Hi everyone! Welcome back to my blog. This post will be the fourth post of my inquiry research project, where I am researching gender wage gaps in Kenya. In this post, I will be looking into the Kenyan social standards and gender-specific challenges that the country faces. Looking into these things will help me determine the root causes of the gender wage gap. So, let’s get started.
The social standards in Kenya are fairly patriarchal. The men are expected to work and provide for their families and are considered the heads of their households. It is uncalled for for a man to help with chores or household tasks. Women are often expected to be obedient to their husbands as well as not to challenge or disagree with his views (1). They are also expected to cook, clean and care for the children. In rural households that lack modern appliances, running water and electricity, women are responsible for carrying water and firewood over long distances to bring home to the family. Some women will engage in paid labour outside of the household, such as running salons or market stands (1). It is very rare for women to work jobs outside of these standards.
The main root cause of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Kenya include cultural and religious beliefs (5). Women and adolescent girls are the most vulnerable group in Kenya. They are particularly vulnerable to poverty especially at the household and community is exacerbated by gender-based violence, harmful cultural attitudes and beliefs around gender roles, norms and female empowerment (2). As a minority in Kenya, their struggles and traumas are often overlooked or dismissed, as cultural and religious beliefs in Kenya are that women should be dismissive. This is a big problem when it comes to fighting for gender equality in Kenya.
. However, some gender norms and cultural standards are evolving in Kenya. The Maasai Olympics tradition is a great example of this. Coming of age traditions are very prominent in Kenya. For example, there is a tradition in Kenya where boys of the Maasai tribe once came of age in ritual hunts for lions. A display of strength, endurance and resourcefulness, it was both symbolic and a survival skill (4). In recent years, this tradition has changed from lion hunting, as the lion populations have become endangered, and the Maasai Olympics became a new tradition, where both boys and girls can compete in running, jumping and hunting games to celebrate Maasai warrior culture (4). The recent inclusion of girls in this coming of age ritual has proved that Kenyan gender-norm mindsets. Furthermore proving this, today’s Maasai warriors devote their strength to new pursuits. Wilson Meikuaya, the last of the lion-hunting generation, fights for both Maasai girls and boys to go to school instead of early marriage or work outside the home (4). This is an amazing example of recent acceptance and equal mindsets regarding young men and women in Kenya.
In summary, the main causes of gender inequality and gender-based violence in Kenya are cultural and religious beliefs. And, while matters of gender equality are far from optimal, things are ever evolving and looking up. Thank you so much for reading my blog post. See you next time!
My Sources
- https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/kenyan-culture/kenyan-culture-family
- https://www.usaid.gov/kenya/document/gender-equality-female-empowerment-kenya
- https://www.we.org/en-CA/we-stories/opinion/gender-norms-kenya
- https://biglife.org/maasai-olympics/
- https://nayakenya.org/2022/12/20/when-culture-and-religion-fuels-gender-based-violence/
Hi Penelope!
A very insightful and well written inquiry post! I like how you gave a nice explanation about the social standards in Kenya and then gave an example. I also think your summary was a nice way to tie it all up because you were able to tell your readers how those matters are not perfect but it is making progress. It’s important to obtain this kind of knowledge and now I know how the cultural and religious beliefs in rural countries can impact gender equality. As I read through your third paragraph, I felt like it could have been expanded more. Your point was great and if you want to accept some advice, you could also speak furthermore about how the societal standards and beliefs in Kenya cause women to be dismissive, to the point where even young children’s traumas are overlooked. What are the social standards of minority people in Kenya and how are they too impacted? Asides from that, everything looks good. Your introduction was well organized as you explained the roles of the man and woman according to their house duties. Excellent work!
Hello Penelope,
I really enjoyed following up on your research on gender wage gaps in Kenya. It was interesting to learn about how the social standards there affect men and women. I especially found the part about the Maasai Olympics and changing traditions interesting. You did an amazing job explaining how cultural and religious beliefs contribute to gender-based violence. To enhance your research further, you can consider researching deeper into specific policy recommendations or interventions aimed at addressing these issues. Exploring the role of education and awareness campaigns could be great for future research. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to reading more from you in the future!
https://www.knbs.or.ke/gender/
https://kenya.unwomen.org/en
Hi Penelope,
That was a very interesting topic since it has something to do with our course. I think this is the first time I have seen a topic relating to the root of our course, Kenya. Your post was easy to read and understand. I just covered the gender wage gap in my social justice class. This sounds very similar to what I learned in my social justice class. I was not aware that Kenya was also another patriarchal country. A question I have is: Are there any programs to help close the gender wage gap? Here are some sources that can help: https://borgenproject.org/gender-wage-gap-in-kenya/
https://www.financeuncovered.org/stories/gender-pay-gap-campaign-awjp-kenya-finlays
-Kiara
Hi Penelope,
I think this is an excellent topic. I find it super interesting how you’re researching to gain more knowledge and your post looks very well written and well researched. I would hope maybe next time that you could add some picture to give us an even greater sense of understanding on the topic. Additionally, you found great information on your topic however, I think to make your post exceed standards you could’ve also included the impact that these issues have on the women in Kenya. Here a few that might help with that:
https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/09/21/i-had-nowhere-go/violence-against-women-and-girls-during-covid-19-pandemic-kenya
Otherwise, this looks like solid work good job!
Thank you for your analysis of the gender wage gap in Kenya! This was really helpful and insightful research for me as I hadn’t known much about the social standards in Kenya. It’s unfortunate to see how cultural beliefs perpetuate gender-based violence and limit opportunities for women.
On the other hand, I like your inclusion of evolving gender norms, like the Maasai Olympics tradition as it shows the positive change occurring in that area.
Here is a link that might help further your research:
https://www.villagevolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Etiquette-in-Kenya1.pdf
Keep up the great work and good luck completing your research!
-Sarah