“Gender inequality persists as women navigate a conundrum of challenges rooted in gender stereotyping, cultural expectations, norms, sexism, and patriarchal systems. These drivers of inequality limit women's opportunities, roles, and aspirations, reinforcing the urgent need for societal transformation towards true gender equity.”
In a lecture room far from her homeland, a woman in her early 30s sits amongst eager young minds, her dreams of pursuing higher education finally within reach. Her journey, however, is a testament to the profound impact of gender stereotyping, cultural expectations, and societal norms that act as drivers of gender inequality. Originally, economic constraints and the demands of motherhood denied her the opportunity to pursue higher education. Now, with a scholarship allowing her to study as an artist and curator in Europe, she grapples with a constant stream of worry and unease. As she attempts to focus on her studies, a thousand other thoughts run through her mind. Her son's school suspension, her daughter's need for new shoes, her grandmother's deteriorating health, and rumours of her husband's infidelity all weigh heavily on her shoulders. She's expected to fulfil various life roles – mother, wife, daughter-in-law, grand- daughter – from thousands of kilometres away, making it one of the most challenging situations she's ever faced. Two months later, with eight months remaining on her scholarship, she makes the heart-wrenching decision to quit the programme and return to Zimbabwe. Her marriage is strained, her children neglected, her grandmother's health worsens, and her in-laws spread rumours about her unsuitability as a wife. They side with her husband, justifying his promiscuity as a response to her outspokenness, ambition, and trendy attire. After her children grow a bit older, she attempts to reapply for the scholarship, only to be denied due to her age. Most undergraduate funding and scholarship opportunities impose an age limit of 35, discouraging many women from applying, as the years leading up to that age are often dominated by family and social responsibilities.
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November 2023 | Collective Action Magazine Collective Action Magazine
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