Women’s Day madness eclipses progress, challenges

Bars were filled to the brim Saturday as women embraced carefree madness to mark the international women’s day.

Drunken mothers and daughters dancing late into the night has come to define the day set aside to shed light on their lot in a world often dominated by men.

Across Yaounde, women in loose gowns danced to tunes that encouraged them to lift up their dresses and expose their underwear.

Our correspondents and social media reported similar scenes across the country, even in traditionally conservative communities in the north of the country.

Some of the images, videos and words collected by our reports are too graphic to describe or quote.

Alice Banda, a school teacher, said what she saw and heard was “disgusting and repulsive.”

“The original idea was good, but the way it is celebrated drains it on any meaningfulness,” she said.

“We are making a mockery of ourselves and giving men good arguments that women cannot handle power.”

The madness eclipsed the progress made by women over the years and the challenges that remained for about 52 percent of the national population.

The number of women in parliament has more than doubled and for the first time women are being appointed as district and prefectural administrators.

Girl education is on the rise, the number of early marriages are declining and strong advocacy has shed light on cultures that abuse and degrade women.

Yet, campaigners say maternal [and infant] mortality has risen steeply over the last decade or more, in spite of progress in science and technology.

According to the department of statistics there are under 300 midwives in Cameroon and far fewer gynecologists in the country.

Unemployment is higher among women, who occupy only three of every ten jobs in the formal sector. They form the majority in the low-paying informal sector.

In spite of progress in girl education, the school dropout and repeat rate is higher among girls than boys due to women’s vulnerability to cultural and economic forces.

“Cameroon has not adopted a clear policy on women’s issues” said businesswoman and politician Judith (Kah) Walla during a TV debate, ahead of 8 March.

The ministry of women’s affairs is one of the least funded government departments and lacks the resources to make any difference, she said.

On TV and on other platforms, public authorities and private civil society organization organized debates to discuss women’s issues.

Across the country, the highpoint of 8 March was a parade of women down major streets and ceremonial grounds.

First Lady Chantal Biya led the march in Yaounde for the first time.

“Those abusing the day are in the minority but their actions are more pronounced,” said Banda.