FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN THE FORMAL SECTOR AND DEVELOPMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Journal of Third World Studies, Fall 2003 by Njoh, Ambe J, Rigos, Platon N

INTRODUCTION

During the last two or more decades, the United Nations has been organizing activities to promote awareness of the plight of women throughout the world. Prominent amongst these activities are the declaration of the decade, 1975-1985 as the "First UN Decade of Women;" the "First Global Conference on Women," held in Mexico City, Mexico (1975); the "World Conference on Women," held in Nairobi, Kenya (1985); and more recently, the UN-sponsored "Fourth World Conference for Women" held in Beijing, China (1995).

If level of participation in these conferences and public pronouncements by national government representatives are reliable indicators, it is safe to conclude that governments all over the world have been supportive of the UN's agenda on "combating gender-based inequities in the labor market." In sub-Saharan Africa, a number of countries have actually initiated labor market equity-promoting policies. Toward this end, some countries (e.g., South Africa and Namibia), have instituted Affirmative Action and other programs designed to promote gender equity in employment practices. Others (e.g. Cameroon) have created government ministries dealing exclusively with women affairs, including issues of gender-based discrimination.

Behind efforts on the part of the UN and governments in these countries, particularly those that have initiated programs to realize a fair representation of women in the formal labor sector, is the belief that doing so will promote development. This belief is based on little, if any, empirical evidence. Certainly, the notion of 'equality of opportunity,' that constitutes the thrust of efforts to combat gender-based inequity in the labor market possesses a moral appeal. The moral case for these efforts notwithstanding, one important question remains to be adequately addressed. Does increasing the presence of women in the formalsector constitute a viable strategy for promoting development?1 More specifically, what impact does increasing the number of women in the formal sector have on development in sub-Saharan African countries?

This paper presents and discusses the findings of a study designed to contribute to efforts aimed at addressing this crucial question. Initially, we examine a number of historical and theoretical issues relating to gender-based inequities, particularly the relatively weak socio-economic status of women in Africa. Following this, we discuss the data and methodology employed in the study. Next, we present the main findings of the study. Finally, we discuss the findings and present some concluding remarks.

HISTORY AND THEORY

The relatively weak socio-economic position of women in Africa can be best understood in the context of the continent's history. A crucial component of this history is what Ali Mazuri2 brands, Africa's 'triple heritage.' The roots of Africa's "triple heritage" are traceable to indigenous African society, Islam and Western/Christian philosophy, culture and ideology. There is some consensus that certain aspects of African cultural and traditional practices have inherent negative predispositions towards the advancement of women. Traditions and cultures of this genre are tied to belief systems that endorse the preferential treatment of men vis-a-vis women. This point is accentuated by Njiro when she makes the following observation.3

Although most cultural traditions in Africa regard the birth of a child as a joyous occasion, preference for sons is evident in the customs of many communities in Africa. Ordinarily, such preferences seem insignificant, but a deeper analysis reveals that this is the start of discriminatory practices against women and that it continues throughout their lives.

The introduction of Islam significantly contributed not only to the subordination of African women but also to the degradation of their socio-economic position. The Muslim religion, which is dominant in many parts of Africa, is well-known for its propensity to discourage the active participation of women in public and formal economic life. The contribution of European colonialism to degrading the socio-economic status of women in Africa is also noteworthy. To appreciate colonialism's contribution to this problematic, it is necessary to first acknowledge the fact that the advent of European colonialism in the late-19th Century was accompanied by the introduction of capitalism as the dominant mode of economic production and the adoption of statehood as the preferred form of political organization throughout the continent. Here, we hasten to draw attention to the fact that prior to the arrival of Arabs and Western colonial powers, people's status in African society derived mainly from their role in the 'domestic' and/or 'public' spheres. Thus, activities in either sphere commanded equal respect. However, as Njoh notes, with the introduction of new values, especially those associated with capitalism.4

non-money making activities, particularly, domestic work, typically performed by women and children, were thenceforth considered anything but productive economic activities.