Women have played
a major role throughout the history of Liberia. They comprise 54 percent
of the labor force in both the formal and informal sectors. In agriculture
they constitute the majority of smallholder producers and it is estimated
that they produce
approximately 60 percent of agricultural products, carry out more than 80
percent of trading activities in the rural areas and are heavily engaged
in the artisanal fishing industry, in addition to fulfilling daily
household chores.
Yet women remain
among the most disadvantaged. They are disproportionately clustered in the
least productive sectors, with 90 percent employed in the informal sector
or agriculture. Their predominance in the informal economy translates into
low productivity,
meagre earnings and exposure to exploitation.
Illiteracy rates
among women aged 15-49 are particularly high (60 percent) compared to men
(30 percent). 42 percent of Liberian women and 18 percent of men have
never attended school.
In rural areas,
literacy rates are staggeringly low at 26 percent, while the gender gap in
secondary school attendance is very high, with a net attendance ratio of 6
percent for females. While 19 percent of men have completed secondary
school or higher, only 8 percent of women have accomplished the same.
Maternal mortality
is one of the highest in the world, and is estimated at 994/100,000 births
(DHS 2007). According to the 2007Liberia Demographic and Health Survey, 48
percent of Liberian women become pregnant by the age of 18, and the unmet
need for family
planning is over 60 percent. The health needs in Liberia are significant
with limited access to health care facilities. In Liberia, 40 percent of
the population is highly vulnerable to food insecurity, and women, who
lack means of sustainable livelihoods, employment skills and suffer from
higher rates of malnutrition, are particularly susceptible.
In addition to
food insecurity, women are also exposed to gender based violence, sexual
exploitation and HIV/AIDS, especially among young girls. Vicious and
systematic acts of sexual violence were perpetrated against a significant
number of Liberian women throughout the years of conflict. Following the
end of the conflict, rape and sexual violence remain an ongoing problem.
Education