CENTRAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

NAME: HELENA AMA MENSAH INDEX NUMBER: HRM/11/01/1354 LEVEL 200 SESSION: MORNING DATE: 29TH OCTOBER, 2012 COURSE: GENDER STUDIES LECTURES: MISS LAURINDA AHIAKPOR

ASSIGNMENT STATE AND DISCUSS FIVE FACTORS OF GENDER INEQUALITIES IN YOUR SOCIETY

REF: WIKIPEDIA (GENDER INEQUALITY)

Gender inequality refers to unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on their gender. It arises from differences in socially constructed gender roles as well as biologically through chromosomes, brain size, hormonal maker up and the reproductive organs. Gender inequality stems from distinctions, whether empirically grounded or socially constructed. It is the bias treatment between men and women, placing men and women unequal at many different state of social organization. The following factors accounts for gender inequality in my country. Blind gender laws and policies The legal system in Ghana is governed by systems of customary law which vary by region/ethnicity; laws passed under colonial rule which remain on the statute book; constitutional provisions under the four Republics; and laws passed since Independence. The complexity of the legal situation, particularly in relation to personal law, has important implications for gender relations. Since colonial times, parallel marriage systems have operated in Ghana, i.e. customary law marriages, Ordinance (Christian, monogamous) marriages and marriages under the Marriage of Mohammeddans Ordinance (which permits polygamy). The vast majority of marriages (80 percent) are still contracted under customary law, even among educated, urban groups. The parallel systems have operated largely to the detriment of women, who have been caught between the decline in traditional forms of security and the failure of the legal system to include or enforce provisions, which would provide them with some meaningful protection. Women are generally expected to marry, and most women do before their 30s. Once married, the husband is seen as having full control of the wife including sexual monopoly and the right to claim damages in the case of adultery. Polygamy is permitted under customary law and indeed men are encouraged to have as many wives as they can afford. Educational disparities Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army, said by Edward Everette, the former US secretary of state. Education is power; it helps individuals to be aware of their rights, to make rational decisions and to protect themselves against abuses and oppression. However millions of female around the world are been denied the access to education and that isnt a different story in my country. Customs and traditions The practices of widowhood rites, female circumcision, trokossi system, female genital mutilation are major factors contributing to gender inequalities in the society. The above factors mostly affect females and boarders on the infringement of their rights. In most Ghanaian societies, when both males and females get to their adolescent age, the males are mentored by their parents especially the father on how to become a brave man and usurp their powers over female counterparts whiles the boy enjoy this luxury, the girl undergo various rites which is inimical to their very existence. That is to say parent perform the female genital mutilation. With respect to this right, the girl undergoes a painful act or process of getting her clitoris being cut.

The reason being that, when this is done, it will prevent the girl child from engaging in any form of elicit sexual affair and also having sexual feelings at a younger age. The widowhood rite is also an attempt by the society to expose widows to various kinds of maltreatment when they lose their husbands. One will think that, this practice should be prevalent among males but this is not the case. The woman is sometimes to sleep near the corpse of her husband. This inhumane practice is to the disadvantage of our women in the society all in the name of culture and tradition. Religion Religion is another factor which contributes to gender inequality in the society. The two major religious groups in the country that is Christianity and Islam believe that, their doctrines rules out the participation of women in major religious activities. Example, the right to be a leader, to teach or preach is the sole responsibly or rights of the male counterpart. Until recently, most churches had special seats and places for women. Women did not have the right to speak at church when they have any issue with respect to teachings. They were compelled by religion to confront their husbands with any form of issue that boarders their mind concerning the church. This clearly makes the man superior to the woman. Though there has been changes in the Christian religion with respect to the rights women have unequal right between men and women in Islam is still a dominant issue. Unequal power relations Ghanaian women are effectively under the control or authority of men (initially their father or other male members of their kin group and later their husband) for much of their lives, although they may gain in status and influence with age. As a result, womens decision making role in Ghana is constrained in both private and public spheres, markedly so in the northern regions. In post-Independence governments, women have also been under-represented at all levels. Recent exercises in decentralization, the establishment of a new multi-party constitution and general elections, provide opportunities for women to participate more actively in the formal political process, but there is little evidence as yet to show clearly that this has occurred. The number of women representatives at local level has probably increased considerably, from a very low level. However, the reinforcement of alliances between commercial interests and traditional authorities at district level, through the decentralization process, may be acting to the detriment of women in as much as district authorities are able to exert increased influence over political, legal and resource allocation processes at local level, possibly eroding gains made at national level.