- More than seven in 10 Namibians (72%) endorse gender equality in politics, while about one in four (26%) think that men make better political leaders than women and should therefore be given priority as candidates for office (Figure 1). o The view that men are more qualified for political leadership than women is more common among men (30%) and rural residents (28%) than among women (21%) and urbanites (23%). Older respondents (31% among those over age 55) and those with primary education or less (29%) are also more likely to hold this view than their younger and more educated counterparts (Figure 2).
- One in 10 Namibians (10%) say that in their communities, girls are “often” or “always” prevented from attending school because their families prioritise the education of boys, but the overwhelming majority (89%) say this “rarely” or “never” happens (Figure 3).
- One in four citizens (26%) say girls “often” or “always” face discrimination, harassment, or requests for sexual favours from their teachers.
- Asked what they think is the main barrier to women entering and moving up in the workforce, one-fourth of respondents (26%) say women lack the necessary education and skills, while others think employers prefer to hire men (16%) (Figure 4). o Roughly one in 10 blame a lack of remote or flexible work arrangements (12%) or a lack of child care (9%), while 6% say it is not socially acceptable for women to work outside the home.
A majority of Namibians say women should have the same chance as men of being elected to political office, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows.
Women and young respondents are more likely to hold this view than men and older citizens.
Almost nine in 10 Namibians also say girls are “rarely” or “never” prevented from attending school because their families prioritise the education of boys, although one-tenth of respondents disagree. One in four respondents say female students “often” or “always” experience discrimination, harassment, or requests for sexual favours from their teachers.
Regarding barriers to women’s employment, about one in four respondents say women lack the necessary education and skills to enter and advance in the workforce.