Exploring Gaps Associated with Gender Empowerment in Selected African Countries

Abstract

Incontrovertibly, gender empowerment process continues to suffer immense gaps that if not timeously addressed can impede most countries to make significant scores in the 2015 Millennium Development Goal number three. The aim of this article is, through literature review methodology, to explore gaps associated with gender empowerment. Findings indicate the following factors that underpin gender empowerment process: Inadequate political participation; high rate of women unemployment; gender skewed health policies; cultural factors; women’s inferiority complex; few women in managerial positions; countries meagre resources to invest in gender empowerment process; and increased cases of domestic violence. The article recommends: mainstreaming gender equality and equity policies; women to be united and stand for their rights; closing of the gender parity gap and working to make cultures both gender neutral and gender sensitive.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n27p870