MEN
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| Gold miners at Chucja Mine, near Village of Kobu |
Men have traditionally been responsible for providing protection for their families, as well as transportation, healthcare, and various other products for the home. They manage the finances for the household and usually provide the income for the family.
Most men do not regard women as equals in terms of employment, and women are expected to be submissive and follow the lead of the man with all decisions.
WOMEN
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| War-displaced mother, 20 years old, Dungu |
Women carry a lot of responsibility in the home and carry a lot of weight in the community, though this often goes unnoticed. They are responsible for taking care of the family and maintenance of the household, wherever that is.
They take care of feeding the entire family, as well as any agricultural work. Sometimes the woman of the household will take up a trade, such as making necklaces, clothing, etc. and will sell these products at a local market to contribute to the family finances.
The view and role of women will vary from tribe to tribe, with some offering more freedoms than others. For a long time women were not allowed to attend school. In urban areas, education still shows bias toward males but is now available to women if they can afford it.
Domestic and sexual violence against women is sadly not uncommon in the DR Congo, and mass rape and violence against women has been used as a weapon of war by rebel groups in the DRC during its civil war, called "Africa's World War," that still wages today.
CHILDREN
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| A young girl, displaced by war, carries firewood, Goma |
The primary caregiver of the children is the biological mother. However, this is a communal society and it is not unusual for all of the adults within a village/tribe to be considered "parents." In general, help is given where help is needed and this holds true for childcare. You will not see this as often in urban areas, where the parents hold all of the responsibility and will employ a babysitter if necessary.
In some tribes, girls are considered "children" until they are married, which can occur at varying ages. Some may not leave their household until 18 years of age. Because of this, you may encounter disciplinary techniques from a parent that seem inappropriate for the age of the girl, but this is normal behavior.
Children often help with keeping up the household, which can involve collecting wood, cleaning, and traveling to retrieve water for the family.
THE ELDERLY
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| A woman outside of her hut, Eastern Congo |
Congolese people hold their elders in very high regards, and they are consulted to assist in making important decisions as well as in mediating conflicts within the community.
As healthcare is extremely limited for everyone in the Congo and the elderly are highly respected in their communities, you will not find a family placing their elders in a home or healthcare facility as we do in America.
Do your best to to remove yourself from your own cultural knowledge so you can learn about the values and beliefs of your new Congolese friends with an even more open mind!
This is not to say you should forfeit your own values and beliefs - but to judge the new culture you are navigating your way through with those standards, not your own.
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