Women Urge Men to Empower them Economically

By Deng David Panchol

Women in Jonglei State capital, Bor, have called on their husbands to empower them economically. The women urged their husbands to allow them to engage in income-generating activities to support their families.

They said men have continuously denied them from going to the market to sell their products. They were speaking during the celebration of International Women’s Day in Arek and Gakyuom on Sunday.

Martha Amer Abuoi, a resident of Arek, said most women want to engage in small income-generating businesses but are denied by their husbands.

“As women, we are suffering. We are facing two major challenges. One is that our husbands refuse to allow us to go to the market to sell some items. We only stay at home, and when we escape to the market to sell goods to support the family, the man will later ask where you were the whole day and where did you get the money,” Amer said.

Another challenge is that we lack a women’s center where we can teach each other how to respect our husbands. At the center, the elderly women can teach the young women how they should behave at home,” she stressed.

Nyayaak Ayok, another local resident in Arek, mentioned that women are eager to start some businesses but are not allowed by the men.

“Women are willing to start small businesses to earn money. When you go to Marol market to sell either fresh or dried fish or cook tea, the man will say that you are in another relationship. People keep accusing you, including the area local chief, in-laws, and the elderly, yet you want to do it for your children,” she said.

“Sometimes when we ask our husbands for money for food, he will say he doesn’t have anything at all. So it’s better to let us work so that we can support our children.”

Meanwhile, Kenya Mach, finance officer for Jonglei Women Association, encouraged men to educate all their children regardless of their gender. She also urged parents to monitor the progress of their children in schools.

“Don’t only pay school fees for your children and stop there. You also need to do some follow-up at school to know if they go to school daily and what time they go home. Some children, especially boys, instead of being at school, go to the market to gamble at betting sites using the little money given to them for breakfast at school for betting.”

Elizabeth Nyatiop Gai, a staff for Jonglei Women Empowerment Program, implored men to encourage women to start up small businesses, stating that they can also contribute financially to supporting their families.

“When you let your wife work, she will know how hard it is to make money. She will understand the hardships people go through to earn money. But women who only receive money at home will never know such hardships. When you as a man tell her that you don’t have money, she will not understand.”

Kuei Makuei Majok, a staff for Child-Bride Solidarity, urged men to always appreciate the achievements of women. She discouraged domestic violence and called on men to stop beating their women.

Peter Manyok Panchol, a local leader in Arek, acknowledged the importance of gender equality in society.

“We all have equal rights, and that is why we are also educating our daughters. We have understood the importance of educating a girl child. She can support me, but my son will provide more support to his in-law. So we men in Arek have accepted to educate our daughters.”

The event was organized by Child-Bride Solidarity together with Jonglei Women Empowerment Program with support from SaferWorld and Women for Women International.