Gender equality is not just a “women’s issue”, but it impacts both men and women because it is founded in their relationship.
To ensure that both women and men are equally empowered and dignified, both must adjust their working styles, attitudes and social conventions.
It’s easy to assume that reaching such tremendous heights is due to our own efforts in an era when women are ruling the world, becoming world leaders and changing the game in business.
There was a time when women didn’t have access to some services, such as banking.
Their voices were silenced and the best a woman could hope for was to marry an elderly guy in the hamlet.
Women who came before us worked tirelessly to break down barriers so that we could have a chance to establish a name for ourselves.
Despite being labelled as rebels, feminists and vulgar, they persisted in pushing for the liberties we now enjoy.
Here are some examples of women who made a difference in their respective industries.
Women empowerment has emerged as a critical issue in development and economics.
Economic empowerment empowers women by allowing them to control and benefit from resources, assets and income.
It also improves women’s well-being and their ability to manage risk which can lead to approach in support of trivialised genders in a specific political or social context.
It can be defined in a variety of ways, including accepting women’s perspectives or making an effort to seek them, and elevating women’s status through education, awareness, literacy and training.
Women’s empowerment empowers and allows women to make life-changing decisions in the face of societal problems.
They may be able to redefine gender roles or other such roles, which may give them more freedom to pursue desired goals.
While the terms are frequently used interchangeably, the more comprehensive concept of gender empowerment applies to people of any gender, emphasising the distinction between biological and gender as role.
Women’s empowerment improves women’s status through literacy, education, training, and awareness-raising.
Furthermore, women’s empowerment refers to women’s ability to make strategic life decisions that were previously unavailable to them.
The implementation of programmes and policies based on the concept of female empowerment may benefit nations, businesses, communities and groups.
It also improves the quality and quantity of human resources available for development.
When it comes to human rights and development, empowerment is one of the most important procedural concerns.
The women with plenty of iron in their backs pushed into politics by what she has termed as “the repression” of the Kanu years, Martha Karua started as the champion for democracy as a member of the Law Society of Kenya in the 80s.
Karua is credited for the implementation of the Water Act 2002 from the time she served as Minister of Water Resources Management and Development, a move that accelerated the pace of water reforms and service provision in the country.
It is this unapologetic boldness that has shaped Karua’s reputation as a no-pushover over the years.
Out of all the women deep in political battles, Beatrice Elachi was in the trenches.
Even though she is famously known for a tussle with former Governor Mike Sonko and some of the Nairobi MCAs who demanded she steps down as speaker, her journey in politics spans more than a decade.
The story of Charity Ngilu always starts far into her adult life when she took the bold decision to be the first women to vie for a presidential seat in 1997 on a Social Democratic Party (SDP) ticket.
Ngilu came out fifth behind the late Kijana Wamalwa and ahead of notable figures like Martin Shikuku, George Anyona and even Koigi wa Wamwere.
Wangari Maathai received her PhD in Veterinary Anatomy from the University of Nairobi, making her the first woman in East Africa to do so.
Maathai was a conservationist who fought against land grabbers to save Karura forest.
She was the first woman in East Africa to earn a PhD, a doctorate in Veterinary.
As a result, she was promoted to senior lecturer in anatomy in 1975, chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy in 1976, and Associate professor in 1977.
Maathai negotiated for better working conditions for women while in these capacities.
In the years 2003 and 2005, Maathai also served as an elected Member of Parliament and Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources.
Her life was made complete in 2004 when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to the environment, development, democracy, and peace.
She also received the Right Livelihood Award (1984) and the Goldman Environmental Prize (1991). In honour of Wangari Maathai and everything she stood for, the Greenbelt Movement, which she also founded in 1977 under the auspices of the National Women Council of Kenya (NCWK), continues to perpetuate the spirit of environmental conservation to this day.
Orie Rogo Manduli was known for her famous headgear, Manduli was the first black woman in Kenya to complete in the world circuit rally. She was also crowned miss Kenya at the young age of 16 years.
Manduli has a reputation for speaking her thoughts, which has helped her advance in life, including becoming the first woman to lead the Kenyan Non-Governmental Council (NGO Council). Her characteristic headwear began as an act of defiance, but it has since evolved into her brand. She acknowledges that the atmosphere inspires her to dress up
Grace Ogot was the first woman elected in Gem constituency in the country and the first woman to have a fiction novel published by the East African publishing business.
Some of her works include Land without Thunder (1968), The Island of tears (1980), The Other Woman (1976) and The Promised Land (1966).
Ogot worked as an assistant Minister of Culture and Social Services and was a certified nurse.
She also worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as a playwright and an announcer, and she contributed to the East African Standard’s opinion section.
Koki Mutungi is a symbolically and literally high-flying woman. She is the first African woman to take a flight on the Dreamliner.
Irene has been a KQ pilot for about 19 years and was the company’s first female pilot for roughly 6 years. She is also the first female captain of a Boeing 767 at KQ.
These individuals, along with countless others who continue to make history, demonstrate that a woman’s potential is limitless.
It is simply a matter of putting in the effort and remembering why you started the journey in the first place. A tough skin will work as well, but the trick is to be stiff without being harsh.
