Last week, the Rwandan and Ethiopian governments reported having abnormally more women participation within their respective parliaments.
Both states have led the African continent in the quintessential ‘gender-inclusive’ model. Ethiopia has broken barriers by appointing Aisha Mohammad as Defense Minister, the first woman to hold this position in “the history of Ethiopia, and probably in Africa,” says Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The era of Women’s Rights began mostly through the actions of Rwandan President Paul Kagame. He pushed for women representation when the new government was created back in 2003. In the new constitution, the Rwandan government “decreed that 30 percent of parliamentary seats be reserved for women.” (NPR)
Over the past decade, this quota has been blown out of the water, with women taking 61% of parliamentary positions. Last week, Rwanda now stated that “women now make up half of the slimmed-down, 26-seat Cabinet” (Independent Co.)
Similarly, Ethiopia just announced that 10 of their 20 cabinet positions have been filled by women. Prime Minister Ahmed commented that women are “less corrupt than men;” he reported that women in positions of power have resulted in less discrimination and gender-based crimes.
Despite efforts to improve gender acceptance within the Rwandan and Ethiopian borders, progressivists still have a long way to go before true equality is achieved. Although African women in parliamentary positions have seen increased validation in public office, they’ve also reported continuing unfair gender roles at home.
“One… husband expected… his shoes were polished, the water was put in the bathroom for him, his clothes were ironed,” and he wanted it done by his wife, the parliamentarian. (NPR)
Although the increase of awareness for women empowerment is a major step in the progressivist agenda, many things have to change before women are viewed as equals in all aspects of life.