Women beating gender stereotypes all over the world
Despite all the odds they find a solution and move forward. Women-breadwinners have to overcome societal, economical, legal barriers to benefit from their rights, to be independent, and earn money for their family.
The policy is also keeping women back: there are 115 economies where laws prevent women from running a business in the same way as men, and 167 countries that have at least one law restricting women’s economic opportunity.
For International Women’s Rights Day, I collected a few examples of women who push these barriers and break all the limits:
Women- business-owners in Yemen
In Yemen - a country hardly hit by internal conflicts and poverty - opportunities for employment for women are limited. Building and managing solar microgrids wasn’t one of the options before a group of women took on a challenge.
Many people in rural Yemen are dependent on polluting diesel generators because they have no access to power. This project of building a 26.8kW-capacity solar microgrid set up in January 2019 achieved two goals at once: provided electricity to people in Abs district and allowed sustainable employment and income for a group of ten women.
First football female coach in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Being a football coach for a woman is a rare opportunity anywhere in the world, the biggest football club in Africa, Tout Puissant Mazembe - is no exception. Though Maguy Safi, the first female coach of their women’s team, managed to become one.
Despite encountering countless times misogyny, discrimination, and sexist remarks on her way Safi wasn’t discouraged. With the support of her family she consistently worked towards a profession, she combined sport and studies until she got her degree in physical education and sports management.
“People told me that women who practice sports are lesbians, whores,” she tells RFI’s Africa Calling podcast.
Achieving her goal, became just a step on the journey for Maguy Safi. Now she wants to coach the national team, “all part of an effort to break female stereotypes in sports”.
African space exploration
While Africa is on the rise in the field of space exploration with more than $4 billion invested in satellite development across the continent - according to Space in Africa, 41 satellites had been launched from the continent by August 2020 - more and more programs and start-ups in the field led by women.
Satellite startup called Astrofica -- a hybrid of "astronomy" and "Africa" specializes in assembling, manufacturing, and testing satellite systems - has an inspiring woman as one of its founders.
For South African space engineer Jessie Ndaba space "was and is a calling". An expert with 15 years of experience in the industry which is dominated by man, “she says the key to success in the sector is collaboration -- and helping people on Earth”.
The highly competitive sector of space exploration attracts people’s attention and lots of money because of the undiscovered opportunities that many hope will one day become available. This race between countries and private companies was for a long a prerogative of men. With an increasing female presence in leadership roles, the sector switches priority to improving the lives of the people on Earth.
"We're always looking at the challenges that people are facing, and we look for the solution."
Tour guide in Afghanistan
In a country like Afghanistan the traditional path for a girl and a woman would be to stay home, get zero education, get married. According to data from the United Nations, only about 19% of women in Afghanistan are employed outside of the home.
The exceptional stories of women breaking down these traditions are usually examples of extreme bravery and strong conviction. Such a story is one written by CNN of Fatima 22-year-old who is the only woman working as a tour guide in Afghanistan.
Fatima grew up in a traditional family in a rural province, where no schooling was available to girls. Herding sheeps she managed to earn enough money to take some lessons. Later on, when her family moved to Herat, Fatima continued to get some education piece by piece. “She practiced her English by listening to BBC radio, which she could pick up when high enough in the hills.” Even though she had no idea about a job as a tour guide she decided to pursue educating herself and work somewhere.
Fatima’s unorthodox way to her employment started on Facebook where she posted about the history of Afghanistan - facts from history that foreigners might not know about. After one foreign tourist asked her to show him around, getting to know her from her posts, she started getting other clients and finally signing up with a foreign travel agency as a tour guide.
Despite disagreements in her own family about her employment and the danger that she faced outside of the home, Fatima relied on the support of the employer and fans on Facebook and clients to keep up. Now with the money she earns, she can continue her education in the University, help her family and others to get an education and find job opportunities.
"Challenges are always a part of my life. If I give up, then other women will never start."
"I am the first lady in Afghanistan to guide people," she says, "but I do not want to be the last."
Girls fixing cars in Burkina Faso
Another country where the life of a young woman is limited on the opportunities outside of the family is Burkina Faso. The country has high levels of youth unemployment, particularly among young women, “and where a surge of extremist Islamic beliefs and terrorism has put the brakes on much significant positive change”. To become a car mechanic for a girl in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, means to “dare to shake up the country’s entrenched traditions”.
At the CFIAM centre, young women and girls from often disadvantaged backgrounds study hard for eight hours a day during six days a week. The classes are ranging from mathematics to the French language, and, of course, intensive practical courses on car electrics and coachbuilding. Center offers a chance to nearly 200 students to get a profession ranging from mechanics to electronics.
Breaking into the profession that was always considered exclusively for men, demands a lot of motivation, but at the same time gives a chance to have a stable job and be independent.
What to do?
There are many associations, groups, projects who support women or fight for the equal right, for example:
You can support Global Fund for Women and donate to their #MovementMakeHistory project;
Sign the commitment for #POWERTOCHANGE campaign with Women for Women
Read an article and support a group of local women in India, who after losing their primary agricultural occupation due to droughts, try to make their living by making tote bags and face masks.
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