Feminism in rural Africa and the on going fight for it

Being a teacher and educator I worked to provide equitable education and resources to all students that I had worked with. I had found that many students were falling behind in learning regardless of sexual orientation due to poverty, lack of resources and encouragement to do better but I had seen more difficulties in learning when it had come to female students. As an English teacher, my role was to guide the students to be able to comprehend and communicate their thoughts and feelings in various expressive ways that involve the English language. With the girls that I had taught, I had seen that it was difficult for more of them to answer questions or understand subject matters. I would be conscious of the amount of attention that I was paying to all of my students. With teaching 45 to 60 students in one class period it was hard to give everyone needed attention. With that, I still tried to give an equitable amount of learning aid to female students during class time. Even if male students were misbehaving or not doing well in class after class all of them were confident enough to speak with me in English about their issues. They were able to understand me fully and discuss their issues even with other issues or in casual conversation. I had a different story with female students. Outside of the classroom, a lot of my female students could not comprehend some of what I would tell them or express their concerns. There were more boys engaged in sports and afterschool activities. Outside of school more boys had fewer responsibilities at home due to cultural gender roles. These chores were relayed upon the young women. These chores large in quantity become more challenging and time-consuming in a rural environment. Washing clothes involved getting water from a well that could be the closest anywhere from a quarter to half a mile away on their heads and then would half to wash clothes by hand. This method of getting water pertained to drinking and bathing water as well. They had to cook which was done by fire. This also included chopping wood for fires. They have to clean the house and in rural places, this is a daily task with a lot to clean. In most cases, they would also be depended on in taking care of small children. All of these responsibilities creates barriers to encourage young ladies to explore more opportunities. In my time as an educator, I had seen a great push for programs from NGO’s and international development organizations to engage equity in and outside of the classroom. I was trained in implementing “GoGirls”. This program is directed to support young girls in life skills, female empowerment, education, and HIV/AIDs prevention among other initiatives. I wanted to implement this program into the community that I was working with. I had decided to provide the necessary materials for a female teacher to start a program with young girls at the elementary school. She had started working with young girls and teaching them in an afterschool program on topics taught through the “GoGirls” program. Feminism for me means human rights. It is fairness for everyone, male or female. It means that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their dreams. Well, can walk together and understand each other. Together we can recognize and break down barriers that create inequalities and disadvantages for anyone. If in any case, we can at least reduce these obstacles. I was raised by my mother and grandmother so I know how strong and resilient women are. I have a niece and I want her to have even more opportunities than I have had. When I have children no matter if they or boys and or girls I want them to have many opportunities, confidence, and courage. I am not an ally because this is just as much my fight as it is anyone else’s.