CIAD II: African women are the heroes of the the silent resistance

The round table on Gender and Equity was one the focal points of the Second Conference of Intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora (CIAD II). Nine briliant presentations were made by specialists on gender issues from Brazil, Costa Rica, Martinique, Burkina Faso, Tchade and Senegal. From the continent and the Diaspora, the dominant viewpoint is that women are the most vulnerable part of the society.

Each of the presentations showed that they are the first victims of poverty, conflicts, discriminatory cultural and religious practices and the global inequalities between under developped and developped nations.

Nil Céia Freire, Minister, Special Secretariat on the Policies for Women of Brazil, asserted that Brazilian society was characterised by a double subordination of black women who were victims of both racial and sexual domination. With references to historical facts of rapes and sexual harassment of black women from white masters and male supremacy within the black society itself, he stated that there was a clear link between racism, sexual oppression and patriarchy.

Waïna Sant’Anna, Brazilian researcher and social activist, referring to the lower life expectations of black Brazilian women 69 years (73 years for black men), insisted on the profound crisis that the black community is dealing with. Due to a high level of poverty, a low level of education and a bad health situation, this group is very vulnerable.

The break up of family units is a very widespread phenomenon and she vehemently denounced the attempts to disqualify black mothers in the caring of their children due to their volatile economic and mental situation.

Talking about the situation of African women, the senegalese sociologist Maréma Toure Thiam pointed out that besides sexual discriminations, poverty and racial issues, African women face in their daily lives other srious challenges related to castes systems, class antagonisms and harmful traditional practices.

Nevertheless, she emphasised that it is crucial to assert that African women from Africa and the Diaspora have heroes of the the silent resistance in the sense that the fundamental role of the mother is at the forefront of the Cultural Resistance of Africa and its sons and daughters.

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