Gender Equality Policies in Rwanda: Public Relations or Real Transformations?

Abstract

This article examines Rwanda's gender equality policies with the intention of contributing to the ongoing debate in the literature on the meaning of gender equality initiatives in authoritarian states. The article evaluates the transformative potential of Rwanda's gender equality policies with reference to deep‐rooted societal norms and practices within which gender inequalities are embedded. To this end, the article draws on in‐depth interviews conducted in Rwanda with a range of stakeholders, as well as on documentary research. It explores the factors informing the Rwandan commitment to gender equality, and the positive developments this has brought about, before identifying five trends that threaten the transformative potential of Rwandan gender equality policies. The authors conclude that while a strong political will and target‐driven policies offer opportunities for promoting gender equality, the transformative potential is jeopardized by the dominance of an underlying economic rationale; the neglect of the ‘invisible labour’ of women; the formalistic implementation of gender policies and their focus on quantitative results; the limited scope for civil society voices to influence policy; and the lack of grassroots participation.

Rwanda's gendered agricultural transformation: A mixed-method study on the rural labour market, wage gap and care penalty

“…Leach (2016) and Razavi et al (2012) note that, generally, reproductive work is consistently ignored and undervalued even when this work is essential to the wealth of societies and to reproduce labour force capital. Debusscher and Ansoms (2013) contend that Rwandan women are negatively affected by the transition from subsistence to market-oriented agriculture production, mainly in the context of intra-household relations and the fact that care work is not recognized or valued by the government. This development risks becoming socially unsustainable (Learch 2016).…”

“…Another step was adding work regulations for pregnant and breastfeeding women. In addition, the 2003 constitution placed gender equality at its centre (Ayalew, Deininger and Goldstein 2014;Bauer and Burnet 2013;Burnet 2011;Debusscher and Ansoms 2013;GoR 2009a). With the new constitution, a gender quota in all decision-making organizations from the national to the grassroots level has been introduced such that, at the present time, Rwanda has more women than men in the parliament.…”

Shifting Perceptions of Consequences of IPV Among Beneficiaries of Indashyikirwa: An IPV Prevention Program in Rwanda

“…Only legally married women are guaranteed rights to property and custody in the case of divorce, which can hinder the ability of informally married women to leave abusive relationships (Powley, 2007). The government's various interventions to address IPV have been critiqued for emphasizing safety and empowerment of women, with insufficient attention to the root causes of IPV such as gender equitable norms (Slegh & Kimonyo, 2010;Debusscher & Ansoms, 2013). This includes concerns with Rwanda's GBV law for being strongly punishment oriented, inadequately promoting rights individuals possess under the law, or emphasizing how IPV is a form of gender discrimination (Herbert, 2015).…”

‘Boys don’t rule us’: exploring Rwandan girls with disabilities’ resistance to masculine dominance in school

“…equitable gender relations) for long-term social, economic and political gain (e.g. women's empowerment in the economy) (Debusscher and Ansoms 2013;Hogg 2013).…”