Women in modern society, politics, GBV & solutions
Half of every nation is female, so no country can truly develop while it holds its women back. In this lesson we build a clear idea of gender equality, then look at the new roles women are taking on — in jobs, policies, schemes and as heads of households. We follow the powerful part women have played in Namibia's politics, from the liberation struggle to the 50/50 zebra Parliament, and we meet women driving development through rural and urban projects. Finally, gently and honestly, we face two painful problems — gender-based violence and baby dumping — and, most importantly, we work through the solutions, remembering always that help exists.
By the end you should be able to (NSSCO Development Studies 6.2):
- Define gender equality — equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for women and men
- Discuss the emerging roles of women: equal access to jobs, new policies, women-oriented schemes and female-headed households
- Assess the role of women in the politics of Namibia: the liberation and independence movements, integration into national development, formal equality versus factual inequality, and the promotion of women's rights (50/50 gender policy, the "zebra" list, and the high share of women in Parliament)
- Describe and evaluate the importance of women in development and their participation in development projects in Namibia: rural women as target groups, women's organisations and local female self-help groups, women's schemes in aid agency programmes, and urban women and urban projects
- Discuss the factors that lead to gender-based violence (GBV) and baby dumping in Namibia
- Suggest possible solutions to address GBV and baby dumping
Miss Catherine and Mike talk through the whole topic — with the figure and working drawn live.