Development Report Honduras dropped to 132nd out of 189 countries in the rankings. As the country's overall ranking dropped, it indicates that progress towards gender equality is not being made on the same level as other countries around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Africa</span> Overview of the status of women in Africa

The culture, evolution, and history of women who were born in, live in, and are from the continent of Africa reflect the evolution and history of the African continent itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Trinidad and Tobago</span> Overview of the status of women in Trinidad and Tobago

Women in Trinidad and Tobago are women who were born in, who live in, or are from Trinidad and Tobago. Depending from which island the women came, they may also be called Trinidadian women or Tobagonian women respectively. Women in Trinidad and Tobago excel in various industries and occupations, including micro-enterprise owners, "lawyers, judges, politicians, civil servants, journalists, and calypsonians." Women still dominate the fields of "domestic service, sales, and some light manufacturing."

Nepal, a Himalayan country situated in South Asia, is one of the poor country because of undeveloped resources. It has suffered from political instability and has had undemocratic rule for much of its history. There is a lack of access to basic facilities, people have superstitious beliefs, and there are high levels of gender discrimination. Although the Constitution provides for protection of women, including equal pay for equal work, the Government has not taken significant action to implement its provisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's political participation in India</span>

The term 'political participation' has a very wide meaning. It is not only related to 'Right to Vote', but simultaneously relates to participation in: decision-making process, political activism, political consciousness, etc. Women in India participate in voting, run for public offices and political parties at lower levels more than men. Political activism and voting are the strongest areas of women's political participation. To combat gender inequality in politics, the Indian Government has instituted reservations for seats in local governments.

Gender inequality has been improving a lot in Bangladesh, inequalities in areas such as education and employment remain ongoing problems so women have little political freedom. In 2015, Bangladesh was ranked 139 out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index and 47 out 144 countries surveyed on the Gender Inequality Index in 2017. Many of the inequalities are result of extreme poverty and traditional gender norms centred on a patrilineal and patriarchal kinship system in rural areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gender inequality in Sri Lanka</span>

Gender inequality in Sri Lanka is centered on the inequalities that arise between men and women in Sri Lanka. Specifically, these inequalities affect many aspects of women's lives, starting with sex-selective abortions and male preferences, then education and schooling in childhood, which influence job opportunities, property rights, access to health and political participation in adulthood. While Sri Lanka is ranked well on several gender equality indices in comparison to other countries in the region, there are also some sources that question the verity of these indices. However, globally, Sri Lanka ranks relatively lower on gender equality indices. Overall, this pattern of social history that disempowers females produces a cycle of undervaluing females, providing only secondary access to health care and schooling and thus fewer opportunities to take on high level jobs or training, which then exacerbates the issue of low political participation and lowered social rights, a cycle studied and noted on by Dr. Elaine Enarson, a disaster sociologist studying the connection between disaster and the role of women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's rights in Myanmar</span>

Women living in Myanmar continue to face barriers to equality. After forty years of isolation, myths about the state of women's rights in Myanmar (Burma) were centered around the conception that Burmese women face less gender discrimination and have more rights than women in surrounding Southeast Asian nations. After Myanmar opened its borders in 2010, gender discrimination began to be seen by the international community. Currently, a variety of organizations--both domestic and international--strive to educate people that this is a misconception to better make strides towards protecting women's rights in Myanmar.

Examples of Gender inequality Papua New Guinea includes poverty, violence, limited access to education and health care, and witch hunts. Cases of violence against women in PNG are under reported. There is also a lack of services for women who experience violence. There are reports of sexual abuse by police officers, on arrest and whilst in police custody. These incidents lack documentation or investigation, consequently, perpetrators are rarely prosecuted or punished. The government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) has introduced legislation to combat these issues, though with limited success.

References

  1. Benin Women in Culture, Business & Travel : A Profile of Beninese Women in the Fabric of Society. World Trade Press. 2010-01-01. p. 1. ISBN   9781607802860.
  2. "Human Development Report 2021/2022" (PDF). HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORTS. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  3. "Global Gender Gap Report 2022" (PDF). World Economic Forum. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  4. "Female mutilation Benin's main human rights problem". Afrol News. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  5. Criminal Abuse of Women and Children: An International Perspective. Taylor & Francis Group. 2009-07-20. pp. 138–146. ISBN   9781420088038.
  6. 1 2 3 "2010 Human Rights Report: Benin". Us Department of State. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  7. "Human Rights Violations in Benin". ALTERNATIVE REPORT TO THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  8. Benin: Women, Poverty and Discrimination. Women's International Network News. January 1, 1999. p. 47.
  9. "UPR 14th Session – Intervention for Benin". Human Rights.gov. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  10. "2010 Human Rights Report: Benin". Us Department of State. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  11. "UPR 14th Session – Intervention for Benin". Human Rights.gov. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  12. Ahinkorah, B. O. (2021). "Intimate partner violence against adolescent girls and young women and its association with miscarriages, stillbirths and induced abortions in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from demographic and health surveys". SSM - Population Health. 13: 100730. doi:10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100730. PMC   7815812 . PMID   33511264.
  13. Deschênes, Sarah; Hotte, Rozenn (July 2019), Assessing the Effects of an Education Policy on Women's Well-being: Evidence from Benin , retrieved 2021-10-20
  14. Halimatou Alaofè , Jennifer Burney , Rosamond Naylor and Douglas Taren (2017). "Prevalence of anaemia, deficiencies of iron and vitamin A and their determinants in rural women and young children: a cross-sectional study in Kalalé district of northern Benin". Public Health Nutrition. 20 (7): 1203–1213. doi: 10.1017/S1368980016003608 . hdl: 10150/624076 . PMID   28120735. S2CID   3742332.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. Tijdens, K.; Besamusca, J.; van Klaveren, M.; Zerain, A.; Osse, P.; Ceccon, D.; Pralitasari, N.; Flores, A.; Sèna Alinsato, A.; Popescu, A.; Ahmad, A. (2015). "Violence Against Women at the Workplace in Honduraa, Benin, Moldova, Indonesia: a survey by CNV Internationaal, University of Amsterdam/AIAS, WageIndicator Foundation" (PDF). University of Amsterdam.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. Benin Women in Culture, Business & Travel: A Profile of Beninese Women in the Fabric of Society. World Trade Press. ISBN   1-60780-286-4.
  17. "Stress Management and Anxiety among Women in Benin City, Edo State, Southern Nigeria" (PDF). 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)