Gender Roles in Africa

Traditionally the male if the provider and hold most of the power in the household. The man is to do the "manly" duties; farm, build, and many other types of work. Men look more powerful when they have more wives in Africa. It gives them a sense of power, to put in terms it makes them look better. Power is a great deal of importance when it comes to the men of Africa. They want to be able to grow the most crops, have the most land, and have many wives.

In a traditional setting, women are meant to do the housework and be able to produce off spring. Being able to have several children was a very important "duty" of theirs. It was almost looked at as a job which is terribly sad. Women were to take care of the household duties and raise the children. Women weren't educated, now a days more women are becoming educated so they do not need to find a husband to take care of them. The women were abused, if they did not "obey" or listen to their husband, the man did have the power to punish them for it.

Now that women are able to get more education, it is threatening the mans power. I think that this creates a lot of violence. The men tend to feel like they are not as powerful when the women has any sort of power or education behind them. They do not look at it as everyone should be treated as equals.