Gender stereotypes and biases are built in people’s minds as early as childhood. They influence the subjects people choose to pursue, their entire experience of education, and their future lives and careers.

As part of efforts to remove some of the stereotypes that affect women in particular, the UDS Center for Gender and Career Mentorship, with support from Norsaac, a civil society organisation, on June 7, 2023, held a workshop for female students drawn from the Tamale, City and Nyankpala Campuses of the university, to empower them to join in the efforts that are aimed at smashing gender stereotypes.

The event, which was under the theme, “Overcoming Gender Stereotypes, Building Self-Confidence of Young Females at The University for Development Studies”, was hosted on the Library Block on the Nyankpala Campus.

The Director of the Center for Gender and Career Mentorship, Dr. Esther Amoako 
was optimistic that participants would not only acquire a better understanding of the term “gender stereotypes” but also, learn how to overcome gender stereotypes and build self-confidence. She said the workshop also partly aimed at encouraging young females to aspire to take up leadership positions wherever they find themselves.

Speaking to UDS media reporters on the sidelines of the workshop, Dr. Esther Amoako divulged that gender stereotypes represent a serious limit to the achievement of substantive gender equality, adding that gender stereotypes contribute to different forms of hate speech and discrimination gender identity. She explained that if not tackled strategically and wholistically, gender stereotypes could spill-over in creating the conditions and the justification for violence against women.

The Head of Programs Policy and Influencing at NORSAAC, Madam Hafsatu Sey Sumani commended the Center for Gender and Career Mentorship for the efforts it has put in since it was established, to build the capacities of females, especially, at the University for Development Studies. She encouraged the students to take full advantage of the opportunity to learn, build networks, build their confidence, and help to fight against gender stereotypes.

The Health Interest Lead at NORSAAC, Madam Blessila Kandoh informed participants about the impact of harmful gender stereotypes, and how they can contribute to eliminating violence against women and girls.

With funding support from the Network of Women’s Right in Ghana (NETRIGHT) through Plan International, the workshop exposed the participants to how to building networks, self-development and strategic responsive ways to sexual harassment.

Participants were encouraged to build networks among themselves by first of all building their self-confidence in approaching issues of national interest most especially gender stereotypes.

Story by: Hamdan Wumpeka Amadu
(University Relations)