Gendered Sanitation

UN SDG 6 which focuses on ensuring access to water and sanitation for all has been mentioned a few times in my previous blogs. Target 6.2 specifically says 'by 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations. 

In many societies across the world, women have primary responsibilities in household management which include the management of household water supply and sanitation (UN, 2006). Despite women being very knowledgeable and important in the actions revolving around water and sanitation management, they are often under-represented in decision-making roles (Kameri-Mbote, 2006; ADB, 2006). In the case of Kenya, only an average of 37% of top-level staff were women across six national and county sanitation-related institutions (WSUP, 2020).

WaterAid Explains: What has water got to do with gender equality?


Feminine realities of WASH

Education is a key factor in economic growth. Subsequently, increased attention on education in Africa has shone light on the probable linkage it has with poor water and sanitation availabilities (Jewitt et al., 2014). Women are often tasked with the responsibility of collecting water, but because of the lack of water supply services, they often spend hours each day walking to get water. This means they spend less time getting educated and closet the opportunity of finding proper work to support themselves. In Kenya, a well-implemented WASH program that improves access to water and sanitation increases school attendance and improves gender parity (Garn et al., 2013).

Unequal access to sanitation for women and girls results from the combination of physiological/biological factors and social norms (Kayser et al., 2019). The health of women and girls is more at risk in unhygienic toilets as they are prone to reproductive tract infections (Phillips-Howard et al., 2011). The absence of sanitary facilities is common across Africa and cultural norms of female modesty mean that women often go to toilets after dark. This not only puts them in danger of rape and violence but also by avoiding frequent toilet use women are forced to drink less making them more vulnerable to dehydration-related health issues. 

Moving forwards

Talkabout Africa: A Voice for African Women

The sanitation sector is one that can clean up gender inequality (WEF, 2018). Around the world, there is a growing momentum where women's voices are heard more across different sectors and regions. Key examples are social movements such as the #MeToo campaign and new policy agendas that encourage gender equality. Compared to having no women, water and sanitation projects carried out with female participation are more suitable and effective (Wijk-Sijbesmas, 1997). Findings from a study done on women working in sanitation in Kenya have shown that women are often evaluated more harshly on top of being more likely to get jobs with a higher risk of failure in workplaces, disabling them from reaching their full potential. Hence, addressing gender inequalities in the management of water and sanitation will be beneficial for all.




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