In this episode Ruby - May discusses the post conflict experience of Brundi. She is a student journalist with us on a placement organised by the Oxford University Career Services. This article was edited using the Hemingway Editor.
🎧 listen to Ruby-May’s backstory here - she discusses her motivation & research as well.
Bridging Tradition and Progress: Negotiating Female Identity in Burundi
Identity is dynamic. It can evolve over time based on personal experiences. Along with societal influences, and changing circumstances. For women in Burundi, there is a constant battle to be fought. Brundi is a small, landlocked country in East Africa. It grapples with the interplay of tradition and modernity. Which constantly influences the roles and perceptions assigned to women. The exploration of female identity in Burundi therefore unfolds against a backdrop shaped by conflict. Along with dynamic cultural norms, and contemporary struggles for gender equality.
The Civil War in Burundi
The Burundian civil war lasted from 1993 to 2005. An estimated 300,000 people were killed during this time. This war was fuelled by long standing ethnic divisions between the Hutu and Tutsi people. The conflict started in October 1993. This conflict was triggered by the assassination of Burundi’s first democratically elected president. Mr. Melchior Ndadaye was a Hutu. His death led to widespread violence and instability in Burundi. A large number of Burundians were forced to flee the country. Creating a refugee crisis. Many sought asylum in neighbouring countries.
Despite the formal end of the civil war, Burundi has faced ongoing challenges. They range from political instability, human rights concerns, and economic development. Targeted policies and social initiatives often focus on economic growth benefiting Men.
The Female Struggle: From the Civil War to Today
The Burundian Civil War witnessed widespread sexual violence.. With women being particularly targeted, facing rape and other forms of abuse. Many survivors are still coping with physical and psychological trauma. The conflict also disrupted education for many children, including girls. Schools were often closed. Families, fearing for their safety, kept children at home. The interruption of education had long-term implications. The empowerment and development of women and girls being one. But despite the challenges they faced during the war, women played vital roles in peace building efforts. The conflict prompted increased attention to issues of gender. Along with the importance of women's participation in post-conflict reconstruction. Efforts have since been made to promote women's inclusion in political processes and decision-making. Yet, women are still not equal by law in Burundi. Efforts for gender equality often do not seem to reach rural areas of the country.
(Un)changing Attitudes towards Women
Domestic violence, limited access to education and healthcare, and unequal economic opportunities persist in Burundi. Gender-based violence remains a significant concern for Burundian women. This includes sexual harassment, abuse and harmful traditional practices. Alcoholism is common among men, which frequently leads to domestic violence. Consequently, women are forced to live in a climate of constant fear. With significant impact of this on women's mental health, which cannot be overstated.
Traditional gender roles still shape the lives of many Burundian women today. Women have little say in household decision making. Yet, they still take on the majority of household responsibilities. Cooking, cleaning, childcare, farming chores, collecting of firewood, just to name a few. All of these responsibilities fall at woman’s feet, but she has no say over how the household income is spent.
Things are changing. Initiatives such as ‘Project Tuyage’. Which means ‘Let’s Talk’ in Kirundi are popping up across rural Burundi. They are designed to promote economic empowerment and change gender norms. As the name suggests, talking forms the foundation of this project. It involves building financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills. Along with training in conflict transformation techniques. Mediums such as radio, TV, town halls, and the Common Ground Approach are commonly used. The project recognises that attitudes need to change before behaviour can. There are listening clubs. Women and their husbands are invited to receive training in the Common Ground Approach to help solve disputes at home.
Marriage is still not an equal partnership in Burundi. Although the legal age for marriage is 18, early and forced marriages are still issues for girls. Cultural norms and economic pressures can contribute to these practices. So, limiting the freedom and choices of young girls. Traditional gender roles and cultural expectations also limit women's decision-making power. Within the institution of marriage being one. This lack of autonomy can affect various aspects of their lives. Including reproductive choices and financial decision-making. Polygamy is also legal, although it has become less common in urban areas. In rural communities, however, it is still often practised. It is not uncommon for the man to go and stay with another woman for a while, but also to bring this woman back to his home. Such situations make gender inequalities incredibly visible. The wife finds herself in the humiliating situation of becoming a concubine.
Women: Victims of the Climate Crisis
Women represent 55% of the labour force in Burundi. They are particularly active in agriculture. While other sectors such as construction are still reserved for men. Traditional gender roles have led to unequal access to and control over land for women. In many cases, men are considered the primary landowners. While women's rights to land are contingent on their relationships with male family members. For example, their fathers or husbands. Burundian law does not give women the right to inheritance. Therefore, in order to own a piece of land, they must buy it. This is incredibly difficult given that men have complete control over household finances.
But farming and agriculture has become a difficult and unpredictable livelihood. Burundi is one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events. Changes in rain patterns. Along with rising temperatures. Which have significant consequences on the country's agriculture and water resources. Impactting overall socio-economic stability. The majority of Burundi's population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods. Changes in climate patterns can affect crop yields, leading to food insecurity and economic challenges for rural communities. The aftermath of the war has made rural women and their land-based livelihoods the main lifeline for their households. These women spend a lot of their income increasing the resilience of their land against the climate crisis. During the civil war, when men left to fight, women were left behind to look after the land and farm. To this day, poor mental health, such as trauma and PTSD from the war, has left men unable to farm. And when women lose crops. Their husbands head to Bujumbura, the capital, to seek alternative employment. In such cases, women are left landless with nowhere to go, and labour for neighbours who own land, often for less than $5 a day.
Female Entrepreneurship
Due to cultural norms dictating the woman’s role. Which is limited to the home. There is a common view in Burundi that she should not participate in income-generating activities. However, these traditional attitudes do not entirely prevent the creation of female-run businesses. There are plenty of examples of the diverse female entrepreneurship in Burundi, which spans many sectors. Women have ventured into hospitality, beauty, wellness, social entrepreneurship, technology, handicraft, and many other sectors. Agnes Gakwavu is known for her work in the fashion industry. She founded "Kora Designs". A brand that specialises in creating traditional Burundian garments with a modern twist. Women have also made many notable contributions in Agribusiness. For example by running farms that produce and sell agricultural products. Jacqueline Nanyunja has ventured into the food processing business. So, adding value to agricultural products. This processing of local crops into packaged food products creates economic opportunities. While also contributing to food security.
When looking at how entrepreneurship impacts female identity locally. It is essential to also consider intersectionality. As is the case globally, factors such as age, socioeconomic status, and education intersect with gender identity to shape the experiences of female entrepreneurs. Today, policies and programs in Burundi are not always inclusive and do not always address the diverse needs of women.
Facing Facts
For Burundian women, like for us all, there are tensions between the different identities. Personal identity, social identity, and cultural identity, are some examples. Women are often expected to fulfil societal norms by assuming the role of a mother and managing the household. While simultaneously striving to pursue personal and professional ambitions. These expectations persist against the backdrop of existing inequalities related to the control of income and inheritance. The post-conflict peace building efforts have not always had women at the forefront. They also do not reach the most rural areas of the country. But there is an increasing awareness of gender disparities in Burundi. Along with progress to change laws is being made. Society is constantly changing in Burundi, and female identity moves with it.
Bibliography
https://preemptivelove.org/blog/project-tuyage-changes-the-single-story-of-women-in-burundi/
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