CULTURAL PRACTICES HINDER GENDER EQUALITY IN TANZANIA

 Question. Gender equality can be hardily be attained in a society which is firmly abided to its cultural practices. In references to any African countries verify the validity of this crimes with a support of relevant example.

       Gender equality, can be defined as equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for woman, men, girls and boys in social economic political and cultural aspects. Also, Gender equality is referred as sexual equality. Under gender equality all gender has equal access on resources and opportunity including economic participation, decision making, equal pay for equal work, equal number of men and women in staffing and equal budget for men and woman activities. By referring UNICEF (united nation children fund) argued that gender equality means that women and men, girl and boys enjoy the same rights, resources, opportunities and protection.

     Cultural practices, is the manifestation of culture in regard to the tradition and customs of a given society.an Example of cultural practices including Religious practices, natural resources management, housing and construction, female genital mutilation and childcare.

      Food taboos, is abstaining people from food and beverage consuming due to the religion and cultural reason. Also, same community especially in rural areas beliefs same food have great effect on woman pregnant. For example, in upper Manyo Krabi district of Ghana woman prohibited from eating Snail, rats, hats and animal lungs in fears that child may born with diseases also they believe that certain food stimulates continuous menstruation.

       Religious practices, many religions have traditionally practices sex segregation. For example, Roman catholic and Orthodox Jews allow only Men to be clergy also in Islamic woman do not permitted to pray with men also in outside the middle east have not appointed woman as Imams.

       Widow inheritance, this is when woman is being inherited by the relatives of her husband after his death. Example Samba. Also due to that gender equality is hardly to be attained for the reason that woman is being undermined as she is being inherited with a man who is not her choice by then she is not given the right to chose man whom she loves.

       Early marriage, refer to the marriage in which girl get married at age bellow 18 in a society. Because in some society or tribe like Masai and Sukuma young girl are forced to be married at early age by their parents in for them to get bride price while at some time those girls have their own ambitious to achieve a certain goal especially in education. Therefore, when girl married at early age it’s difficult to him to achieve her goal.For example, according to UNCEF Statistics some 650 million girls and women around the word today have been married as children, and at least 200 million have been subjected to FGM.

      Properties inheritances, this is one among the cultural practices in many societies which hinder gender equality. In some society or tribes’ girls they are not allowed to inherit properties only boy allowed either after the death of her husband or after the death of parents while even girl have right to inherit properties from their parents. For example, of those tribe include Samba found in Tanga and Waha in Kigoma also this is the cultural practices which hinder attainment of gender equality in the society.

       Generally, Tanzania as among the countries which faced with bad cultural practices which hinder the attainment of gender equality has taken various measures so as to eliminate such cultural practices in order to promote gender equality, so such measures includes cut off point to the female student, formation of non-government organization fight for women rights . TAWLA Tanzania women Lawyer’s Association. TAMWA, Tanzania Media Women Association also government provided education pertaining to the gender issues with the aim of promoting gender equality. Placing women in different political position.

Female genital multilation