UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF WOMEN
IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GEORG MWANGI
The role of women in society cannot be ignored by any government, because women play a crucial role in the growth and development of any nation. In many developing nations in sub-Sahara Africa, women are the ones who are involved in farming activity thus making great economic contributions in their countries. Women in these nations are involved in the initial land preparation i.e. ploughing, planting, weeding; harvesting and taking their farm produce to the market. It is very evident that there are more women in the local markets than men, this is because women are the best traders of their farm produce. Many countries in sub-Sahara Africa are investing in women by giving them soft loans, to support them in their farming activities and trade. Women are known to be better traders than men in some instances; Women are good planners a thing that makes local banks look for them so that they can give them loans. Women are known to pay back their loans on time a thing that makes most local banks hunt for them. The role of women in trade is evident because many women have come out of their cocoon, and are competing with men in the business with some emerging even being better than men, for instance in Kenya we have Naomi Karanja who has fought hard to see her brewing firm to emerge tops and in fact, giving stiff competition to Kenya breweries which has dominated the brewing industry for over five decades; this is a demonstration that given the right support and resources, women can be at par with men. More women are in business today than ever before because many women have been educated as men thing that makes them feel being equal with men, they are saying that what a man can do women can do a better thing that has not been appreciated by some men who view them as a threat; this has not deterred women from doing their best and proving to many that they are the best. In the job market, women have not been left behind because they are competing in the job market with men, the jobs that were viewed as men's jobs are being done by women, posing a major challenge to most men. In the industries, you cannot differentiate women from men. Women are competing for managerial positions with men and emerging even better than some men.
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