Gender inequality in unpaid care and domestic work: A cultural inhibition to women’s entrepreneurship acumen and managerial position in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Gender inequality which essentially is a social definition of being male and female, remains a persistent challenge to economic growth in sub- Saharan  Africa (SSA) because it is cloaked fundamentally in cultural practices. The social categorization of sex as dictated by the society, has attached to it some  perceived duties that defines the line of work for both male and female differently. These society appellations assigned works that are reproductive as  well as housekeeping in nature as logically belonging to the female gender, notwithstanding other social statuses. The encumbrance of such unpaid care  and domestic work which is an indispensable part of gender socialization in SSA, is a major hindrance to women’s economic growth and managerial  dexterity. This paper through a thorough engagement with viable literature validated the enormity of unpaid care work as a deterrent to women  entrepreneurial opportunities and managerial successes specifically in SSA. The paper posits that except sporadic actions and policies are properly  engaged to recognise, redistribute and reward unpaid care work, women’s place in entrepreneurship and managerial positions will continue to be  lagging behind and this will invariably continue to hamper the growth and development of women and the economy at large.