A Woman’s Place is in Inteko: Examining Gender Equality in Rwanda Amidst Gender Parity in its Parliament

Since the late 1990s, Rwanda has made strides towards gender parity in parliament. This has resulted in the much-publicized fact that their parliament is made up of a majority of women, the first country in the world to do so. This exceptional title, however, does not necessarily account for the experience of women across the country who do not reap the benefits of the gender equality their government lauds. This paper explores the barriers that prevent true gender equality in Rwanda for both women in government and in the population at large. To determine the level at which gender equality has permeated the country—beyond its parliament—an analysis of secondary data was conducted. Through the study of these sources, it was determined that there are barriers to gender equality in Rwanda at both the societal and political levels. Women involved in politics are often prevented from putting forth policies to promote gender equality, as well as opposing legislation harmful to that pursuit. Gender norms and inequities are still prevalent in Rwanda, leading to a gender imbalance in the public and private spheres. Women's enfranchisement is typically found through marriage to a man, leaving the power of womanhood still through association with a man.  This essay highlights the factors impeding true equality in Rwanda, despite its progress in representation. The implication of these barriers is that while women exemplify strong symbolic and descriptive representation in Rwanda, the adoption of true gender equality has not yet taken place across all levels of the country.&nbsp