Despite the postindependence efforts to improve the social, political, and economic position of Namibian women, there continue to be considerable discrepancies in the situations of men and women. The government of the Republic of Namibia has developed a substantial Gender Machinery (a system embodied by governmental institutions aimed at the promotion of gender equality) and counts on a significant number of associations working on women's issues. Yet, customary law still has a great influence in women's daily lives at all levels.

Women in Namibia constitute 51 percent of the population. Female life expectancy is 62 years. Literacy ratio for women compared with men is 0.96. These differences increase when talking about income ratio, as women's salaries are almost half of those of men (0.57), despite the ...