It is time to break barrier for women

DAR ES SALAAM: YESTERDAY it was widely reported that CCM presidential candidate Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan called on Tanzanians to stop outdated traditions and customs that hinder women from taking on leadership roles.

The incumbent stressed that both men and women are equally gifted by God to serve the nation and contribute to its development. She was addressing a campaign rally in Serengeti district of Mara region, where she said she was aware that some people questioned CCM’s decision to field a woman for parliamentary seat.

It is time for changing mindset and break barrier for women, because they are capable of holding leadership positions as it is the case with men.

For long time there has been a tendency of sidelining women in different areas, giving priority to men as if they were born to rule and take all important posts.Women are marginalised in different ways. There is economic marginalisation, whereby women are often pushed into lower-paying, insecure jobs and are more likely to carry the burden of unpaid domestic work.

In some regions, women have less access to land and other productive assets. Explicit and implicit biases in tax systems can disadvantage women.

On social and cultural marginalisation, some societies or people create gendered structures that can reinforce patriarchal values, treating women as ‘the other’.

Traditional beliefs and lack of awareness about rights can limit women’s access to healthcare and other services. Women and girls can face discrimination based on their gender identity, sexual orientation, or other intersecting identities. There is political marginalisation and this is one of the area the Head of the State talked about. Gender imbalance is often evident in political leadership and other positions of power.

It is common for some people to create traditional systems that devalue women, such as those that favour male heirs, limit women’s ability to hold power or inherit property.

Consequences of marginalisation include unequal access: Women experience disadvantages in health, education and employment opportunities compared to men.

Lower status is another issue, where women may be reduced to roles like sex objects or reproductive machines, diminishing their overall status and leading to a denial of their rights.

As the President said, leadership capacity is determined by performance, not gender, calling for mutual respect among citizens as Tanzania continues its journey of nation building. Let us uphold all values and respect for women.