How does gender equality in Swaziland compare with other African states? What is the position of women in Swaziland? Are pressures for change indigenous or are they externally lead? What are the prospects for change over the next decade? While women in Swaziland, as in all other African states, contribute substantially to the economic wellbeing of their families and communities, their contributions have been routinely undervalued, signifying that African women continue to face enormous obstacles in achieving gender equity.
This article from Development Southern Africa assesses the extent of gender inequality in the Southern African kingdom of Swaziland. Additionally it provides policy recommendations to assist the Swazis to move progressively towards greater gender balance in their governance and public policy systems.
The goals for attaining gender equality in the Swazi society are lofty ones. Discipline, dedication and determination will be required of those contesting the status quo for increased equality based on gender. There has been a long tradition of patriarchal governance and control. However, Swaziland’s citizenry places a high priority on educating all its children and, as female educational attainment grows, greater pressure for equality may develop. Other key observations include:
- The isolation that kept Swazi society and culture separate is gradually eroding. Exogenous pressures are therefore growing in the area of gender equality. Information (for example from the internet and satellite television) exposes citizens to lifestyle differences from other social settings. Additionally, the international women’s movement has been instrumental in enhancing gender equality for women
- Indigenous factors are also leading the people to question the maintenance of the status quo. Family destabilisation has meant that women are less willing to accept a passive role in marriage, and the growing incidence of mothers as single heads of household has also created a growing demand for gender equality.
Women in Swaziland currently endure forced marriage, much harsher penalties for adultery than imposed on men, continued legality of wife beating, and the acceptance of rape. The evidence presented in this paper suggests that great disparities continue to exist in Swazi society. Policy recommendations include:
- There is a need for comprehensive educational awareness programmes designed to sensitise and educate Swazi citizens as to the benefits of gender equality
- Parents can create increased gender parity through the continuation of their daughters’ education. Much can be accomplished by retaining children in school
- Constitutional reforms similar to those enacted by the new South African government since 1994, which grant gender parity to women, should be sought
- Reform of Swaziland’s traditional and formal legal court system is required in order to apply law in an equitable and consistent manner across genders.
