Gender Forum: The Changing Role of Women in Somali Society

According to a report by OECD[1], gendered social norms have resulted in women spending disproportionately more time on care work then men. This argument is corroborated by Gardner[2] who observes that, “women in Somalia have been at the forefront of emergency care and social recovery efforts at community level, often playing active public roles to influence and mobilise support”. In the ever increasing complex environment of conflict and state collapse, the role of women has become much more fluid as they express their self power and resilience by adjusting their roles to accommodate the changes in their immediate environment.

Certainly, the changing roles of women are shaped by their individual and collective agency as is evident in expression of their individual agency and their collective galvanising. Gardner[3] notes that, “women-led organisations have mushroomed since 1991 and individually and collectively women have, with some notable successes, fulfilled their customary peace-building role, using their multiple relationships within the clan system of social organisation to influence the traditional power structures, militia and course of certain conflicts in the war”. Yet, it can be argued that the roles of these women are not static and that they have changed depending on their immediate socio-cultural context.

The goal of this forum is to bring together Women scholars, who will lead the discussion on changing roles of women in Somali society. Ultimately the discussion seeks to distil the nuances of the roles of Somali women in the complex environment of conflict and state collapse.

Key discussion points:

• What are the roles of women in Somali society today?
• What are some of the ways these roles take shape?
• What are some of the ways that women express their self power/or not?
• In what ways are women collectively galvanizing?

Invited Speakers:  

• Safia Abdi Noor (Former MP)
• Ibrahim (Wajir County MP)
• Basra Ali (Consultant)
• Amina Hersi (Director of Fusion Africa Foundation)
• Nanjala Nyabola (Programme Manager- WITNESS)

Format of Discussion:

A panel discussion contextualizes issues to the audience. This is infused with public dialogue and Q&A where the audience engages with the panel and forum.

About the Foundation

Being part of the Green political movement that has developed worldwide as a response to the traditional politics of socialism, liberalism, and conservatism, the Heinrich Böll Stiftung is a Green Political Foundation, affiliated to the German political party “Alliance ’90 / The Greens”. The regional office for East and Horn of Africa is a people-centric green think-tank, based in Nairobi since 2001. In our work, we facilitate open dialogue, undertake studies and forge partnerships with and among communities in East & Horn of Africa along the core themes of Gender, Environment, Democracy and International Dialogue.

About the Gender Forum

The Gender Forum is a monthly public dialogue convened by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung since 2001, encouraging dialogue on pertinent national social issues with a gendered lens. It brings together scholars, law- makers and implementers, civil activists, government institutions, students and the general public, aiming at sharing knowledge and inspiring gendered analysis of policy and programmes.