It is NOT common to see four generations of Congolese women in one place. Some reasons are obvious like work. Also, daughters may live in a different village with their husbands. Then there is the high maternal mortality rates. One out of 13 women die from childbirth complications during their lifetime.
That's A Woman's Nation in rural Congo.
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They have no time for a power lunch. They have no time to get their hair done. They have no time to pamper themselves. A Congolese woman's time is full of work. Family related tasks takes every waking minute of the day.
These Congolese women had a few minutes away from the family and other chores to discuss common problems. Schooling for their children and access to health care are common problems. Congolese women never discuss their personal problems. They are concerned with their children. Parenting takes a lot of time.
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I know of no woman who can drive in the village of Bulape. And I have never seen a women drive anything.
I know of only one woman who can drive in the town of Kananga, the provincial capital of Kasai Occidental. Unfortunately, I can not remember riding in her pickup truck.
I have seen many women driving in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. I know one business who owns and drives her own car. She drives very well. Clearly she is the exception. She is an remarkable person, too!
This is one example of 'A Woman's Nation' from the Congolese women perspective. You can think of the ramifications of women not driving.
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The (Maria) Shriver Report, 'A Woman's Nation Changes Everything', describes how we, in America, live and work today. It shouldn't be a surprise that it's a different story for women living and working in the Congo. There are few parallels between the Congolese women and American women.
Congolese women hold very few administrative or professional jobs. Men occupy even fields dominated by women in America. For example, clerical persons are typically men.
Congolese women are still the bread-makers and not the bread-winners. They are the keepers of the home.
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