FEMALE ROLES IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
According to Paul O’Neill, a good community is a cohesive, safe, confident, prosperous and happy place. A place that values and promotes open, participative development processes underpinned by a continuous culture of trans-generational learning. It is somewhere that people wish to stay in and see future generations grow up in.
Community development is almost impossible without the role of women both at the family level and in the society. Women are said to be the first teachers in the lives of every child, and whatever is embedded in the child springs forth to determine if the child will be responsible and patriotic citizen or otherwise.
As the society moves closer to gender equality, women are working to build a more substantial presence in the traditionally male-dominated industries. Women have grown from being relegated to the kitchen or bedroom, to taking up jobs that are supposedly designed for men. United Nations Women opined that not only has this contributed greatly to the economic growth of the community but has created a niche for future generations to strife. Some of these women are entrepreneurs, employing male and females alike.
Late Ameyo Stella Adadevoh is a Nigerian physician credited for curbing the wider spread of the Ebola Virus in Nigeria by placing the patient, Patrick Sawyer in quarantine despite pressure from the Liberian government. Women who are frontline health workers are fighting the war to eradicate COVID-19, and others who are human right activists work passionately to protect the rights of people in communities and taking up positions to tackle issues that affect the masses.
The role of women in community development can never be overemphasized. Therefore, to increase the efficiency and productivity of women in the communities, women should be appreciated and encouraged to do more.
Speak Wednesday is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative to stop the cycle of domestic violence by breaking the silence around gender based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media handles for more episodes.
