'A woman's place is the kitchen'. This went without saying. Until recently, it was a taboo to find a woman working anywhere else but in the home taking care of her family. Even going to school for the girl child was unheard of. The first families to take there daughters to school were looked down upon and the girls sometimes did not find anyone to marry them. In marriage, the husband was like her god. He would do anything as he wished without her raising a finger at him. She had no voice in matters concerning the marriage, finances or the children. In fact, the husband trusted and cooperated more with his parents and brothers than with the wife.
As the western culture took deeper roots in Africa, the woman has realized that she is worth more than she has been forced to believe she is. She has leant that she has more potential and is almost equal to the men around. She has understood that her role in the marriage is that of a wife and not of a servant. The changing times have forced the woman to go out there and better her skills and knowledge. She has dared to take up jobs and positions that were initially a no go zone for her.
The African woman has tried to fight for her rights in the family and society at large. Today, organizations have come up that empower women and enlighten them on who they are. The women are taught on what to accept and what not to put up with in a male dominated world. They are given skills to better their lives and make them rely less on the men. This makes their lives more fulfilling and happier.