Women and their Struggle in Sierra Leone

It is very easy for those in ‘developed’ nations to look critically at the treatment of women in Sierra Leone. Whilst many would think that the UK and other Western countries are on course towards gender equality, there remains a huge issue of institutional and social gender bias. Women in the UK account for only 22% of MPs and peers, 20% of university professors, 6.1% of FTSE 100 executive positions, and 3% of board chairpersons. Even more drastically, women on average will still earn £140,000 less than their male counterpart over their career.[1]

Furthermore, within our own societies we allow, endorse and consume the sexual objectification of women more fervently than in Africa, in many cases reducing women to a commodity that is there for men’s pleasure – this case is no better highlighted than in News Corp’s The Sun’s Page 3 debacle that turned out to be nothing more than a marketing stunt to sell more papers; even making light of this manipulative tactic with the headline ‘We’ve had a Mammary Lapse’.

In terms of education, where a family must purchase school clothing and books in order to participate, girls are in most cases second-choice to their brothers. It is expected that men are more likely to succeed in the workplace due to a woman’s perceived inability to operate in that environment. However, as we know from a Western education, this is simply not the case. A woman’s efficacy in the workplace is more likely attributed to the pre-existing sexism that is within those environments, as well as the self-imposed and lowered institutional expectations that influence their potential for achievement.

There is a general lack of expectation of women from men, and indeed from women themselves. Many believe that because of their gender women do not have the potential to contribute, achieve, or to participate equally with men. There is little expectation that women can hold their own if they stand on an equal playing field, and the lack of prominent established female business leaders or democratically elected female politicians does nothing to contradict this belief. There is an embedded social conception that undermines women, and the lack of successful independent women does nothing to change their own view of themselves as only fit for domestic roles. Although there are some female members of parliament in Sierra Leone, it is unclear what real influence they have and what political relationship they hold with the incumbent party.

Although more women in urban settings receive an education, the ingrained perception of inferiority, and the reliance of women in the professional environment on their looks or their connections further undermines the integrity of education as a genuine path to success. Simultaneously, those women who do make it in to the workplace may lack the competence, qualifications or indeed the inclination to succeed. They therefore further cement the misconceptions surround women’s professional capability, and re-enforce the gender stereotypes further.

There are instances of sexism that are not so easily explained or resolved. Rape in Sierra Leone is common and seldom punished. The legislation on intra-marital rape has not been brought up to international standards and therefore there is no such classification. Marriage is in many cases accompanied with the payment of a bride price from the husband to wife’s family: a gift of goods and / or money in exchange for their daughter. This commoditisation of the woman leads to a sense of ownership in many men, reducing the human value and attributes that women should be afforded.

In fact, rape and other sexual harassment such as touching, groping, or assault is common yet rarely prosecuted. Women are often implored by families not to pursue criminal convictions in order to maintain family honour, and regularly dismissed by police if they do pursue a criminal conviction. This objectification of women has been further exemplified in several rape cases in Sierra Leone over the past few years. In the case that the rapist has been a stranger or community member, rather than pursue the criminal for justice there is a commonly held view that he has damaged the family property. There have been cases when, if the rapist compensates the family with a bag or two of rice, depending on the negotiation, he can then take his victim with him – damaged goods are no use to the family any more….

While this sort of arrangement is not everywhere or in every instance, it is not nearly as uncommon as it should be. Miriam told me that she has seen several occasions when the father of a raped girl has negotiated with the rapist, and even pleaded with the police for the release of the rapist in order to finalise the exchange. A truly horrifying scene to imagine, and one where you must feel that the self-esteem and human worth of the poor victim is shattered, so far that it must be difficult to consider oneself human at all.