African Journal of Gender and Women Studies

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-010, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Article

Assessing Gender Inequality in Pakistan's Primary Education Sector

Mazhar-ul-Haq Baluch* and Saima Shahid

Lahore School of Economics, Main Campus Burki Road Lahore, Pakistan.

Accepted 15 January, 2025

Though the furnished educational quality of the enrolled students leads towards the positive example of success of not only in education but also in practical life of the ensuing generation, yet to alleviate gender disparity in social and cultural context, special measures are needed for the success and improvement of females overall in the country to participate in share contributed by experience of development. This experience would help to gain the required momentum and extol a new development practice in implementation of educational policy. Millennium development goal (MDG 3) for gender equality and the empowerment of women was the goal that was set with the earliest date for achievement. The target associated with MDG 3 was an end to gender disparity in primary and secondary education (Unterhalter, 2006). Despite adoption of the several policy measures and program initiatives, gender gap at primary school level was estimated to the extent to 11.13%. The gap due to treatment of parent with the boys and girls under normal routine and societal aspirations was estimated at 10.956 or 98.4% of the estimated entire gap. This situation leads towards the dimension that boys are preferable group in Pakistan. Since the disparity was due to preference to males over females at school level, underlying reasons might be the cultural, societal, and traditional expectations, that is, linked future of females with expected husband s’ households after marriage and all obligations of parents for males, considering them heir of all types of properties.

Key words: Gender disparity, education, policy measures, preferable societal aspirations.
 

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review

Empowering Women in the Silk Sector: Uniting Agency and Structural Opportunities

Geetha G.S. and Vindhya G.S.

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Srirampura, Mysore, Karnataka, India

Accepted 10 December, 2024

This article examines empowerment theory and concept advocated by Antony Giddens in case of women involved in silkworm rearing in Rural India. The focus of the article is how sericulture provides an opportunity for women’s economic participation and to embraces it as their livelihood. It also explores how their participation changes their image from domestic unpaid worker to main contributor of household. It also highlights how sericulture participation increases their networking amongst themselves and perhaps to quote as feminization of sericulture work.

Keywords: Women, Agency, Opportunity structure, Economic Empowerment, Silkworm rearing, Feminization, Silk Industry.
 

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review 

Navigating Gender in Zimbabwean Politics: Pathways to Parliamentary Representation
 

Thulani Dube

Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Lupane State University, P.O Box AC255, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +2639883098

Accepted 19 January, 2025

This paper discusses the trends and patterns regarding the participation of women and men in parliamentary politics in Zimbabwe from the first democratic elections in 1980 to the 2008 elections in the context of global and regional trends. The main objective of this paper is to review both quantitative and qualitative data concerning the progress made in the direction of promoting women’s participation in politics against the background of Millennium Development Goals targets and other international targets to which Zimbabwe is a signatory. One of the targets of the 3rd millennium development goal is to increase the ‘proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments’. The period of focus is between 1980 and 2013. The paper notes that the current levels of women’s representation in parliament remain below the world average of 19%. The various causes of this are highlighted and discussed leading to recommendations in tackling the issue.

Key words: Gender, equality, politics, Zimbabwe, democracy, parliament, participation.
 

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (2), pp. 001-013, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Perception of Gender Norms and Practices on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Care Continuum among Selected Households in Cross River State

Peters Adekoya¹, Faith Dahbyen Lannap¹, Anne Fatima Ajonye¹, Stanley Amadiegwu², Charity Elochukwu¹, Ifeyinwa Okereke¹, Christopher Ayaba Aruku¹, Grace Kumolu¹, Ayodotun Olutola¹, Doreen Magaji^3
 
1Centre for Clinical Care and Clinical Research, Abuja, Nigeria.
²Catholic Relief Services, Abuja, Nigeria.
³United States Agency for International Development, Nigeria.

Abstract

Received 03 January, 2025; Revised 07 February, 2025; Accepted 10 February, 2025; Published 04 March, 2025
       
Background: Pervasive gender-related inequality has translated into a range of negative health outcomes for all people especially for women and girls. The study assessed the influence of gender norms and roles on HIV care continuum among selected households in Cross River State, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional survey was employed for the study. Multi-stage cluster and purposive sampling strategy was adopted to select 720 households from 4 LGAs in Cross River State. Primary data was collected on questionnaire coded in kobo collect software tool. Responses were analysed using STATA 14 data analytical application. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted. Result: 72% of the respondents did not perceive restrictive gender norms as barrier for HIV prevention and continuum of care. 64% of men restrict mobility of children living with HIV to access care except with permission. 48% of rural residents were likely to experience negative gender norms and faces barriers for HIV prevention or access care compared to urban residents (OR = 47.65 (95% CI: 25.8-87.7). Conclusion: Access to HIV prevention and continuum of care services can be improved by increasing women’s decision-making power within the households, influencing communities to practice positive gender norms that encourages women to also control resources. 

Keywords: Gender Norms, HIV Care Continuum, Household, Power Imbalance, Anti-Retroviral Therapy, Caregiver.
 

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (3), pp. 001-010, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Exploring the Impact of Age and Gender on Entrepreneurial Behavior Traits Among Business Administration Students and Professionals

LIMA FILHO Raimundo Nonato¹*, BRUNI Adriano Leal² and AMORIM Ricardo José Rocha¹

¹Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Brazil.
²Universidade Federal da Bahia, Brazil.

Received 15 July, 2024; Accepted 20 October, 2024

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to identify the elements that show the influence of age and gender on entrepreneurial behavior characteristics observed in both enterprising professionals and students of Business Administration. It was based on a survey with 851 professionals registered by the Regional Board of Directors of Business Administration of Bahia and with 207 students from public and private universities in Salvador, Bahia. Our hypothesis was that the age and gender of the respondents influence their entrepreneurial profile. The results associated with a structural modeling equation indicated that gender did not show a significant relationship with entrepreneurship since the age variable explains the variability of this construct. This study, therefore, may contribute to students’ education and the updating of professional entrepreneurs since these findings indicate specific patterns of limitations and biases concerning entrepreneurship.

Key words: Age, gender, entrepreneurs, behavioral characteristics, Structural Equation Modeling.

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 10 (2), pp. 001-015, February, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Achieving Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Ethiopia: Policy Considerations for Least Developed Countries

G. S. Ogato

Department of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension, Institute of Cooperatives and Development Studies, Ambo University, Ethiopia.

Accepted 28 August, 2024

Abstract

This paper critically reviewed the gender equality and women’s empowerment endeavors in least developed countries (LDCs) and proposed policy and strategy measures for achieving millennium development goals (MDGs) in Ethiopia. Ethiopian women are economically, socially, culturally and politically disadvantaged in the enjoyment of equal rights, in accessing opportunities, decision-making processes, and basic resources. In other words, although a number of policies are emerging that support and encourage women’s participation in development, women’s access to and control of productive resources, information, training and education, employment and in decision-making are limited. The general objective of this paper is to assess the quest for gender equality and women’s empowerment in least developed countries to achieve MDGs and identify policy and strategy implications for Ethiopia. This paper adapts a human ecological approach and a comprehensive review and analysis of the existing literature was made in order to obtain both theoretical insights and secondary data on the review themes. The collected secondary data and information were qualitatively analyzed through narration and description and presented under relevant themes. The findings of the study reveal that promising efforts are being made by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to address gender equality and women’s empowerment issues in the process of achieving millennium development goals. Nevertheless, a lot has to be done for more effective gender equality and women’s empowerment thereby the millennium development goals (MDGs) and sustainable development objectives will be achieved in Ethiopia. Adaptation of the good practices of gender equality and women’s empowerment from different successful countries, proper implementation of the ratified international conventions on gender equality and women’s empowerment, and development and implementation of appropriate national gender policy will improve the condition of Ethiopian women in the years to come.

Key words: Development, empowerment, equality, ethiopia, gender, women.