Strong and resilient: Girls defying harmful traditions in rural Tanzania

Dar es Salaam. In the rural areas of Mara, Mwanza and Shinyanga, girls who defy harmful traditions face a multitude of challenges.

Despite the harsh consequences, these courageous girls fight for a future based on gender equality and human rights.

Child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), limited access to education and gender-based violence (GBV) are prevalent in these regions. Rooted in cultural norms, these practices significantly hinder girls' progress and well-being. 

 NGOs such as the Tanzania Media Women's Association (TAMWA) and the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) have identified these as part of the top five hurdles for rural girls.

Girls who dare to defy these norms often face severe backlash from their communities.

They are labelled rude or stubborn, facing discrimination intended to suppress them and enforce traditional rules. The discrimination they endure against girls who challenge harmful traditions is multifaceted.

In the Tarime District of Mara, for example, a 20-year-old girl, Mukami Muhono, defied her family's plans for her to undergo FGM in 2018.

"I wanted to stay in school and achieve my dreams, and I got a sponsorship from the church, I have seen it as a golden opportunity to study and become a lawyer. But my community turned against me, calling me disrespectful and disobedient," she says.

She continues: “My boldness led to social ostracism up to date, with my peers mocking and shunning me by calling me ‘Musaghane’ a bad name used to differentiate girls who have not undergone FGM." “Standing up against FGM meant losing friends and facing isolation. It's like I became invisible in my community,” she adds.

In Misungwi, Mwanza, 19-year-old Rehema Mponela refused a marriage proposal arranged by her parents. "They said I was bringing shame to the family. I was denied food and necessities to force me into submission.

Lucky for me, my elder brother stood by my side, but until today, my father never accepted my greeting again just because of that ‘No’ to that proposal. When someone asks him about how many children he has, he doesn’t count me as his child.” Suzana Saguda, 18, a resident of the Msalala District of Shinyanga, says that she refused to drop out of school and succumb to societal pressure.

"It was like me versus my parents, uncles, and aunts, and nobody wanted to hear my opinions; they just forced me to accept their views and act accordingly. Me and my parents are now good friends, but all my aunts and uncles told me not to visit them because I’m a useless and cursed girl to them,” she explains.

The Profound Impact of Discrimination The impact of such discrimination on the lives of these girls is profound. Psychological distress is common, with many girls experiencing anxiety and depression.

Sociologist Zabibu Idrissa from Saint Augustine of Tanzania (SAUT) explains, "These girls face immense pressure and isolation, which affects their mental health and overall well-being." Educationally, these challenges often result in interrupted schooling or complete dropout.

Psychologist Dr Michael Kiwelo, a psychologist from Bugando Medical Centre, notes: "The stigma and stress make it difficult for these girls to focus on their studies, leading to poor academic performance or abandonment of their education altogether." Coping Mechanisms Despite the severe challenges, these girls employ various coping mechanisms to navigate their harsh realities.

Support groups organised by women's rights organisations like TAMWA provide a safe space for these girls to share their experiences and receive emotional support. "Being able to talk to others who understand what I'm going through has been a lifeline," says Ms Mukami. Education also serves as a powerful tool for empowerment.

Rehema, with the help of her brother, was able to continue her advanced-level (high school) studies in a safe environment.

"Education gives me hope and the strength to keep fighting," she reveals.

On the other hand, Suzana reveals that despite being told that a girl's destiny is solely to manage household responsibilities and bear children, she believes education is her right, and she won't let outdated norms dictate her future.

“I aspire to achieve more than merely being a wife and mother. Education empowers me to pursue my dreams and contribute meaningfully to society, and I am determined to seize every opportunity to learn and grow," she shares.

Strategies for Eradicating Harmful Practices To combat these harmful practices, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. Education and awareness campaigns are crucial to changing mindsets.

“We need to educate more men and women about the importance of gender equality and the detrimental effects of these traditions. A society with education on the impact of such traditions will be a safe place for our daughters’ future," says Dr Anna Henga, an executive director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC).

On the other hand, the Executive Director of the Tanzania Media Women's Association (TAMWA), Dr Rose Rubben, says that support systems for girls who defy harmful traditions must be bolstered.

“Providing safe spaces, psychological support, and educational opportunities are essential steps in this process. We also need to focus on educating our communities on those wrongdoings and holding them accountable, as the law says under each section they have broken,” she explains. Legal enforcement is also vital to the process.

The minister of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups, Dr Doroth Gwajima, reveals that by far Tanzania has done a good job in reducing such actions by educating communities on the impact of such actions and how they affect their bloodlines by making such mistakes, which most communities seem to understand to a good extent.

“That is not a one-day task. We have been fighting all these traditions for decades now, and for those who have been involved in this, we make sure they face legal action as part of showing people that it is not right to practice such traditions,” she explains.

 She adds, “NGOs are helping us so much in providing education in these communities that it softens the task of empowering girls with education and helps those who are already affected by such an environment that those practices are done.” 

The story has been written with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.