Storytelling as a Tool to Address Gender Issues in the Islamic Community of Yumbe District, Uganda

Abstract

Gender inequality remains a significant issue in Islamic communities, mostly in developing countries and rural areas like Yumbe District in Uganda. Women and girls in these communities’ face challenges such as rigid property ownership laws, high school dropout rates, gender-based violence, limited economic opportunities, and harmful practices such as early arranged marriages and polygamy. These practices violate women’s rights and contradict actual Islamic teaching on gender equality, challenging stereotypes that portray Muslim women as voiceless victims of their culture and religion.

In Yumbe District, only 12% of girls complete primary education, often leaving school due to child-arranged marriage, family obligations, poverty or gender-based discrimination. Although national and international efforts such as CEDAW and Uganda’s National Policy on the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence (2016), aim to promote gender equality, these measures often fail to address the specific challenges of rural Muslim women and children where patriarchy and rigid gender roles are unquestioned.

This project seeks to address gender inequality in Yumbe District by empowering marginalized community members through storytelling. By collecting personal narratives through interviews and focus group discussions and collaborating with schools to facilitate writing sessions for learners to contribute to the creation of gender-responsive storybooks, the project aims to teach that religion and culture should not hinder success. These storybooks will be integrated into the school syllabus promoting inclusivity and fostering a generation of empowered individuals who advocate for social justice and equality.