“The Silent Suffering of African Daughters: Exposing the Effects of Gender Bias.” (Victor Onyekwelu)
Growing up, I witnessed a disturbing scene that has stayed with me to this day. A neighbour had just given birth, and we visited her in the hospital to celebrate. But when the husband asked about the baby’s gender and was told it was a girl, his expression changed from joy to hatred. He lashed out at his wife, saying she had failed to deliver a male child for the third time. The consequences of this encounter were severe: the husband abandoned his responsibilities, leaving the woman to feed, clothe, and pay the school fees of their children alone.
Traditionally, African societies have been patriarchal, with men holding positions of power and authority. This has led to a cultural preference for male children, who are seen as future leaders and breadwinners. [1]
In Igbo culture and many other African cultures, a man who doesn’t have a male child is seen as an incomplete man both by himself, his age group, and the society at large. This remains one of the major reasons why polygamy is still in existence and daughters are being maltreated and left behind by men who prefer male children to female ones.
Today, many African daughters are suffering silently because of gender preference.
Some alarming statistics that highlight the extent of this issue:
- Child marriage: In some African countries, girls as young as 12 are forced into marriage, while boys are often allowed to continue their education. [2]
- Education: Girls are less likely to attend school, with 23% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa not attending primary school. [3]
- Inheritance: In some cultures, women are excluded from inheriting property, leaving them vulnerable to poverty and dependence. [2]
Sadly, the consequences of this inequality are seriously under-reported, and here are some of them:
- Prolonged poverty: Families tend to perpetuate poverty and as well as limit their own economic potential by denying female children education and opportunities.
- Health risks: Without a doubt, child marriage and limited access to education increase the risk of health problems, including HIV/AIDs and maternal mortality. Most times, victims of child marriage are faced with the implications that come with childbirth because their bodies are too tender to reproduce.
- Social inequality: In Africa, the devaluation of female children promotes social inequality by limiting their participation in decision-making processes and leadership positions. Devaluation remains the chief cause of apathy among women.
Most African daughters face these consequences simply because their biological fathers value their male children more than them. Their only crime was their GENDER!
We can’t let this continue if we want to achieve a safe and sustainable society. It is imperative to address this issue now.
To do this, we must:
- Challenge cultural norms by encouraging women and communities to question and challenge these harmful cultural practices that promote inequality. Promote education and economic empowerment for girls and women and enact and enforce laws that protect their rights, including their rights to education, marriage, and inheritance.
- We must understand that this preference has pushed a lot of African daughters into severe suffering and in turn, hindered the growth of our economy.
- Together, we can work towards creating a more equitable society where all individuals have equal opportunities to thrive.
References
[1] Gender Bias in Nigerian Society: A Parent’s View.
[2] Gender inequality in family laws in Africa: an overview of key trends in select countries.
