Are Namibian women holding themselves back?

It is one thing to strive towards achieving a 50/50 women representation, but it does not mean anything if women only hold positions of low stature where they are unable to influence the decision making process.

Often times, the statistics that are used to support the progress towards equal representation are taken at face value, but when examined in greater detail, one realizes that it is the men who are still in control.

This continuous trend of the dominant men is probably due to our social construct that has created or conditioned an unconscious bias, in both men and women, that men are better leaders than women. When we think of leaders, we think of men.  This explains why women who are in power and those aspiring to higher positions in society are treated with contempt and disrespect.  

Coming back to the statistics, take for example the data on parliamentary representation which seems to have become a benchmark for a country’s progress on gender equality and representation. When you take a closer look at some of these data, you discover that most women are just mere members of parliament (MP) or deputy ministers, positions that are considered insignificant. The same goes for the public and private sectors, where the term ‘management’ is overemphasized to make it look as if women representation is substantial, when in actual fact, the women hold low ranking management positions while the majority of senior level positions are occupied by men. Sometimes, some positions are deliberately reclassified into the management category to beef up the numbers, for the sake of compliance and public relations.

As a Namibia, I was disappointed that the women’s wing of the ruling party failed to back or put forward a female Presidential candidate for the 2017 Presidential elections, because they felt that no one was ready to challenge the nominated male nominee. So disappointing that women don’t have confidence in themselves and don’t support those who are willing to take up the challenge.

This happens everywhere in the world, with the best example of Hilary Clinton who was Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party in the 2016 Presidential elections. The harsh criticism she received from many, including those in her own party was based more on our social bias towards women leaders, because I am pretty sure that had she been a man, she would have made it into the oval office. We all saw how her opponent who despite his racist and misogynistic views, his divisive rhetoric and disrespect for anyone, but himself, not to mention his lack of experience, didn’t seem to matter to people. Again, it all comes down to our social bias, social conditioning, generational bias of what a leader is, especially in public office. Traditionally, when we think of leaders, we think of dominance, confidence, forcefulness and a no-nonsense attitude, characters that her opponent demonstrated and is known for.  Had he been a woman, he probably would not have made it to the Presidency.

Yes, there has been significant progress in gender equality, women’s rights and women representation in key decision roles, but it is a progress that is moving at a slow pace, because of women who are doubtful of their own capabilities and the capabilities of their female counterparts to lead at the upmost top.

It is possible to break the glass ceiling completely and have an even playing field, but it is up to the women to fight for what is theirs.