And me

Women of Liberia

I am a associate prepared nurse working towards my bachelors degree.

I work full time as an RN at the St. Cloud Hospital.

I will complete my course work in May 2011.I have been married for 21 years.We have three children, one daughter in-law

and one grandchild.Some things I like to do are ride motorcycle,

boat, garden, cook, hike, and spend time with my family.

Carla

Is a small country in Africa about the size of Ohio.The population of Liberia is about 3.49 million.There are 16 ethnic groups that make up Liberia’s

indigenous population.Americo-Liberians are descendants of freed

American slaves and they make up less then 5% of the population.

From 1989-2003 one of Africa’s bloodiest civil wars was fought with more than 200,000 lives lost.

One million other Liberians were forced into neighboring countries as refugees.

Liberia

Life expectancy for females is 62.64 yearsFertility rate is 6.02 children born per women. Infant mortality rate 100.63 deaths per 1,000

live births.Literacy rate for females is 22% compared to

males which is 54%.Women comprise the majority of Liberia's work

force.90% of Liberian working women work in

agriculture, street vending/petty trading or as “market women”.

Liberian Women

There are no laws against;Gender discrimination

Women married under traditional law are considered their husbands property.

If their husbands die they do not inherit any of the property or do they retain custody of their children.

Ethnic discriminationOnly persons who are “Negro or of Negro descent” may

be citizens or own land. Female genital mutilation

In Liberia it is restricted to Types 1 and 2 Type one involves excision of the clitoral hood maintaining the

clitoris and labia minora. Type two involves removal of the prepuce and glans clitoris

together with adjacent parts of the labia minora.

Liberia Laws

Domestic abuse is illegal but it continues to be a wide spread problem.The government does not enforce this law

successfully.The maximum penalty for domestic abuse is six

months.If domestic abuse is reported it typically is

viewed as simple or aggravated assault.

Domestic Abuse

Rape continues to be a significant women's’ safety concern in Liberia.The government is inefficient at enforcing this

law as well.The law does not criminalize spousal rape.Of the recent 240 rape cases that were reported

(six months) 129 of them were prosecuted.Sentences for rapists vary from seven years to

life imprisonment.

Rape

There are no laws prohibiting sexual harassment which is identified as a major problem in both schools and work.

Prostitution is considered illegal but it continues to be a wide spread problem.

There is limited access to health care and/or family planning information especially in the rural areas of Liberia.

Traditional Liberian laws allow the husband to have more then one wife.

Additional Liberian women's concerns

Although education is “free” many schools mandate informal fees are paid therefore limited children are able to attend.

Child abuse and sexual assault against children continues to be a concern. A recent report states 66% of girls between the ages

of 10 and 19 had been raped.Young girls and women engage in prostitution for

money, food, and school fees.Because of the 14 year civil war many children live

on the street either because they were separated from their parents or their parents are dead.

Other challenges

In 2005 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became Africa's first democratically elected female president.

The government of Liberia has been relatively stable since 2005.

President Sirleaf has been making progress with the support of various donor organizations to redevelop Liberia.

In 2005 A Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established to investigate and report on human rights violations that occurred in Liberia from 1979-2003.

Liberia

Background note: Liberia. (2010, August 17). Retrieved from U.S. Department of State website: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bfn/6618.htm

Executive report on strategies in Liberia. (2000). Cultural and Demographic Risks in Liberia. Retrieved from: www.icongroupedition.com

Morris, R. (1996). The Culture of female circumcision. Advances in Nursing

Science, 19(2), Retrieved from http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com.ezproxy

Stanger, E., & Kinder, M. (2008). Fulfilling president sirleaf's mandate:

ensuring women their proper place in liberia's economic development. Women's Policy Journal , 5.

• 2009 Human rights report: Liberia. (2010, March 11). Retrieved from U.S. Department of State website:

http://state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135961.htm

References