Challenges of Gender Equality in Ethiopia: Some Observations

Abstract

Women perform 66% of the world's work and produce 50% of the food, yet earn only 10% of the income and own 1% of the property. Even though women in Ethiopia take part in productive-, domestic-and community-related activities, they rarely participate in marketing and controlling the benefits. High adult women illiteracy, lack of control for productive assets, limited access to family planning services, low reproductive health, and limited access to information and lack of gender professionals severely limit women's empowerment and gender equality. The persistence of patriarchal thinking and confirmation of women keeps them in a vulnerable position. The presence of large family within a roof together with considering reproductive activities for female refrains women to be competitive. Early marriage of girls, frequent pregnancy, breast-feeding and sexual violence also challenges gender equality. The prevalent attitudinal and conceptual problem on gender-related concepts, less accessibility of policy documents in lower level practitioners and reluctant of male practitioners for gender-related policy enforcement are considered as the major persistent problems of the region. Therefore, awareness-raising programmes should not only be limited to women, but also male should be educated. Education should not be limited to the new generation, but also be accessible for adult members of the society.