# Women in Senegal

Women in Senegal have a traditional social status as shaped by local custom and religion. According to 2005 survey, the female genital mutilation prevalence rate stands at 28% of all women in Senegal aged between 15 and 49.

## History

The traditional division of labour in Senegal saw women responsible for household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare. They were also responsible for a large share of agricultural work, including weeding and harvesting, for such common crops as rice. Women of the nobility used to be influential in political scenes. This is partly because matrilineage was the means for a prince to become king (particularly in the Wolof kingdoms). Such lingeer as Yacine Boubou, Ndate Yalla and her sister Njembeut Mbodji are hailed as inspirations for contemporary Senegalese women.
In recent decades, economic change and urbanization has led to many young men migrating to the cities, such as Dakar. Rural women have become increasingly involved in managing village forestry resources and operating millet and rice mills. The government's rural development agency aims to organize village women and involve them more actively in the development process. Women play a prominent role in village health committees and prenatal and postnatal programs. In urban areas, despite women's second-class status within Islam, cultural change has led to women entering the labour market as office and retail clerks, domestic workers and unskilled workers in textile mills and tuna-canning factories.
Non-government organizations are also active in promoting women's economic opportunities. Micro-financing loans for women's businesses have improved the economic situation of many.
Senegal ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, as well as the additional protocol. Senegal is also a signatory of the African Charter of Human and People's Rights, which was adopted during the 2003 African Union Summit. As of 2011, Senegalese feminists were critical of the government's lack of action in enforcing the protocols, conventions and other texts that legally protect women's rights.

## Women's rights

Women in Senegal face a number of disparities in their social status. Women have high rates of illiteracy. They make up less than 10% of the formal labour force. Female genital mutilation is a persistent practise in some rural areas, despite being outlawed by the constitution of 2001. Women's legal rights are similar via polygyny marriages, and Islamic law involving property ownership.

### Female genital mutilation

Female genital mutilation is present in Senegal. According to 2005 survey, the FGM prevalence rate is 28% of all women aged between 15 and 49. There are significant differences in regional prevalence. FGM is most widespread in the Southern Senegal (94% in Kolda Region) and in Northeastern Senegal (93% in Matam Region).
FGM rates are lower in other regions: Tambacounda (86%), Ziguinchor (69%), and less than 5% in Diourbel and Louga Regions. Senegal is 94% Muslim (FGM is not an Islamic practice) The FGM prevalence rate varies by religion: 29% of Muslim women have undergone FGM, 16% of Animists, and 11% of Christian women.

## Notable people
### Religious figures

* Mame Diarra Bousso

### Female politicians

* Ndoumbe Ndiaye – Thioumbe Samb – Mame Yacine Diagne – Aline Sitoé Diatta – Arame Diene – Caroline Faye – Anne Marie Sohai – Lena Diagne – Awa Dia Thiam – Mame Madior Boye – Marie-Angélique Savané – Awa Marie Coll Seck – Aminata Tall – Ndaté Yalla – Aminata Mbengue Ndiaye – Penda Mbow – Safiatou Thiam – Aïda Mbodj – Ndeye Fatou Ba – Lena Diagne – Gnagna Thouré – Arame Ndoye

### Scientists

* Awa Marie Coll Seck – Rose Dieng-Kuntz – Penda Mbow – Safiatou Thiam

### Female writers

* Mariama Bâ – Mariama Barry – Ndèye Coumba Mbengue Diakhaté – Sokhna Benga – Jacqueline Fatima Bocoum – Ken Bugul – Aïssatou Cissé – Fama Diagne Sène – Nafissatou Niang Diallo – Aïssatou Diamanka-Besland – Mame Younousse Dieng – Fatou Diome – Khadi Fall – Khadi Hane – Aminata Maïga Ka – Ndèye Fatou Kane – Annette Mbaye d'Erneville – Aminata Sow Fall – Fatou Ndiaye Sow – Mariama Ndoye – Mame Seck Mbacké – Khady Sylla – Abibatou Traoré- Rahmatou Seck Samb – Nafissatou Dia Diouf -

### Filmmakers

* Laurence Attali – Angèle Diabang Brener – Safi Faye – Dyana Gaye – Khady Sylla – Aïcha Thiam – Sokhna Amar

### Stylists

* Oumou Sy – Koukou Kane – Collé Ardo Sow – Adama Paris – Diouma Dieng Diakhaté – Joelle Le Bussy – Nafissatou Diop

### Choreographers

* Germaine Acogny

### Singers

* Fambaye Issa Diop – Adja Mbana Diop – Adja Khar Mbaye – Coumba Gawlo Seck – Diarra – Viviane Ndour -Diabou Samb -Kine Lam – Daro Mbaye – Ndeye Mbaye

### Athletes

* Senegal women's national basketball team
* Kene Ndoye – Amy Mbacké Thiam

### Others

* Oulimata Sarr