Baby Machine

Baby Machine

Living in Silicon Valley, education expectations are high for both girls and boys. There is typically no question of if you are going to college or not, the question is which college. In Sub-Saharan Africa, however, most girls aren’t expected to make it past middle school. Access to education is difficult already, however with the immense gender bias the Sub-Saharan countries of Africa have against women and girls, schooling seems almost impossible. Women are locked in a box with the label of mother and wife and the key is thrown away. To break out would be a miracle but a rare one at that, which is why so many women are silenced into accepting their roles in society; the baby maker. Women are held responsible for all the household chores along with their families to take care of, leaving little time left in the day for an education. This is unfortunately why so many families do not prioritize education for their daughters. An article written in 2018 on Gender-Based Inequality published by Gale states, “The availability of basic services facilitates execution of domestic chores hence, free up time for girls and women to pursue educational opportunities”(Gale). If simple chores were taken care of, women would gain some time to themselves to explore what they are capable of and what they can accomplish in this world rather than cook, clean, and give birth. However, even if a woman is lucky enough to find herself finishing up her education and pursuing a career, it doesn't get easier for her as men are very protective of their power. The roots of these gender bias norms were established decades ago, however, they have been passed down from generation to generation and therefore continue to have significance in Sub-Saharan societies today. Men have gotten used to the idea of control and do not wish to let go of their power and women are coerced into silence. An article was written by United Nations Resident Coordinator for the country of Kenya, Siddharth Chatterjee discovered that “76.3 percent of women in Mali and 92.1 percent in Guinea believe a man is justified in beating his wife if she goes out without telling him, neglects the children, refuses sex, burns the food or argues with him” (Africa.com). Domestic abuse has been so normalized in these societies that women believe it is justifiable for their husbands to punish them. And as their daughters grow up in the same environment, they will think it is okay for their husbands to punish them as well in the future. This then silences women of any voice they might have, in fear they may be punished for speaking up. Thus forcing them to subdue to their trivial roles in society and overlook the thought of an education and career completely. Fortunately, the solution to this problem is not impossible. The United Nations Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee made note that “ensuring that all girls get at least secondary education in sub-Saharan Africa, would reduce child marriages by more than half”(Africa.com). With more representation of women and a break in the sexist societal norms, baby steps will lead to strides as Sub-Saharan Africa puts in the effort to make education a priority for both girls and boys. And as time goes on, young girls and women will see themselves as something more than a babymaker.

Works Cited

Africa.com. “A Material Difference.” Gale, All Africa Global Media, 15 Mar. 2019, go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=News&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=3&docId=GALE%7CA578935101&docType=Article&sort=Updated+Date+Reverse+Chron&contentSegment=ZGIN&prodId=GIC&contentSet=GALE%7CA578935101&searchId=R1&userGroupName=los42754&inPS=true.

Chatterjee, Siddharth. “Gender Inequality Is Stunting Economic Progress.” Africa.com, IPS, 24 Feb. 2020, africa.com/gender-inequality-is-stunting-economic-progress/.

Development Programme, United Nations. “Human Development Reports.” | Human Development Reports, 2020, hdr.undp.org/en/countries.

Education Letter. “New Data from University of Southern Florida Illuminate Findings in Social Science (Electricity Supply, and Access to Water and Improved Sanitation as Determinants of Gender-Based Inequality in Educational Attainment in Africa).” Gale, NewsRX LLC, 21 Feb. 2018, go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=News&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=8&docId=GALE%7CA527995056&docType=Report&sort=Updated+Date+Reverse+Chron&contentSegment=ZGIN&prodId=GIC&contentSet=GALE%7CA527995056&searchId=R2&userGroupName=los42754&inPS=true.


Patel, Nirav, and Genevieve Jesse. “African States' Varying Progress toward Gender Equality in Education.” Brookings, Brookings, 26 June 2019, www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2019/06/13/african-states-varying-progress-toward-gender-equality-in-education/.