Why is Rwanda Considered the Most Feminist Country in The World?

The 20th century will always be remembered for renowned activists who made great strides in women's rights.

It was right at the end of this century that a key period in the history of Rwanda began. This African country is currently a pioneer in equal opportunities and eliminating the wage gap between men and women, but how was this possible?

These critical achievements occurred after a significant event that filled the world population with mourning.

In 1994, the Hutu hegemonic government of Rwanda began a ruthless hunt and a cruel genocide against the Tutsi people, one of the largest geographically in that country.

As exposed in the Netflix documentary Explained, Consolee Nishimwe, a survivor of that episode and current human rights activist, recalls her overwhelming experience back then:

«I lost my father and my brother. Only my mother, my sister, and I remain. I know that most women in Rwanda went through the same thing (...) At least 75% of our people disappeared. Although we immediately had to get over it and move on, poverty in the country left us no choice.»

In addition, Valentine Rugwabiza, Rwanda's ambassador to the United Nations (UN,) also remembers that dark chapter. For the first time, most of the residents were women, and the fight after the duel continued:

«A year before the genocide, women did not have access to the most basic rights. Suddenly they needed to work on something they would never have considered: police, military, (...) Over the years, we began to see what our most traditionalist relatives would call "inconceivable": women in government charges.»

So, Rwandan society almost "cracked" in the 1990s, but the fight for survival forced women to take massive new jobs to feed themselves and keep the country's economy active.

In the end, the government understood that lifting Rwanda out of tragedy would need women in multiple areas. Only then did the parliamentarians modify the laws to grant incentives and facilities to women in the labor field.

Therefore, Rwanda's new constitution prioritized equality between men and women above all else. As a result, nowadays, 61% of the parliament in this nation is made up of female members, making it completely unique worldwide.

Currently, Rwandan women outperform men in the job market: at least 88% work outside their homes. 

This, for years, contributed to the African country eliminating the wage gap and a lot of considered "common concerns" for females around the world.

In general, Rwandan women are remembered for being responsible for raising their nation. Today, its prominent activists focus on promoting equal opportunities all around the globe.