Women - men - gender. - Bibliothek der Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

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STRUCTURING GLOBALIZATION SOCIALLY
“Women want to have a say”
In Conversation with Herta Däubler-Gmelin, MP
The Chairperson of the Parliamentary
Committee for Human Rights and
Humanitarian-Aid is constantly
traveling, also on behalf of the
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. In 2008 she
was in Africa and China. She was full
of admiration for women who are
struggling for the survival of their families
in desperate situations. They are politically
more discerning and critical than the
developed countries are aware of.
Are there, in Africa, female elites
in politics and society, who are
engaged in changing the prevalent
conditions?
Do gender debates play a role?
How much power and responsibility
are men willing to share with
women?
In many African countries, the
responsibility for daily life rests
solely or mostly with the women.
And yet, developmental aid appears
to be largely shaped by men’s needs,
or so it is said and critiqued.
There are many active women, strong women, all of whom are working
to change the often miserable living conditions. Women produce
most of the food in Africa. Women are the worst affected by HIV/AIDS.
The highest illiteracy rates are those of women. Women are often the
victims of violence, of sexual violence in particular – in times of war,
civil wars, and confl icts, but also in their ostensibly normal lives. A lot
has to be changed. In countries, where women have a say, they raise
their voices. In other countries, they champion the cause of their
daughters and support more schooling.
There are gender debates, but far too few. In countries that are more
developed, these debates are there. But, where they are most needed,
there, there are hardly any. In the autumn of 2008, I was in Ethiopia.
There, it is even enshrined in the constitution that women must have
a fair share of the means of production, of political power and infl
uence in society. But, there are hardly any women ministers, professors
or managers. This is agitating more and more women. At least, the
majority of girls are now attending school – that’s an important starting
point for ushering in change.
Well, the most important matter for development cooperation is the
millennium development goals, with the mandate to eradicate poverty,
misery and hunger. The needs of the women, especially, are being
emphasized here. Our development cooperation programmes certainly
take that into account: schools and vocational training, access to
water, facilitating the cultivation of food, health care measures, hospitals,
particularly for rape victims are all issues covered by development
cooperation. Of course, there must also be bad examples. But our
development cooperation is very good here.
FRIEDRICH-EBERT-STIFTUNG