This research project is premised on the argument that women are oppressed and
discriminated against socio-culturally, economically and politically. Women do assume
social and economic roles in the family and community but their contributions are not
recognised compared with men. This dissertation explores the cultural politics behind the
exploitation of women in rural Zimbabwe. The research mainly dwells on the negative
impacts imposed by patriarchal attitudes on women’s socio-economic and political progress.
A review of literature including journals, books, and newspaper articles, government
documents, local and international non-governmental organizations reflected that
Zimbabwean women face social, cultural, economic, political and educational barriers and
despite the measures being done to alleviate the women’s subordinate position, parity has yet
to be achieved. Rural women need to be empowered by getting higher education. More
economic opportunities, political participation and decision-making in order to reduce their
dependency on men can be achieved by increasing their enrolment in higher education, as
well as through the provision of microcredit or microfinance. In political participation the use
of the quota system is recommended as it has been viewed as the best solution in terms of
increasing the participation of women in political governance