Derrick Masangu
We can not talk about gender parity without talking about gender equality. In simple terms, this can be defined as equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for people of all genders (Oxford dictionary). This can be measured by comparing different gender parity data in different sectors of a country. Though this is one of the accepted definitions, many nations have also emphasised that we can no more define gender without the inclusion and recognition of children as equal custodians of this tripod pot.
Though many argue that gender parity in Namibia has been nothing but a talk shop, I stand to differ, and I am of the view that as a country, we have made many strides when it comes to this topic in policy and practice. Gender equality is one of the core values enshrined in our constitution since the inception of a democratic dispensation in 1990. All of our past and current leaders have echoed the need to do more so that its realisation is attained.
To thoroughly understand gender equality in Namibia, we need to understand the background of this country. As an African country, with diversified cultures rooted in strong cultural values, it is not a secret that our women have been sidelined for centuries – be it in decision-making spheres or economic and political spheres. In the past, a girl child was always raised to be a home caretaker and caregiver, while the boy child was seen as the protector and the overall provider.
This same narrative was aided by the history of colonialism because when the Europeans arrived, they worsened and widened the inequality gaps between women and men. This was so, as men were always prioritised when in terms of employment opportunities, especially in highly paid work, compared to their female counterparts in all different spheres, such as mining, farming and production.
A new generation of women
At the dawn of political consciousness throughout Africa, we started seeing a wave of women with a new kind of thinking and resilience. These women could not merely accept the status quo of the time, as they felt they had all that it took to be equal custodians in terms of the brains, determination and perseverance to compete in a male-dominated sphere of our society. These kinds of women chose to prove to society that they are as equal to their male counterparts.
This was so because the world saw several iron women all around the world, especially in the Caribbean, during the American Black Civil Rights movement and here on the mother continent, Africa. These women include the likes of Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Betty Friedan, Maya Angelou and Charlotte Maxexe just to name a few.
In the Namibian context, we saw women, such as Meme Libertine Amathila, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Doreen Sioka and many others sacrificing their youthful years and joining the struggle when it was not fashionable to do so with the undying spirit and bravery that surprised their male comrades. Indeed, they soldiered on and achieved their mission, which was the total liberation and emancipation of this great nation.
With the bravery that was shown by these women, it is unfortunate that only a handful of them made it to the national assembly at the dawn of independence in 1990.
I think one of the reasons that contributed to this was the negative thinking and perception of our society at the time, especially when it came to women and politics.
Despite all the sacrifices and hardships they endured, society was still not yet ready to accept them. In other words, society was still in denial that women can be equal players, who could immensely contribute their wisdom and knowledge to the birth of a new nation. Our society at the time still saw women as mere aids and helpers in the political fraternity.
It is not just for the sake of putting women on the higher pedestal they do not deserve but I think this generation of women was very much instrumental in shaping and moulding a new narrative for our nation. They are the ones who laid and cemented a foundation that helped to catapult many generations who came after them. They were and remain exemplary in the eyes of many women, even today, as beacons of hope. They created our new paradigm shift, as they could be viewed by the nation radically and win motions in parliament.
This gave birth to hope in the girl child of the 90s and 2000s, and sparked the flames in the Emma Theofelus, Patience Masua and Utaara Mootus of our nation and continent to continue dreaming and finally achieve their aspirations of seeing a gender-equal Namibia.
How far have we come?
In the first parliament of Namibia, women’s representation was merely 6% – and during the second sitting in 1994, women made up 18% of the parliament. In 1999, there was 25% representation. Fast forward to 2022, we have seen a huge transformation in terms of gender representation in our parliament when 46% of the members are women – and the youngest is merely 22 years old (Inter-Parliamentary Union, 2022).
Though we have not yet reached the 50/50 gender representation, I think this demonstrates our society’s zeal, commitment, responsibility and accountability towards addressing the plights of our women.
In addition, Namibia currently ranks 8th on the Global Gender Index as far as gender representation and participation in decision-making is concerned (Windhoek Observer Newspaper, 2022, July 14). One may ask a question about how we achieved this. I think this has been achieved because of the level of education and awareness that our society currently has. Nowadays, women and girls can easily understand the world around them as far as civil education is concerned, compared to women in the 1950s.
Today, our women refuse to be taken for a ride, because they understand the modern politics of our society. They now easily interpret and understand the laws and policies that have been set up to protect their rights and create equal opportunities, e.g the affirmative action policy. Education has played a major role in the achievement of gender parity in Namibia, as through the years, we have seen more and more girls’ enrolment in primary school rising as compared to 1990.
Equally, we have seen more and more women graduating from universities as compared to 20 years ago. We have seen more and more women in leadership roles – from leading schools to leading major corporations and institutions in the private and public sectors.
I think we should give ourselves applause for these achievements because some aspects of life that our women and girls enjoy, such as the right to education and equal job opportunities, are just a pipe dream in many parts of the world, e.g. with due respect to their religion and culture, we have countries like Afghanistan, where it is regarded a taboo for women to go to school.
The ticking time bomb
Despite the fact that we have managed to achieve all these wonderful things – from equal opportunities and rights to protection and uplifting our women – analysts say we are also slowly drifting away and isolating the boy child. If not currently or in the near future, we are very eminent to see the boy child feeling neglected – and if we are not careful, we will be back in the same predicament, where we will be fighting for the recognition of the men and boy child’s rights.
In as much as we would like to uplift the girl child and our women towards the total achievement of gender equality in Namibia, let us also be vigilant and try to listen to the hardships faced by our men. By doing so, we will be able to create a more parallel and concurrent upliftment approach to our society. This will evenly level the plain field, where we will all live in harmony and tranquillity with sensitivity and awareness of one another’s needs, rights and responsibilities.
As a country, we are on the right course as far as equality is concerned, and I think the new war to be wedged on should be directed to eliminate classism, where we have to seek ways of narrowing this huge gap between the haves and the have nots regardless of their gender orientation.