The cock crowed from a distance, jolting me up from my sleep. Every morning, I make a mental list of my chores for the day; it’s a list I am all too familiar with. In the corner of our thatched hut lay the man, the one I now call my ‘Husband’. I walk past him, heading for the door and careful not to stir him from sleep. Once outside, I begin my 5km walk to get firewood for cooking. As I hurry towards the bush, I am overly alert about my surroundings; a few days ago, the news all over the village was, a young mother was raped and killed on her way to get firewood in the early hours of the morning. I do not want to be another statistic, but I must perform my wifely duties and on time.
On the walk, I thought, what would my life have been like if I ran away as I once considered? Maybe I’d be rounding up my education at the university or, I’d be a street worker trying to make a living. I still remember that day; I ran home with so much joy and excitement. I screamed for my father as I entered our home; I had passed my examinations in flying colours and got a scholarship to study at a University in the city. “You are ripe for marriage; education won’t get you a husband and kids, you are not going anywhere”, shortly after, I was married off to an older man.
I snap back to reality, trying to catch my breath from the walk so far. Years of inhaling the fumes from the firewood had finally caught up with me. The doctor at the local medical centre had prescribed some medication to help with my respiratory condition. If only we could afford to pay for the medication, maybe I would have gotten better.
I shake my head in thought; I didn’t choose this life; it was chosen for me……
Some traditional beliefs limit the social and economic contributions of women to the development of society. These beliefs restrain women from contributing to the development of society by placing restrictions on their rights to own resources that can contribute to economic growth, such as land or property, while restricting them to domestic duties. Many aspects of daily domestic living involve the use of energy, in performing traditional duties women are exposed to the risks. Women in the rural areas especially, are not guaranteed security from rape or kidnap on their farms or on the way to get the basic household amenities, they are exposed to health hazards from the use of firewood for cooking; young girls are not allowed to get an education and stand the risk of being trafficked into slavery. Women and girls may also face domestic abuse if they fail to fulfill their domestic duties.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognises the importance of gender equality in fostering a sustainable future. SDG No 7 aims to achieve Gender Equality through the empowerment of all women and girls. By promoting, access to basic amenities, education of the girl child and improving the rights of women and children, societies can achieve sustainable development and economic growth.