Challenges Concerning E- Learning in Zimbabwe –
Bona Fide
This is a discussion about the introduction of E-Learning due to the covid 19 imposed Lockdown. Zimbabwe has been facing economic challenges and the situation has been exacerbated by the lockdown. More than 85% of Zimbabwean live off the informal sector which has been shut down by the lockdown. Introducing E- Learning had increased the burden on students and Parents. This discussion seeks to hear out the views of parents and students.
Are men and women fundamentally equal or un equal in Zimbabwe? Has any society achieved partial or even full gender equality? Since time immemorial societal activities where determined by one’s gender and gender itself was determined by sexuality. The individual had a burden to conform to societal expectations. Individuals were socialized on how a man should conduct himself as well as how a woman should in the lenses of tradition and culture. Femininity restricted women to participate in public affairs confining them to domestic activities. On the contrary, masculinity was associated with power, leadership and dominance over femininity. In the 21st century the dynamics of gender and sexuality have shifted. The gender discourse is no longer fixed on sex it has become fluid hence roles are also fluid. However, in Zimbabwe the customary culture is still prevalent and its grip is evident in social systems of the nation.
Critical scholars like Kambarami (2006) noted that there is need for re-socialization. This re – socialization entails that society needs to restructure its belief system to conform to modern norms. This means re thinking and detaching of societal activities from gender and sexuality. The society has tried to demystify these traditional beliefs through the rise of feminism. Feminism as a global movement gave power to women relieving them from the cultural imprisonment. It forced governments to enforce bills supporting gender equality and equity against their patriarchal nature. It should be noted that these customary practices are powerful than religion itself hence they have been incorporated in religion.
Politically, there is need for resocialization in order to allow the broad participation of women. Politics is portrayed as a dirty game, which requires tough qualities that very few women are cut for it. Those women in politics display and prove that they have thick skin to withstand the pressure from patriarchal attitudes which define women as weak citizens inadequate for public office. Women’s capabilities are measured by their sexuality. The patriarchal nature of society has shaped and perpetuated gender inequality in political and public leadership spheres. A woman’s sexuality is often associated with domestic chores like being a supportive wife, nurturing children, taking care of the home and manning the kitchen. It is considered taboo for a woman to run for top positions in politics. This view is not only perpetuated by men, rather women also are socialized to this reality and have become perpetrators of patriachy. The media uses rhetoric to remind society where a woman belongs. An example is the representation of Grace Mugabe, instead of reference as Doctor Grace Mugabe the Media called her Dr Amai Mugabe. The word amai is a familial depiction of a mother who is soft, gentle and delicate within a home where she is second to her husband. There is no publication that referred to male politicians as Father figures. There is need to re-socialize and accept women as capable political leaders not second fiddles who should serve men’s interests.
Similarly, the family as social institution needs to restructure the treatment of girls and boys. Patriarchal society socializes young girls and boys to accept gender differentiated roles. In many local traditions and cultures, the socialization process differentiates the girl child from the boy child. Boys are raised as the future heads of families whereas, girls are raised to please their future husbands. Women are constantly defined as dependent and subordinate to men hence they are socialized in that regard with qualities like gentleness, passivity, submission and strife to please men. On the other hand, males’ rule over females by birth right. This culture needs to be revisited to align it with modern standards.
Gender as a discourse has also become fluid in the wake of globalization. This fluidity has phased out gender roles allowing boys to play domestic roles and girls to take leadership. Both girls and boys are to be treated as equals at home and should do the same chores to conscientize equality from a young age. It should not feel as if a girl’s destiny is determined by her attributes as a wife.
equity
When it comes to marriages, women are socialized to desire it as the ultimate goal and destination. Under the traditional marriage, men pay lobola for their wives and this gives domain over that woman. The husband is the head of a house and the wife his subordinate with limited say. The man has a privilege to indulge in extra marital affairs whereas for a woman it is a taboo and attracts the brunt of prostitution. This cultural setup is believed to spill over into society endowing men with decisive power. Women are supposed to be sexually passive and submissive to their husbands who are the initiators of sex. There is need to socialize such social injustice that blurs a woman’s identity in favor of the man.
Government’s marriage bill is gender equality on paper however, customary law remains supreme. when it comes to choosing a marriage partner, women are encouraged to marry upwards, and men to marry downwards. this entails that a woman marries a man who has a better financial status than hers. This is problematic in the sense that women enter a marriage on a final disadvantage hence she is prone to domination. There is need to culture a mindset that women should be financially and socially independent in marriage such that both are obliged to mutual pleasure.
When it comes to gender, masculinity is associated with strength and toughness, whereas femininity is associated with gentleness, softness and weak. Generally, emotions are seen to be for women where as men are expected to be emotionless. Culture states that it is women who cry at funerals whilst men have to be tough. The social belief is perpetuated by socializing the young into those beliefs. This however has led to situations where men are unable to express feelings in the fear of being regarded as weak. There is a niche of women who acquire dominance over their husbands and because of societal beliefs those men suffer in silence. According to WHO statistics in 2018, men commit suicide more than women in Zimbabwe and in the world over. There is need to revise our cultural beliefs and align them to the modern-day standards where there are equal opportunities irrespective of gender. Re socialization should be done in the scope of gender equality and equity conscientious from a young age.
Decolonizing most Zimbabwean parents’ mentality that sport, art and culture are not worthy careers. Questioning if academia and white collar jobs are the only way to go.
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