Why nations that fail women fail

The video opens by stating that oppressing women is detrimental not just to women, but to men and entire nations, leading to more violent and unstable societies. It poses the question of what lessons governments and policymakers should learn from this, emphasizing the critical role women play in creating peaceful and stable societies.

In South Sudan, the practice of bride-pricing, where a man must pay his wife's family a significant number of cattle, is identified as a major factor incentivizing violent cattle raids. This commodification of women fosters a cycle of violence and instability, as men resort to illegal means to acquire cattle. It also drives down the age of marriage for girls, leading to increased domestic violence and further societal instability.

The video delves into polygyny (a man having multiple wives), noting its strong correlation with instability. The uneven distribution of wives among men, particularly leaving poorer men unmarried, creates a frustrated male population ripe for recruitment by armed groups. This phenomenon is often rooted in deeply entrenched male kinship groups that suppress women's autonomy to maintain their power structures, further cementing societal instability.

A clear pattern emerges when countries are ranked by misogyny and state fragility: the more sexist a country is, the more unstable it tends to be. Rich democracies with low sexism scores are stable, while highly sexist nations like Iraq, Nigeria, Yemen, Pakistan, and South Sudan are among the most fragile. This highlights how patriarchal institutions demobilize women, hindering non-violent political mobilization and reform, and thus leading to more conflict.

Conversely, empowering women leads to stronger, healthier, and wealthier families and more resilient societies. Women in decision-making roles enhance societal development, and revolutions involving women tend to result in better governance and more legitimate peace processes. Studies show that countries are significantly more likely to remain peaceful when women are involved in peace negotiations.

Liberia serves as a powerful example, where women activists, led by figures like Asatu Bah Kenneth, played a crucial role in ending the second civil war. Their persistent demonstrations and pressure on warring factions led to a peace accord that held. Liberian women continue to be actively involved in maintaining peace through community programs, demonstrating their unwavering commitment.

Despite proven successes, women remain a small minority (16% in 2022) in peace negotiations. While there are positive signs of decline in practices like patrilineal culture and polygamy, much work remains. Recommendations include securing women's property rights and raising the marriage age for girls to 18 to stabilize countries. Western countries and aid organizations are urged to play their part in promoting gender equality, while also reflecting on their own treatment of women, emphasizing that ignoring half the population will impede global progress.