Student presents research on suppression of women

Mercy Dena is spreading the word on issues faced by women in her home country.

The urban and public affairs graduate student spoke about gender misrepresentation in the Kenyan parliament at a 40th National Conference for Minority Public Administrators convention, at the Sheraton Hotel and Spa in Fort Worth Sunday.

Dena received a Political Science bachelor’s degree in Kenya and has worked on the study from May to Dec. 2010. Her presentation addressed female suppression in Kenya and the lack of effort in improving the roles of women in the country’s government and society.

She said women are forced to take lower positions in the East African nation and struggle in education.

Kenya ranks 101 in the world for female representation in government, compared to the U.S., which ranks 70. Dena explained that the government is taking small steps to improve the quality of life for women, even though society continues to mistreat them.

She said women are forced to work at home which hinders their involvement in the work force, and women suffer mutilation of their genitalia.

“If there are no policies to protect women and girls, this kind of marginalization of women and girls will continue,” she said.

Dena said the U.N. is doing work to promote the involvement of women in government, and the fair representation and treatment of women across the world. She said the country is on the way to improvement, but it will take time before real change is seen.

“The drafting of the new constitution allowed an opportunity for gender quotas to be included.” She said.

Joanne Lovito-Nelson, institute of urban studies program director, said the annual conference presents great opportunities for students and professionals to meet and discuss their careers.

“For the students, it’s networking.” She said. “They’re presenting to people who will be their peers, and even potential employers.”

M.J. Bang, urban and public affairs alumna, said she enjoyed learning more about the work administrators do in urban settings. Bang said she also enjoyed hearing Dena’s perspective on the issue.

The conference began Saturday and runs until Thursday. The Institute of Urban Studies and the School of Urban and Public Affairs will be exhibited during the week at the Sheraton.

Those interested in attending the conference can go online at http://www.compaonline.org/.