ICYMI: Woman: Synonyms and Stereotypes

+SenorRita Ponders 🤔

Five weeks ago, SenorRita finally emerged.

Since then, each weekly edition has been, for us, an inquiry, and also an invitation to you to reflect and respond to the findings of our inquiry.

We think “SenorRita is an inquiry into the delicate issues at the intersection of the male and female genders (and) invites the female and male genders to the table to untangle together the knotty topics of gender equity and inclusion.

Your responses include feedback about your favourite editions. And top of them was Woman: Synonyms and Stereotypes. 

And, in case you missed it, here’s a throwback.

Singlehood: On African Single Moms

Single Moms on the Rise

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest percentage of single mothers in the world, which is quite significant at 32%. 

This is followed closely by Latin America with a share of 30%, and the US/Canada takes the third place with a 19% share of women who are single mothers.

These regional variances highlight differences in family structures, taking into account variations in the economy, culture, social norms, and access to contraceptives and sex education.

Insufficient access to family planning resources may result in unplanned pregnancies and greater instances of single motherhood. The provision of healthcare and education can influence decisions related to family planning and reproductive choices. 

Gender inequality is widespread in some Sub-Saharan African societies, which can affect women’s ability to make autonomous decisions regarding marriage and family planning.

Married Women becoming Fewer

West Africa, Eastern Africa, and Middle Africa have witnessed the most significant decline in the proportion of women married or in a union compared to other continents across the globe.

West Africa, in particular, had the biggest drop in the number of married women, with a 5% drop in ten years, spanning from 2010 to 2020. Middle and East Africa come second and third, respectively, with a 3.3% drop in the share of married women. in Eastern Africa and a drop of 3.2% in Middle Africa.

These statistics raise questions about the socio-economic, cultural, and policy factors influencing Sub-Saharan and West African family structures.

On the other hand, Northern Africa and Eastern Asia are the only regions that had an increase in the share of women who are married from 2010 to 2020.

Why African Women are remaining or reverting to single

In the first instance, the increasing prevalence of single motherhood in Sub-Saharan Africa might be due to the complex socio-economic problems associated with the region.

Economic turbulence, such as high unemployment rates, poor access to education, and poverty, are major issues affecting the stability of relationships. 

Couples who struggle to maintain their marriages in the face of financial troubles may become single mothers due to the economic demands of partnerships and raising children.

Social norms too greatly affect views on marriage and family dynamics. So, the increasing societal acceptance of single motherhood can encourage more women to avoid getting into or staying in marriages, which raises the number of single mothers.

Motherhood: A Synonym for Womanhood?

When you see a woman, what do you see?

A movie producer or a mother?

Women in Sub-Saharan Africa are more mothers than any other vocation.

Eight in every ten women in Sub-Saharan Africa is a mother. While only 3 in every 10 women in Western Europe is a mother.

Could this mean that women in Sub-Saharan Africa value having children far more than women in other parts of the world?

The high fertility rate in the region suggests this. Yet women could be victims of circumstances that predispose them to become mothers so early, even against their will.

Of course, there are fewer married women without children, as well as fewer single women without children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Just 17% of adult women do not identify as mothers, compared to 83% who do. Compared to other regions, Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of women who are giving birth and the lowest percentage of women who are childless, which makes this pattern particularly noteworthy.

Sub-Saharan Africa has just 6% of married women without children in their families, suggesting a cultural tendency towards earlier childbirth and bigger families.

On the other hand, with 33% of the distribution, Western Europe leads due to its varied social. norms and increased acceptance of postponed parenting.   

The lowest share of single adult women with no children, 11%, is shared by South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, which may be a reflection of cultural norms about early marriage and family life.  Western Europe, on the other hand, leads with 34%, indicating a trend towards later family formation and more personal liberty. 

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Africa has traditionally had the highest fertility rates, often exceeding the global replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.

The high percentage of childbearing women in Sub-Saharan Africa is consistent with the region’s well-known high birth rates. 

According to Lucille Maqubela, in the research work “Gender, Motherhood, and Parenting in Africa,” in many African countries, women’s roles as mothers and carers are highly valued according to traditional traditions. 

Women may, therefore, experience pressure from society to carry out these responsibilities, which might affect their adoption of family planning.

Furthermore, a lack of knowledge and use of family planning techniques may result from Sub-Saharan Africa’s low access to healthcare and educational opportunities.