Understanding the Patterns of Power Affecting Women
November 9, 2021
Written by Charmaine Chitate for CARE/ USAID Takunda - Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA)
Twenty years ago, a young Sebina Masukuta met and married the love of her life, a man from Museki Village, twenty years senior. “I just wanted to have children,” she said. Her wish was fulfilled that same year as they welcomed their first daughter.
However, at just 20 months, Sebina’s daughter fell sick with an unknown illness and passed away, leaving her mother heartbroken. Trying to fill the vacuum in her heart left by her late child, Sebina became pregnant again, and in 2004 she gave birth to another girl—at home. In 2012, feeling society’s scorn for not having a son, she became pregnant again but became worried when she couldn’t feel any movements from the baby.
“I went to the hospital, and they said everything was fine. When I got home, something triggered my asthma, and I went into early labour.”
Sebina and her husband tried to make their way back to the hospital. Still, it was too late as she gave birth on the way, “He was alive for less than an hour and died because we didn’t wrap him up in time.”
It was the boy she always wanted.
Now 43, Sebina’s hopes for a boy were not unfounded; instead, they reflect feedback shared during the development of the Takunda Gender Analysis. The overall objective of the analysis was to identify gender gaps, practices which influence patterns of power and control of assets, to name a few. In its preliminary findings, the study indicated that male elders would only parcel land to their sons upon marriage — allowing men to control more land than women.
With four daughters and no son, Sebina was unable to hold onto her late husband’s estate. One of the key findings highlighted in the Gender Analysis is women’s ability to develop coping solutions to support their families. Sebina re-married.
Sebina’s second husband is from Nhando Village, which borders Museki Village,“I wanted someone who could take care of me and do the same.” However, she could not take her children from a previous marriage, and someone came to the rescue,“My late husband’s sister offered to take care of the girls.”
Soured by her experiences giving birth at home, Sebina’s ensuing pregnancies in the new marriage were all delivered at a hospital. A second chance at love brought in a second chance at life. In 2019, Sebina gave birth to a son, securing her future in Nhando Village. A few months shy of his second birthday, Sebina gave birth to another daughter,“My last pregnancy was difficult. I didn’t have enough to eat, and the baby kept threatening to come early because of my asthma. My daughter is seven months old, but she’s unable to sit, and I don’t know why.” She faces yet another challenge.
During a focus group discussion, some women contributing to the USAID Takunda Gender Analysis revealed that they give birth to babies who are underweight as they are forced to diets consisting of dried vegetables and wild fruits that have low nutritional value. This is one of many perceptions shared by program participants.
Charity Chikwiriro, the Nutrition Specialist at USAID Takunda a shared,“Dried vegetables, granted this is done properly, and wild fruits do provide nutrients required by a baby growing in the mother’s womb. They are not, in any way, of low nutritional value. Takunda, supported by USAID, will teach participants how to dry the locally available vegetables in a way that will maintain their nutritious value. In addition to this, we are set to distribute supplementary feeding rations to pregnant and lactating women and children aged 6–23 months as a means to improve the consumption of nutritious foods. This will help prevent the effects of hidden hunger which may be causing growth retardation in unborn children and children under the age of 2.”