Women in East Africa

All ye women in the Western world, kiss the ground you are standing on and thank your good karma for where you were born.

I've been meaning to write for a while about the status of women here. I should note that many people say that things are "improving."

So, here's a few reasons why I'm glad to live where I do:

• Female circumcision is still very common here.
• Most places it is illegal for women to inherit property.... even where they are legally allowed to, the custom is that the first born son inherits everything.
• Brides are still purchased. The minimum price for a women is 2 cows and 2 goats. Price is set based on beauty and "how many men she has known." People we talk to here, don't seem to understand how you could get away with not paying for a good woman?!?!?
• Polygamy is still common. It's becoming less so, but not because people think that it's not a good idea to have several wives, but rather because with the economic situation here, most men can only afford one.
• Abortion is 100% illegal.
• It is far more common for a boy to be sent to school than a girl.
• Most people believe that it's ok to beat a woman for a wide variety of offenses.
• We have heard of at least one incident where a European medical student doing an internship here for the summer witnessed a doctor performing a tubal ligation on a women while doing a C-Section with no consent. The doctor didn't even inform the women because "she has 7 children and is HIV positive....it's for the best"
• Even the day to day things ---- Women cut and carry all the firewood for cooking, then they cook the meal. Then the men eat first and anything left over is given to the women and children.