ECONOMIC WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA: REFUTING SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR’S IDEA OF THE “WOMAN AS OTHER” IN LE DEUXIEME SEXE

Abstract

Empowerment of women as the opportunity for women to participate in, contribute to and benefit from growth processes in ways that recognize the value of their contributions, respect their dignity and make it possible to negotiate a fairer distribution of the benefits of growth. Women have been disempowered since creation owning to the fact that the society has long neglected the woman's identity and capacity. Using the method of critical analysis, this study discusses the economic empowerment of women against the background of their current status which may include, the role of women in western culture, economic and educational zone, hostilities, gains and disadvantages of empowering women, discriminating disengagement of women on the grounds of gender. This opinion forms a contrast to the belief of the nature of woman as a weak gender opined by Simone de Beauvoir in “La Deuxième Sexe” It is generally recommended that the role of women in national development is crucial to the sustainable development of any country; therefore, women should be engaged undoubtedly in effective and free participation of national affairs at all levels.