The role of men and women shapes a significant part of life in any society. Aspects of society from how children are raised to marriage to the make-up of a country's workforce is vastly affected by how the country views men and women. This is certainly true in Uganda.
According to Otiso (2006), in most areas of culture, men are the leaders of Uganda. They are the most involved in leadership from a political level to a familial one. The women are more submissive in role on many levels, although this is not universally true. These views of men and women affect family and social life within Uganda. Those two areas will be looked at briefly.
In marriage and family life, men and women have very traditional roles. Otiso (2006) clearly communicates many aspects of the roles in society. In general, the men are the primary providers and leaders of the household while the women are keepers of the home. In the home, the men are expected to make most of the decisions and women are submitted under their leadership (Otiso, 2006). As the men bring in most of the income, the women are not expected to work outside of the home although they sometimes make money by producing various items to sell. Their primary work lies within raising the children and keeping the home, especially in taking care of the food-growing and "preparing" what is needed for meals (Otiso, 2006). This is not a universal rule. Generally, though, the Ugandan culture clearly defines women and men roles in family life-men are the leaders and women are under them in submission.
In regard to rights and privileges, it would seem that in Uganda, men have more opportunities and rights than women do. This can be seen in the areas of education, land rights, and politics. Because of the pattern set by roles in marriage, many boys end up receiving further education than do girls. This partially occurs because the girls are considered to be a part of the family they marry into. Therefore, many families would rather invest in their sons (Otiso, 2006). Further, there are many obstacles including marrying at an early age or being orphaned as Fentiman and Warrington point out (2011). As far as land ownership, it is very hard for women to own land in Uganda. According to Otiso (2006), "women’s limited access to land is a result of their lack of land inheritance rights." Many women are expected to have somewhat of a claim on land through their husbands (Otiso, 2006). However, this poses a problem for women who are not in a family in Ugandan society. Lastly, women also do not have as many opportunities politically (Otiso, 2006). However, times are changing and more women are getting involved in the politics of the country (Library of Congress, 2011).
These roles of men and women have carried over from early Uganda. The largest change has been in how the men and women have carried out their roles. For example, men used to be carry out their roles as provider through hunting, etc. This has evolved into men doing more modern jobs and bringing money home (Otiso, 2006). Even so, the main idea of what place and sphere they are to work in has carried into modern Uganda. However, things are changing. According to the Library of Congress (1990) and Fentiman and Warrington (2011), many are working to change this and to give women more opportunities in Uganda, especially in regard to education and Although these restraints do somewhat cast a burden on women for opportunities in life who aren't married, this embrace of men-women roles can bear significant blessings as well, being God's design for marriage and the family. However, this is not to say that it can and has been abused-some men can be much too overbearing or even abusive of their wives and children, and this is not acceptable. Uganda has much room to improve in men and women roles, but they also have some ideas right!
According to Otiso (2006), in most areas of culture, men are the leaders of Uganda. They are the most involved in leadership from a political level to a familial one. The women are more submissive in role on many levels, although this is not universally true. These views of men and women affect family and social life within Uganda. Those two areas will be looked at briefly.
In marriage and family life, men and women have very traditional roles. Otiso (2006) clearly communicates many aspects of the roles in society. In general, the men are the primary providers and leaders of the household while the women are keepers of the home. In the home, the men are expected to make most of the decisions and women are submitted under their leadership (Otiso, 2006). As the men bring in most of the income, the women are not expected to work outside of the home although they sometimes make money by producing various items to sell. Their primary work lies within raising the children and keeping the home, especially in taking care of the food-growing and "preparing" what is needed for meals (Otiso, 2006). This is not a universal rule. Generally, though, the Ugandan culture clearly defines women and men roles in family life-men are the leaders and women are under them in submission.
In regard to rights and privileges, it would seem that in Uganda, men have more opportunities and rights than women do. This can be seen in the areas of education, land rights, and politics. Because of the pattern set by roles in marriage, many boys end up receiving further education than do girls. This partially occurs because the girls are considered to be a part of the family they marry into. Therefore, many families would rather invest in their sons (Otiso, 2006). Further, there are many obstacles including marrying at an early age or being orphaned as Fentiman and Warrington point out (2011). As far as land ownership, it is very hard for women to own land in Uganda. According to Otiso (2006), "women’s limited access to land is a result of their lack of land inheritance rights." Many women are expected to have somewhat of a claim on land through their husbands (Otiso, 2006). However, this poses a problem for women who are not in a family in Ugandan society. Lastly, women also do not have as many opportunities politically (Otiso, 2006). However, times are changing and more women are getting involved in the politics of the country (Library of Congress, 2011).
These roles of men and women have carried over from early Uganda. The largest change has been in how the men and women have carried out their roles. For example, men used to be carry out their roles as provider through hunting, etc. This has evolved into men doing more modern jobs and bringing money home (Otiso, 2006). Even so, the main idea of what place and sphere they are to work in has carried into modern Uganda. However, things are changing. According to the Library of Congress (1990) and Fentiman and Warrington (2011), many are working to change this and to give women more opportunities in Uganda, especially in regard to education and Although these restraints do somewhat cast a burden on women for opportunities in life who aren't married, this embrace of men-women roles can bear significant blessings as well, being God's design for marriage and the family. However, this is not to say that it can and has been abused-some men can be much too overbearing or even abusive of their wives and children, and this is not acceptable. Uganda has much room to improve in men and women roles, but they also have some ideas right!
Sources
Fentiman, A., & Warrington, M. (2011). Gender in east africa: Woman role models in uganda. The Centre for Commonwealth Education. Retrieved from http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/centres/cce/publications/CCE Report No8-Gender Report3_final_v2_.pdf
Library of Congress. (1990). Uganda: Women in society. Retrieved from http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID ug0060)
Otiso, K. M. (2006). Culture and customs of uganda. (pp. 81-98). Greenwood Press. Retrieved from http://www.childhoodmag.com/library/uganda-family-life.pdf
The UK Uganda Network. (2000). Relationships/role of men and women. Retrieved from http://www.ugandanetwork.org.uk/activity/ventures/roleof1vs.htm
Library of Congress. (1990). Uganda: Women in society. Retrieved from http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID ug0060)
Otiso, K. M. (2006). Culture and customs of uganda. (pp. 81-98). Greenwood Press. Retrieved from http://www.childhoodmag.com/library/uganda-family-life.pdf
The UK Uganda Network. (2000). Relationships/role of men and women. Retrieved from http://www.ugandanetwork.org.uk/activity/ventures/roleof1vs.htm
RSS Feed