In traditional Zambian culture, the man is considered the head of the household, and this has
led to women being treated as subordinates in society, thus prompting perpetuation of gender
inequity and inequality. However, with the emergence of the concept of gender
mainstreaming, the trend is expected to change for the better and tilt towards gender equity in
the modern Zambian society. Gender mainstreaming is a strategy for making women’s as
well as men’s concerns and experiences, an integral dimension of the design, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation of policies and programs in all political, economic and societal
spheres so that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated. In recent
policy development and formulation, gender mainstreaming is the buzzword, and like most
Member States in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, Zambia
has ratified most international human rights documents. Regardless of the country ratifying
international conventions, in practice there are significant gender gaps.