Issa Togola | May 9, 2024
News Brief
On a Sunday morning in Djicoroni Para, Mali, Boubacar Doumbia sweeps the courtyard of the home while his wife prepares the family’s breakfast. Mr. Doumbia actively shares household duties with his wife, like collecting water for the family, doing laundry, and taking care of the children. He also shares his experience with the community, as a community facilitator with the Sahel Association for Women and Child Aid, challenging traditional gender roles which place all household responsibilities in the hands of women. Mr. Doumbia says, “Household chores are our collective responsibility as a couple. Marriage is about mutual support and complementarity.”
It’s a Sunday morning in April in Djicoroni Para, a neighbourhood in the fourth district of Bamako, Mali. Boubacar Doumbia, a man in his 40s, has been awake since six a.m. He sweeps the courtyard while his wife busies herself preparing the family’s breakfast. He says, “Household chores are our collective responsibility as a couple. Marriage is about mutual support and complementarity.”
Mr. Doumbia and his wife, Oumou Diarra, help each other in order to maintain harmony in their relationship and inspire others around them. In Mali, religious and traditional beliefs place responsibility for household chores on women. But, despite social pressure, Mr. Doumbia supports his wife and helps with household tasks. He shows his devotion to his family through his involvement in domestic activities. He does not hesitate to draw water for his family, sweep the courtyard, do the laundry, or take care of his children.
He says, “Being part of a family involves responsibilities. Just last Friday, I took two of my children to a health centre for routine vaccinations.”
Mr. Doumbia is a member of the Sahel Association for Women and Child Aid. He shares his experience to create behavioural change within his community. He serves as a community facilitator in his Djicoroni Para neighbourhood and is noted for his exemplary conduct and community commitment.
The association conducts an awareness session on the last Wednesday of each month. Mr. Doumbia explains, “We raise awareness among people in the neighbourhoods of the district about sharing responsibility in carrying out household chores.”
Mrs. Doumbia believes her husband’s help allows her time to rest and pursue small, profitable activities such as gardening. She uses the income from these activities to help cover family expenses.
Mamadou Diarra is a gender equality expert at the Center for Study and International Cooperation. He says, “Positive masculinity involves prioritizing communication, mutual support, and complementarity between men and women in a relationship.” He believes mutual assistance in household chores benefits couples and society by ensuring family stability and providing a peaceful environment for children. It can also serve as a role model for children and help combat domestic and other forms of family violence.
Mr. Diarra views the fight for this kind of positive masculinity as a long-term struggle. He supports the continuation of training and awareness campaigns, which he believes could promote behavioural change across Malian society.
Mr. Doumbia believes that his behaviour influences other men in his community. He notes, “I receive positive feedback because many young people see me as their idol. This makes me happy.”
He is convinced that no religions or traditional values are against a man helping his wife. He concludes, “Today, I am a happy man who inspires in my community and I am determined to continue in this direction.”
This resource was produced through the ‘UCARE – Unpaid Care in sub-Saharan Africa‘ initiative, which aims to increase gender equality and women’s empowerment through a commitment to more just and equitable sharing of unpaid care and domestic work within the household and the family in sub-Saharan Africa. The project is implemented in partnership with Farm Radio International (FRI), UN Women, and The African Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET) thanks to funding from Global Affairs Canada.