PHOTO ESSAY: Celebrating the African woman in the quest for parity, by Yunusa Abdullahi

March 8, 2016 12:04 pm

The international women day over the years has celebrated the socio-political and economic achievements of women worldwide. It is a day of reflection but most times a day of celebration and most especially advocacy.

Women have always demanded recognition and therefore the theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Gender Parity’.

Women advocates want an accelerated step towards achieving this goal. They want more encouragement for women and girls to achieve their set objectives and ambitions.

It is a long walk to freedom but one thing that is clear is women have advanced in leaps and bounds.

The issue of the role of women in society vis-à-vis men has remained as old as creation. The debate has become more profound in the 20th century. Women want to be respected and recognized in equal measures. But is that really possible? In this argument you are either a chauvinist or a feminist, therefore there is no agreement on the narrative.

Internationally, especially Europe and America, women’s role is more profound but in Africa and Asia for example, the traditionalists insist the role of the woman is at home and therefore the narrative will not break the ice here.

The debate on Gender Parity will continue for as long as the world will last.

But rather than seek for concession of parity, women advocates should look at the role of women mostly in the rural areas in Africa and Asia. Women advocates should be concerned about the number of girls who are out of school and are hawking in cities and towns, they should be worried by the high incidence of rape, teenage pregnancy and teenage marriage.

Women advocates should rally round and support the women who toil everyday to eek a living for their families most times with their babies strapped on their back. Those are the women who matter, those are the women and girls who need who parity. They need parity of education and parity to access to social services.

This photo essay is dedicated to the toiling African woman and girl on this international women day. Women who in all human endeavours take care of the home. The woman who wakes in the morning prepare the family and the husband for school and work and also prepare herself for her own job.