What Economic Empowerment Looks Like For Neglected Widows

There are 258 million widows in the world today.

A good majority of them face constant neglect and abuse, where they are stripped of their rights, dignity and identity simply because their husbands have passed. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, the CEO of Rozaria Memorial Trust, said, “Death is not an event but a lifelong experience for a widow,” especially in countries like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and India as well as many more. Women are seen as property to men and if/when the men that “own” them pass away, the women’s identities die with them. Women are lead to believe that they are socially and economically tied to their husbands, where they cannot possibly fend for themselves. They move from their father’s or brother’s hands to their husband’s and have little idea of their rights as a wife and a woman. As a result, their land, home and children are often taken away from them as a consequence of their husbands death and are left as socially ostracized members of society. 

However, grassroots organizations in affected countries like Nigeria, are looking to specifically empower these women by providing them with economic stability. One NGO in particular looks to cultivate entrepreneurial skills for these women. It allots micro-credits to a group of widowed women so that they may build and run their own enterprise. Not only can this provide these women and their families with sustainable funding but they are also able to raise their status within the community as they are seen as contributors rather than burdens to the larger community.

These initiatives are too small in size and scope, however, where widowhood is a large and affected population. It is not only important to empower women with economic incentives but to also provide them with information, knowledge that they may use to their advantage. Education is as the key to unlocking these disempowered women so that they may feel liberated to refuse these social norms that perpetuate their abuse.

As Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi, manager to the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Program, stated “Let empowerment be a true empowerment, let it be an enablement.” 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/khym54/ . CC BY 2.0